Global IT Outage Caused by Software Bug, Head of Cybersecurity Company Says
The source of the global IT outage that has affected numerous industries around the world has been identified, according to the head of US cybersecurity company CrowdStrike. In a statement, CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz stated that a fix has been deployed, but it may take some time to fully resolve the issue.
Kurtz revealed that the outage was caused by a bug related to a recent update. While some systems have been restored, others are still experiencing difficulties and may not recover automatically. This has resulted in disruptions for banks, airlines, train companies, telecommunications providers, broadcasters, and supermarkets.
During an interview with Sky News’s partner network, NBC, Kurtz explained that there was a “weird interaction” that did not occur on every Windows system. His team is currently trying to isolate where this negative interaction took place. However, he reassured the public that this was not a security incident or cyberattack and that Mac and Linux hosts were not impacted.
Kurtz apologized for the impact the outage has caused to customers, travelers, and businesses. He explained that the update that caused the issue had a software bug, and his team is now looking into the safety, security, and quality of their updates to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The CEO also addressed concerns about how such an event could happen. He stated that cybersecurity is a complex field, and companies are constantly trying to stay ahead of adversaries. The content update that caused the outage has been used for many years without any issues until now.
CrowdStrike will continue to provide updates on their website as they work to fully resolve the issue. Kurtz noted that there was an issue with a Falcon content update for Windows hosts, and Microsoft has stated that a resolution for Windows devices is forthcoming.
The IT outage has also caused disruptions in the majority of GP practices in England, according to NHS England. However, there is no known impact on emergency services at this time. Airlines have also been affected, with some issuing handwritten tickets as a temporary solution for printing problems.
Transport Secretary Louise Haigh stated that the government is working closely with industry to address the IT issues that have caused train and air disruption. She also reassured the public that there are no known security issues at this time.
Fortunately, air traffic control has not been affected by the outage. A spokesperson for National Air Traffic Services confirmed that they have no IT issues and are operating normally. However, Belfast Airport has resorted to using whiteboards instead of electronic screens for customer information.
Founded in 2011, CrowdStrike’s mission is to “fix a fundamental problem” in the cybersecurity industry. According to their website, the company combines advanced endpoint protection with expert intelligence to identify and stop sophisticated attacks. They aim to prevent businesses from making headlines due to cyberattacks.
