Windows users globally are experiencing significant disruptions due to a recent update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. This update has resulted in widespread Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors. The issue has been reported across various sectors, including banking, media, hospitals, airlines, and almost every industry, with users experiencing boot loops and system crashes.
Microsoft Windows Outage: Overview of the Issue
The problems began following a CrowdStrike update that affected the Falcon Sensor, a key company security platform component. Users have reported their devices getting stuck on recovery screens with messages indicating that Windows did not load correctly.
Many have taken to social media to share screenshots and express frustration, noting that their systems are rendered inoperable. Even Troy Hunt, the Microsoft Regional Director, has also shared the issue on its X handle, stating, “Something super weird is happening right now.”
Something super weird happening right now: just been called by several totally different media outlets in the last few minutes, all with Windows machines suddenly BSoD’ing (Blue Screen of Death). Anyone else seen this? Seems to be entering recovery mode: pic.twitter.com/DxdLyA9BLA
— Troy Hunt (@troyhunt) July 19, 2024
Microsoft Outage: What is CrowdStrike?
CrowdStrike is a US cybersecurity company that helps protect computers and networks from attacks. It’s known for its Falcon platform, which stops data breaches and ransomware.
Microsoft Outage: Impact on Users
The early reports indicate that the BSOD errors have impacted many users, from individual consumers to large organisations. In the United States, several media companies, including the low-cost airline Frontier, faced operational challenges, leading to flight cancellations. The airline stated that its systems were affected by the Microsoft outage linked to the CrowdStrike update.
Furthermore, major Indian airlines such as Akasa Air and Indigo have experienced issues with their check-in systems due to a CrowdStrike update, which has reportedly caused an outage.
In Australia, IT departments are inundated with complaints, with reports of 20 to 40 machines crashing simultaneously within some networks.
In addition, thousands of users have posted screenshots to social media showing a Recovery Page with a message that reads, “The windows did not load correctly.”
Please note that this is an ongoing situation, and there has been no official response from CrowdStrike or Microsoft yet. Therefore, any information about this issue should be taken with caution.
