A global IT outage has caused significant disruptions across various sectors, including banks, airlines, telecommunications companies, TV and radio broadcasters, and supermarkets. The issue, reportedly linked to a “blue screen of death” error on Windows workstations, has impacted businesses and services worldwide.
Major US airlines, including Delta, United, and American Airlines, grounded all flights early on Friday due to communication issues. Flights at Berlin Brandenburg Airport in Germany were suspended until 10:00 am due to a technical problem. All airports in Spain experienced disruptions due to an IT outage affecting passenger reservations and information systems.
Hong Kong’s airport reported that some airlines were affected, attributing the issue to a Microsoft outage. Amsterdam’s Schiphol and Eindhoven airports also faced disruptions, impacting flights and services.
In Australia and New Zealand, banks and telecommunications firms reported widespread issues. Australia’s largest international airport and national broadcaster ABC experienced significant disruptions. Self-checkout terminals at major Australian supermarket chains were rendered useless, displaying blue error messages. Australian telecommunications firm Telstra reported disruptions possibly affecting emergency services.
Sky News in the UK and Australia’s ABC both reported major outages disrupting broadcasts. Several US news outlets reported widespread issues, with cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike being mentioned frequently in discussions on social media platforms like Reddit.
Microsoft announced it was taking “mitigation actions” in response to service issues but did not confirm if these were linked to the global outages.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and various national cybersecurity agencies have been involved in managing and investigating the impacts. Equity markets reacted negatively to the news, with significant losses reported in Tokyo, Sydney, Seoul, Singapore, Mumbai, and other major financial hubs.
READ ALSO: Russia Intensifies Disinformation Campaign Targeting Paris Olympics, Microsoft Warns
The disruptions have raised concerns about the reliance on specific software and cybersecurity tools, such as CrowdStrike Falcon, which monitors and responds to intrusions on computers.
The global impact of the outages highlights vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure and the potential for widespread disruptions from technical failures.
This unprecedented outage has had far-reaching consequences, affecting millions of people worldwide and highlighting the critical importance of robust IT infrastructure and cybersecurity measures.
