Microsoft and CrowdStrike outage affected banks, airports, supermarkets, and businesses across Australia and the entire world.
What happened?
As far as we know until now, the outage has been linked to the CrowdStrike cybersecurity company, based in the United States. The company’s software known as “CrowdStrike Falcon” is used on the WindowsPCs worldwide, and it protects the systems against cyber attacks, including credential theft.
On the company’s website is specified: "Falcon is the CrowdStrike platform purpose-built to stop breaches via a unified set of cloud-delivered technologies that prevent all types of attacks,"
This whole scenario was about to happen previously this week when the company made another software update, and it also caused devices to attempt to restart and show a blue-screen error message.
Cybersecurity expert Andy Prow claimed that any disturbance in the CrowdStrike system could affect the entire computer system, including Microsoft, impacting equipment such as laptops, self-checkout, terminals, and all smart devices at once.
Check-in systems from airports across the entire globe have been disturbed, and businesses have announced the “blue screen of death” and Microsoft outages.
Australia is highly-affected
Reports of the outage in Australia began showing up at about 3PM AEST. Since then, numerous banks, supermarkets, petrol stations, and payment systems have been announcing that are forced to close their services to the public, due to the outage situation.
However, triple-0 services and the main emergency services say that can serve their duties. At this stage, the Australian government believes the outage is not the result of a cyber attack, but is linked to an unsuccessful CrowdStrike company update, that wrecked the entire system.
From our sources, a major cyber security company says CrowdStrike is currently trying to fix the issue.
Meanwhile, in Brisbane, Australia, numerous businesses have been forced to shut their doors. Several images taken by the locals in the Queen Street area, show how many stores displayed handwritten posters that announced the network systems are down. Pharmacies written that can’t hand out prescriptions and shops stated that payment can only be in cash.
Australia’s largest bank, Commonwealth Bank, stated that some clients couldn’t transfer money due to the failure of the service.
A national emergency meeting is set for later this day. The federal government will host it, and water and energy representative authorities will participate. Representatives from state and territory leaders, energy, water, and airlines will also attend the conference.
The latest statement from Australia Virgin Airlines claimed that operations are still continuing, but some cancellations and delays are expected. In the Northern Territory, the breakdown affected the Darwin International Airports this afternoon, and passengers were warned to expect delays. However, no flights have been announced yet.
Coles supermarkets closed in Alice Springs and Darwin cities. Reports also showed that The Bendigo Bank branch in Darwin has also shut down, but the majority of primary services, such as NT government departments, NT ambulance service ST John, and the Darwin bus system, are still in function.
Outage website Downdetector announced that Foxtel, National Australia Bank, Australia Post, Suncorp, Xero, NBN, MYOB, ME Bank, Optus, Telstra, Amazon, Westpac, Google, ANZ, and Microsoft are among the companies involved in the mass turn-off.
Several media organizations reported problems with networks, including ABC, SBC, Channel 7, Channel 9, and News Corp Australia.
Australia’s biggest telecommunications company, Telstra, was also touched by the Microsoft issue, with a representative confirming it is cooperating with state-based emergency services to recover the services.
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