'Significant Number' of Devices Back Up After CrowdStrike Cybersecurity Incident
A "significant number" of devices impacted by the global IT outage are now back online, according to CrowdStrike. The incident, caused by a faulty security update from CrowdStrike, affected approximately 8.5 million computers worldwide. Businesses, banks, hospitals, and airlines were among the worst-hit, with some still struggling to fully restore their systems.
The company, whose faulty security update caused Microsoft Windows computers to crash worldwide, stated that it is actively working on restoring all systems.
The incident, described as one of the worst IT outages in history, impacted approximately 8.5 million computers globally. Businesses, banks, hospitals, and airlines were among the hardest hit, with some still struggling to fully recover their systems.
CrowdStrike expressed its understanding of the profound impact this incident has had on everyone involved and extended gratitude to its customers, partners, and IT teams for their tireless efforts. The company also issued an apology for the disruption caused.
To expedite the recovery of computer systems, CrowdStrike is deploying a new fix. However, the company did not disclose the exact number of devices still experiencing issues.
The repercussions of the outage were felt in the aviation industry as well, with over 1,400 flights into or out of the US being canceled on Sunday, according to FlightAware, an aviation tracking and data platform. Delta and United Airlines were particularly affected by the incident.
Health services in Britain, Israel, and Germany also experienced disruptions, leading to the cancellation of some services. This massive outage has shed light on the vulnerability of global computer networks, highlighting how a single glitch can cause chaos on a global scale.
Lina Khan, the Chair of the US Federal Trade Commission, emphasised the frequency of such incidents and their impact on various industries. She stated, "All too often these days, a single glitch results in a system-wide outage, affecting industries from healthcare and airlines to banks and auto dealers." Khan further highlighted the fragility of concentrated systems.
Prior to this incident, CrowdStrike had been regarded as one of the most trusted brands in the cybersecurity industry. With 29,000 customers worldwide, including major US companies, the company's reputation took a hit due to the outage.
Interestingly, China remained largely unaffected by the incident as CrowdStrike is not widely used in the country. Additionally, China's reliance on Microsoft is not as significant as in other parts of the world.
A "significant number" of devices impacted by the global IT outage are now back online, according to CrowdStrike.
The incident, caused by a faulty security update from CrowdStrike, affected approximately 8.5 million computers worldwide.
Businesses, banks, hospitals, and airlines were among the worst-hit, with some still struggling to fully restore their systems.
Source: BBC