Massive IT Outage Causes Chaos Around the World
Businesses and services worldwide are slowly recovering from a massive IT outage that affected computer systems for hours on Thursday and Friday. The outage, caused by a faulty software update from cyber-security firm CrowdStrike, impacted Microsoft Windows users, leading to major disruptions in various sectors.
Businesses, banks, hospitals, and airlines were among the worst-hit by the outage, with many facing backlogs and missed orders that could take days to resolve. Health services in Britain, Israel, and Germany also suffered problems, with some operations being canceled.
The global chaos sparked concerns over the vulnerability of interconnected technologies and the widespread impact of a single software glitch. CrowdStrike’s CEO issued an apology for the disruption and stated that a fix had been issued, but it could take some time before all systems are fully operational.
While some airline services are beginning to return to normal, operators expect delays and cancellations to persist through the weekend. Airports around the world experienced long queues, flight cancellations, and delays, with passengers stranded and aircraft grounded.
Tech experts noted that CrowdStrike’s fix will have to be applied separately to each affected device, raising questions about the company’s influence in the cyber-security market. CrowdStrike’s shares fell by around 12% on Friday, impacting rivals in the industry.
The outage also affected payment systems, banking services, and healthcare providers globally. Some railway companies warned of delays, and broadcasters experienced outages as well. The full extent of the impact of the IT outage is still being assessed as businesses work to recover and resume normal operations.
