flawed update Archives

Tech Optimizer

August 5, 2024

Cybercriminals taking advantage of CrowdStrike-linked global computer outage

A global IT outage caused by a flawed software update from CrowdStrike has led to increased cybercriminal activity, with phishing campaigns and malware distribution targeting individuals and businesses. The outage, which began at 1:20 a.m. ET on Friday, affected organizations reliant on Windows computers using CrowdStrike Falcon, resulting in widespread system failures. The Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a warning about the surge in online criminal activity and advised caution when interacting with communications related to the incident. CrowdStrike's CEO, George Kurtz, acknowledged the disruption and the company's efforts to assist affected customers. CrowdStrike is working to deploy a previous version of its Falcon software and has provided workaround steps for users experiencing issues.

Winsage

August 2, 2024

Microsoft veteran shares Windows NT, 3.1, 95 Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) origin story

In July 2024, a global disruption occurred due to a flawed update from CrowdStrike Falcon, identified as a problematic IPC Template Type in their Preliminary Post Incident Review. Microsoft later provided an explanation of the incident. Raymond Chen, a Microsoft developer, clarified authorship of the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) in a blog post, stating there is no mystery regarding its creation. The original blue screen, referred to as the "blue screen of unhappiness," was created by Steve Ballmer for Windows 3.1. The first true BSOD kernel error was designed by John Vert for Windows NT 3.1 in 1993. Raymond Chen designed the BSOD for Windows 95, which allowed users to bypass the error message. The Windows 98 BSOD gained notoriety during a COMDEX keynote in 1998.

Winsage

July 29, 2024

Google breaks password manager with iffy Chrome update

Google issued an apology for a disruption affecting its password manager for millions of Windows users, which lasted nearly 18 hours and was resolved on July 25. The issue impacted users of the M127 version of the Chrome browser on Windows, making saved passwords temporarily inaccessible. Approximately 2 percent of users within the affected 25 percent experienced this problem, potentially impacting over 17 million users given Chrome's market share of 65.68 percent among the 5.4 billion internet users in 2023. The root cause was identified as a "change in product behavior without proper feature guard." This incident highlights the risks associated with browser-based password managers, as a single flawed update can render a user's password vault unreachable.

Winsage

July 19, 2024

Windows/CrowdStrike outage recap: Today’s ‘Blue Screen of Death’ error explained

A global IT outage has caused Windows workstations and terminals to show 'DRIVEROVERRANSTACK_BUFFER' Blue Screen of Death errors, leading to disruptions in airlines, stores, TV stations, and internet services worldwide. Airlines like Delta, United, and American Airlines have grounded planes due to communication issues, while stores and online services have also been impacted. CrowdStrike has released a fix for the issue, but major financial institutions like banks and credit card companies are still experiencing outage reports. Mac and Linux systems were not affected by the outage, highlighting the world's dependence on the Windows operating system. Healthcare services have also been impacted, with hospitals around the world facing disruptions in patient care.

Winsage

July 19, 2024

CrowdStrike Windows Crisis: Is It Safe To Turn On Your PC?

CrowdStrike is a firm that provides security software to businesses around the world. An update issued by CrowdStrike caused millions of Windows PCs to display The Blue Screen of Death error screen. The flaw has been fixed but affected PCs may need manual fixing. The impact of the flaw has been significant, affecting airports, hospitals, and banks. Windows PCs running CrowdStrike's software are affected, not home PCs. Macs, Linux PCs, and Chromebooks are unaffected. It is advised to check with your company's IT department before turning on a work-supplied Windows PC. Businesses must thoroughly test updates and have fail safes in place. The inconvenience caused by the flaw highlights our dependence on technology. Many work computers left running overnight may have already been affected by the bug.