The hypotheses

Computer blackout: failed update and blue error screen, that's what's happening

From the first information, it seems that the Californian company CrowdStrike is at the root of the problem.

by Biagio Simonetta

19 July 2024

2' min read

Key points

What is a BSOD
Who is CrowdStrike

2' min read

The history of computer troubles teaches that caution is the only right card to play in the early stages of a breakdown. And that is why at the moment it remains difficult to understand what the real reason is for the computer blackout that is paralysing half the world. A hardware failure? A software update gone wrong? A hacker attack?

Cautiously, we try to understand what is going on.

At the moment, the hypothesis of a hacker attack seems the least convincing. While hypothesis number 2 is gaining ground: that of a software update gone wrong.

Software updates (system updates) are frequent, precisely to keep systems up to date and make them ready for new threats.

In this specific case, the incriminating update would be the one released by the cybesecurity company CrowdStrike.

According to Sole24Ore, in fact, the release of this very update is said to have generated the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) that is paralysing network infrastructures worldwide.

What is a BSOD

The Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) is a critical system error that occurs in Windows operating systems when the operating system can no longer function safely. This screen indicates that an unrecoverable system error has occurred, forcing the computer to stop all operations to prevent potential damage to the system. Sometimes a simple restart of the machine can solve the problem temporarily. But this does not appear to be the case.

Who is CrowdStrike

What caused the BSOD was allegedly (conditional is still required) an update released by CrowdStrike, a computer security company founded in 2011 and based in Sunnyvale, California, the beating heart of Silicon Valley. The company is known for its cloud-based security platform, which focuses on protecting endpoints, i.e. end devices such as computers and smartphones, which are often the most vulnerable points in corporate networks.

CrowdStrike has won numerous accolades over the years, ending up on the Forbes list of most innovative companies. It became famous for its key role in uncovering the cyber attacks on the 2016 US presidential election, attributed to the Russian hacker group known as Fancy Bear.

The Californian company serves a wide range of customers, including large companies, government agencies and organisations around the world. And that is why one of its failed updates would have knocked out hundreds of systems.

Microsoft, which is losing 2% in the premarket, does not therefore appear to be an active participant in this problem, although its own systems were the victims. The Redmond-based company did however update users, claiming to have 'determined the underlying cause' - which did not appear to be a cyber attack but a technical problem - and that 'most services are now restored'.

We will know more in the coming hours.

Biagio SimonettaRedattore
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Lingue parlate: italiano, inglese
Argomenti: Finanza, Fintech, Silicon Valley, Tecnologia
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