19/07/2024
CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor Update Causing Global IT Outage
A faulty update to CrowdStrike's Falcon Sensor, a core component of their cybersecurity platform, is causing widespread IT disruptions across the globe. CrowdStrike engineers are actively working to resolve the issue.
Impact of the Outage:
Airports, businesses, and broadcasters are experiencing disruptions, according to Sky News.
Flights have been grounded in the U.S., trains in the U.K. are impacted, and boarding scanners at Edinburgh Airport in Scotland are affected.
Microsoft's Response:
Microsoft acknowledges service issues starting around 6pm Eastern Time and is taking mitigation actions. They are investigating issues with cloud services in the U.S. and problems impacting several applications and services.
Cause of the Outage:
Initial reports blamed a faulty update. However, a CrowdStrike representative clarified that it's a "faulty channel file, so not quite an update."
Potential Workaround:
A user named Brody, director of CrowdStrike Overwatch, suggests a potential workaround:
Boot Windows into Safe Mode or WRE.
Navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike.
Locate and delete the file matching "C-00000291*.sys".
Reboot normally.
Important Note:
This workaround should be attempted with caution and only by qualified IT personnel.
