The global IT outage has disrupted key services around the world, disrupting public transport links, delaying international flights and limiting the operations of medical facilities and businesses.
Here’s what you need to know:
What caused the outage? The outage appears to be caused, at least in part, by a software update released by CrowdStrike for Microsoft’s Windows systems. The US cybersecurity firm told customers early Friday that its engineers were addressing the issue, according to an advisory seen by CNN. The problem is specific to Falcon, which is designed to protect files stored in the cloud.
How long will the outage last? Microsoft said the “root cause” of the outage has been “resolved,” adding that some services are still affected. “We are implementing additional mitigation steps as a remedy,” the company said in its X post. Some services have been restored, but others are still suffering from the outage.
Who was affected? Banks, health services and critical infrastructure around the world were affected by the outage. Healthcare providers, including the UK’s National Health Service and one of Europe’s largest medical facilities in northern Germany, were hit by IT delays, while banks, broadcasters and supermarkets in Australia, New Zealand and the UK were also affected, including ABC News and Sky News.
Airlines hit hardest: Panicked travelers could be seen lining the hallways of major airports on Friday as international airlines in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East were forced to delay or cancel flights. About 110,000 commercial flights are scheduled worldwide for today, according to preliminary data provided to CNN by aviation analytics firm Cirium. As of 6 a.m. ET, 1,390 flights had been canceled worldwide, and the number is rising.
International reaction: The White House said it was “investigating” the disruption caused by the cyber outage on Friday morning. “We are aware of the incident and are investigating the issue and its impact,” a White House National Security Council spokesman told CNN. Meanwhile, the British government held an emergency meeting in Downing Street to discuss the outage, Britain’s PA media news agency reported.
