Global Outage: CrowdStrike Update Crashes Windows Machines – Key Information and Solutions

CrowdStrike’s faulty code update: What do we know so far?

The incident took place on July 18, with Australian banks and airlines being the first to report the problem. Numerous machines in the country went offline out of the blue, freezing the activity of hundreds of businesses across the country.

Soon afterward, European and American companies encountered the same issues:

• Sky News, one of the biggest TV broadcasters in the UK, apologized for not being able to release its morning news.
• ABS News also reported experiencing a major network outage.
• Ryanair, an Irish low-cost airline company, admitted experiencing IT issues affecting flights departures.
• American airlines Delta, United, and American Airlines canceled all their flights.
• The majority of airports in India had their systems taken down. Also, the Berlin airport delayed all of its flights due to the issue.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In a massive thread on Reddit, users discuss critical problems with their Windows computers and possible solutions to the BSOD issue they are dealing with.

Comment
byu/TipOFMYTONGUEDAMN from discussion
incrowdstrike

Having that in mind, it’s time to figure out what the BSOD issue actually is and whether it’s possible to handle it right away.

BSOD on Windows explained

Here‘s a brief explanation of the BSOD issue and why it occurs on Windows devices.

Not long after the first victims raised the alarm, CrowdStrike admitted the problem and responded with the following message on X:

There is a faulty channel file, so not quite an update.

There is a workaround…
1. Boot Windows into Safe Mode or WRE.
2. Go to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike
3. Locate and delete file matching “C-00000291*.sys”
4. Boot normally.

1/2

— Brody (@brody_n77) July 19, 2024

But why has this issue happened in the first place? 

What is the CrowdStrike Windows issue?

According to security experts, the problem occurred due to a CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor update (or rather a faulty channel file, as the company’s chief threat hunter claimed). This channel file turned a protection feature into an unexpected threat to businesses and individual users worldwide.

In a nutshell, CrowdStrike Falcon is an agent designed to block attacks against systems and efficiently detect threats. But at the moment, this cybersecurity solution has become the problem itself. Troy Hunt, a famous cybersecurity expert, has already called it the largest IT outage in history.

I don’t think it’s too early to call it: this will be the largest IT outage in history

— Troy Hunt (@troyhunt) July 19, 2024

At the same time, Internet users keep coming up with their own guesses regarding the reasons behind the CrowdStrike Falcon outage:

The cause of the Microsoft / Crowdstrike outage

credit: @xkcdComichttps://t.co/Ngq5ZJ89Ln pic.twitter.com/NSdAT7wwt5

— Tim Graham 🌻 (@timothyjgraham) July 19, 2024

Right now, thousands of users worldwide are looking for a way to solve the CrowdStrike bug issue and bring their Windows devices back to life. So, is there a way out?

How to fix the CrowdStrike Sensor update issue

Once businesses around the world started bumping into the BSOD error on their Windows machines, CrowdStrike has been actively looking for a solution. 

The first possible workaround to solve the CrowdStrike update outage was suggested by the company’s chief security expert in the X post mentioned above. Here are the steps he recommended:

1. Boot your Windows into the Safe Mode or Windows Recovery Environment.
2. Head to the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike.
3. Look for the C-00000291*.sys file and remove it.
4. Boot the host in normal mode.

However, CrowdStrike later confirmed that this method will not work for all users experiencing the BSOD issue. While the company has already removed CrowdStrike error codes, those who experienced it previously may still be unable to troubleshoot it, waiting for further updates.

Bottom line

For now, there are no confirmed incidents of data loss or security breaches related to the CrowdStrike outage. While the incident has affected many businesses and industries around the world, it will likely be solved soon. Still, it does remind us that even the most advanced systems and technologies remain vulnerable to unexpected crashes, failures, and cyber-attacks. Therefore, following basic security measures and best practices is paramount to everybody, from large enterprises to individuals.

With that being said, here’s your essential cybersecurity cheat sheet to keep your devices safe and sound no matter what.

💡 Cybersecurity cheat sheet for Windows users

✔️ Update your devices regularly: Keep your system up to date to address vulnerabilities and take advantage of the latest security patches.

✔️ Use strong and unique passwords: Come up with good passwords for all your accounts and change them on a regular basis.

✔️ Avoid installing unverified software: Stay away from suspicious apps and services as they may appear to be infected with viruses.

✔️ Use a VPN: Get a reliable VPN for PC like VeePN to enhance your online security and privacy. A VPN encrypts your data and hides your IP address, allowing you to avoid various cyber-threats, including public Wi-Fi risks.

✔️ Use a premium antivirus solution: Get a strong anti-malware tool like VeePN Antivirus to run regular system scans and remove harmful files from your device.

✔️ Stay informed: Activate the Breach Alert feature in your VeePN web account to get notified when your personal information, such as passwords and credit card details, has been noticed in a security breach.

Check out VeePN pricing plans and download a trustworthy VPN for Windows to gain an extra security layer and enhance your Internet privacy. Try it out now with a risk-free money-back guarantee!

Written by VeePN Research Lab VeePN Research Lab is dedicated to provide you latest posts about internet security and privacy.

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