A global computer outage affecting airports, banks, and other businesses on Friday has been attributed, at least in part, to a software update released by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. The issue primarily impacts computers running Microsoft Windows operating systems and is related to CrowdStrike's Falcon software product.
CrowdStrike promptly informed its customers about the situation, acknowledging reports of software crashes. The company advised users to reboot their computers and follow specific instructions to resolve any technical difficulties they were experiencing. Notably, the problem is isolated to Windows systems and does not affect Mac or Linux operating systems.
CrowdStrike's cybersecurity software, widely utilized by Fortune 500 companies, is designed to detect and prevent hacking threats. However, the recent disruption appears to stem from an error in a software code update that is causing conflicts with the Windows operating system, resulting in system crashes.
While CrowdStrike gained prominence for its investigation into the Russian hack of Democratic National Committee computers during the 2016 US election, the firm operates globally through software sales and cybersecurity investigations. The company's swift response to the current issue underscores its commitment to addressing technical challenges and ensuring the security of its clients.
Source has reached out to CrowdStrike for further comments on the situation. As businesses and organizations worldwide navigate the implications of this computer outage, CrowdStrike's efforts to rectify the issue and provide support to its customers remain crucial in restoring normalcy to affected systems.