A major internet outage grounded flights and disrupted banks and businesses across the world on Friday.
Local 4 IT specialist explains
What caused the internet outage?
CrowdStrike, an anti-virus and anti-malware platform, sent out an update with a “defect” in it.
When installed, CrowdStrike is involved with every part of the computer. It checks every single file coming and and going out of the computer to make sure it’s clean of ransomware, viruses, etc. That means when something goes wrong with the anti-virus platform, it can cause problems with the entire system.
This defect only affected Windows computers, but because CrowdStrike is such a widely used company the impact was widespread. Mac and Linux were not impacted by the defect.
CrowdStrike’s CEO George Kurtz said this was not a security issue or cyberattack. Kurtz said a fix has been sent out.
“CrowdStrike is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts. Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted. This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed. We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website. We further recommend organizations ensure they’re communicating with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels. Our team is fully mobilized to ensure the security and stability of CrowdStrike customers,” CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said on X.
What is CrowdStrike?
CrowdStrike is a cybersecurity platform that is used in many industries around the world.
Who does this affect?
Any company that uses CrowdStrike was affected by the outage. This has included banks, hospitals, airlines, pharmacies, grocery stores, and more across the globe.
Metro Detroit impact
Corewell Health statement
Corewell Health was affected by the outage and released the following statement:
“Many of our computers and systems are affected by the current global technology issue. Our teams are assessing the situation and working together to care for our patients. Our hospitals and emergency rooms are open. Some procedures and appointments might be delayed. Please visit CorewellHealth.org for the latest updates.”
Delta Airlines
Delta said in a statement on X that the airline has resumed some flights and issued travel waivers. People looking for more information from Delta should visit delta.com.
---> The latest: Airlines, businesses hit by global technology disruption