Cyber security flaw wreaks havoc on airports and 9-1-1 centers

TLDR:

• A global outage of security software CrowdStrike caused major disruptions in airports, 9-1-1 call centers, and other businesses.
• Approximately 1,800 flights were canceled in the U.S. as Microsoft 365 apps and services went down due to an update from CrowdStrike.

A single defect in the cyber security software CrowdStrike led to a global outage affecting various sectors, from airports to banks to average businesses. This issue caused significant disruptions, with approximately 1,800 flights being canceled in the U.S. due to Microsoft 365 services going down as a result of the CrowdStrike update. CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz clarified that the issue was not a security incident or cyberattack, but rather a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts. While systems are slowly returning to normal, the repercussions of this outage are expected to be felt throughout the day, particularly impacting stranded travelers and businesses worldwide.