Microsoft reported on Saturday that approximately 8.5 million computers and devices worldwide running Windows were impacted by a recent global IT outage. The disruption stemmed from a faulty update released by security firm CrowdStrike, which caused widespread issues from Thursday through Friday.
In a blog post, Microsoft clarified, “We estimate that CrowdStrike’s update affected 8.5 million Windows devices, which is less than one percent of all Windows machines.”
The corrupted update led to significant operational disruptions for businesses and individuals alike. It resulted in numerous flight cancellations, interruptions in broadcasting services, and left customers unable to access critical services such as healthcare and banking.
Ciaran Martin, former head of Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre, commented on the incident: “We’ve long discussed the fragility of foundational internet components. When these essential elements fail, the global repercussions can be severe.”
In response to the incident, security agencies like Germany’s IT security agency have warned about potential phishing attempts and other cyber threats exploiting the situation.
CrowdStrike apologized for the disruption, stating on Sunday that they are actively assisting affected customers and have implemented a fix.
Source: The Newsroom Africa
