Today, a significant IT outage has disrupted numerous systems across the United States and globally. The issue primarily impacted Microsoft Windows users, causing widespread disruption to both personal and business operations with many experiencing critical system failures.
The outage, which began overnight, has also affected various sectors, including government services. Delaware’s Governor John Carney announced that the State of Delaware’s computer systems have been impacted by the outage. Despite this, public safety services remain fully operational. Governor Carney advised that other state services might experience extended delays as efforts to restore full service are underway.
The outage has had a broad impact across multiple industries. In the financial sector, banks and stock exchanges reported difficulties in processing transactions and accessing online services. Retail businesses faced challenges with point-of-sale systems, leading to delays and disruptions in customer service. Healthcare providers encountered issues with electronic health records, affecting patient care and appointment scheduling.
Additionally, the airline industry saw several major carriers, including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines, experiencing issues with their booking and check-in systems, resulting in flight delays and cancellations.
In a post on X, at 5:45 Friday morning, CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said his company is actively working with customers impacted by a defect found in a single content update for Windows hosts. Mac and Linux hosts are not impacted. This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed. We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website. We further recommend organizations ensure they’re communicating with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels. Our team is fully mobilized to ensure the security and stability of CrowdStrike customers.