A software bug in a recent update from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike caused major disruptions across various industries globally on Friday morning. The bug affected Microsoft Windows users, leading to issues in air travel, banking, media, and hospital systems. Thousands of flight delays and cancellations were reported, and some states’ 911 and non-emergency lines experienced problems.
CrowdStrike President George Kurtz clarified that the incident was not a security concern or cyberattack, and the company was working on deploying a fix. Airlines and other companies were able to resume operations as the day progressed, with some experiencing relief from outages by 10 a.m. The U.S. Department of Transportation advised travelers to use FlightRights.gov to navigate their delays.
Government systems and transportation hubs were also impacted, with disruptions reported in courts in Massachusetts and New York, and the closure of Texas driver’s license offices. Kurtz emphasized that the outage was not a security breach and promised transparency and updates for impacted customers. He encouraged vigilance against potential exploitation by bad actors and urged engagement with official CrowdStrike representatives for the latest information.
The global IT outage continued to be felt throughout the day, with efforts focused on resolving the issue promptly to prevent future occurrences. Kurtz expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and pledged to keep customers informed about the technical update and root cause analysis. CrowdStrike’s priority remained restoring systems and ensuring the delivery of reliable services to customers.
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