Businesses around the world are facing major IT outages, with many experiencing Windows “blue screen of death” errors on their computers. This widespread disruption has impacted companies in various sectors, including banks, food chains, brokerage houses, news organizations, railway networks, and airlines.
In the UK, the London Stock Exchange, Edinburgh airport, and Ryanair have all reported disruptions in their services. Indian airlines IndiGo, Akasa, and SpiceJet have also been affected, with their check-in systems at some airports no longer functional, leading to potential flight delays. The Hong Kong airport has seen its check-in systems go down, causing chaos, while the Delhi airport has reported a global outage affecting some of its services.
UK news broadcaster Sky News faced difficulties broadcasting live due to the outage, and banking services in New Zealand have also been impacted. Many customers have been unable to restart their computers because of the issue. This outage comes on the heels of Microsoft confirming service problems with its Microsoft 365 apps, affecting airlines like Delta and United. Microsoft is actively working to resolve these issues.
Despite speculation, the outages do not appear to be the result of a cyber attack. Some businesses and security experts have pointed fingers at the security firm CrowdStrike, with Australian energy company AGL specifically blaming an update from the firm. CrowdStrike’s software is widely used for managing security on Windows devices and servers, and reports of crashes related to a content update have been acknowledged on the company’s support forums.
Both CrowdStrike and Microsoft have yet to comment on the situation, as investigations into the cause of the outages are ongoing. CrowdStrike’s shares have seen a significant drop in premarket trading as a result of these disruptions.
Additionally, Prague Airport has reported issues with its global check-in system, causing delays in departures for multiple airlines. This adds to the growing list of businesses and services affected by the IT outages. The situation is rapidly evolving, and updates are expected as more information becomes available. Ram Iyer has contributed to this report.
As reports of Windows machines experiencing sudden blue screen errors continue to surface, it is clear that the impact of these IT outages is widespread and affecting a broad range of industries. The need for quick resolution and effective communication from companies like Microsoft and CrowdStrike is crucial to minimizing the disruption and restoring normal operations for businesses and customers alike. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
