Massive IT Glitch: CrowdStrike Update Cripples Companies

A serious disruption caused by a security update from the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike paralyzed numerous companies worldwide, including airlines, on Friday. The extent of the problems was enormous: countless Microsoft computers became practically unusable overnight. Many users faced the infamous blue screen of death as affected devices entered endless reboot loops. The cause was a faulty software update distributed by CrowdStrike to Microsoft devices and servers. CrowdStrike is a company that primarily protects large firms from cyberattacks. On Friday, CrowdStrike announced that a software update to resolve the issue had been made available. Additionally, instructions on how to manually fix the problem were published. Customers can also contact the company directly. However, security experts warned that the resolution process could still be complex. If your computer is affected, you are not alone. The disruption was caused by a bug in an update that put the machines into an endless reboot loop. The update provided by CrowdStrike may not be able to repair the systems remotely. About 300 Fortune 500 companies are customers of CrowdStrike, the second-largest independent cybersecurity company in the United States. If you work in a large company that is affected, the IT department will likely need to intervene. Adam Harrison, Managing Director at FTI Consulting, which supports companies with their cybersecurity strategies, explained that small businesses rarely use such security tools, although many small firms rely on service providers or suppliers who deploy these tools.