A widespread software failure has brought down the computer systems of critical infrastructure and services worldwide, including emergency services, banks, and airports. The issue appears to be related to software from the cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. According to reports, Microsoft Windows machines are failing to boot, leading to widespread disruptions:
Widespread disruptions across sectors
Flights are being grounded at airports across the world due to the inability to access essential systems. Additionally, online banking services are refusing to let customers log in or conduct transactions. Broadcasters are also being forced off the air, such as Sky News in the U.K. have reported being taken off the air due to the technical issues.
Monitoring the situation
Furthermore, the website DownDetector is showing a sharp increase in reports of disrupted services, including for major companies like Microsoft, Visa, and Ryanair.
Troy Hunt, the creator of the HaveIBeenPwned website, has also reported seeing widespread instances of Windows PCs suffering from the infamous Blue Screen of Death, where they refuse to boot.
Delta Airlines in ATL hit pic.twitter.com/SrghLWFcbF
— Andrew Chiles (@AndrewChiles) July 19, 2024
Reports of the “Blue Screen of Death”
Troy Hunt, the creator of the HaveIBeenPwned website, has reported widespread occurrences of the infamous “Blue Screen of Death” on Windows PCs, where they refuse to boot.
#ImportantUpdate: We're currently facing a technical issue in providing updates on flight disruptions. Our team is actively working to resolve this issue. We regret for any inconvenience caused and will update you once the issue is resolved. Thank you for your patience and…
— SpiceJet (@flyspicejet) July 19, 2024
Global scope of the issue
Moreover, the issue appears to be global in scope, with reports of the problem affecting the United States, India, Japan, and many other countries. Train services in the UK are also being disrupted, with the Southern Railway team reporting widespread IT issues across their network.
#TravelUpdate: Due to infrastructure issues with our service provider, some of our online services, including booking, check-in and manage booking services will be temporarily unavailable. Currently we are following manual check-in and boarding processes at the airports and hence…
— Akasa Air (@AkasaAir) July 19, 2024
Read more: WhatsApp down in several countries amid a major outage
Uncertain cause and response
Moreover, it is not yet clear whether this is the result of a cyberattack or some other software failure. Unconfirmed reports suggest that CrowdStrike’s support engineers have acknowledged the problem is with the company’s software and that they are working to revert a recent update that appears to have caused the issue.
The situation continues to evolve, and authorities are likely working to investigate the root cause and implement measures to restore the affected systems and services.
For more miscellaneous news, click here.
