Experts are warning that it may take weeks for global tech infrastructure to fully recover after a botched software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike crashed Microsoft systems worldwide. The fallout from the Microsoft outage has led to flight delays and cancellations, impacted hospitals, banks, supermarkets, and millions of businesses, and caused chaos at airports worldwide. The Australian Signals Directorate has issued an alert about hackers sending out fake software fixes, and there are concerns that criminals will exploit the outage.
Adam Leon Smith of BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, warned that it could take weeks for all computers and systems to be fully restored, with some fixes taking days or weeks. More than 1,500 flights were canceled on Saturday, affecting thousands of passengers. The disruption comes as summer holidays are beginning for many families, leading to potential travel disruptions at airports and train stations.
Indie rock band Bombay Bicycle Club even had to reschedule a festival performance due to the IT outage.
Passengers have reported chaos at airports, with long queues, canceled flights, and a lack of information causing confusion. The UK National Cyber Security Centre has warned of an increased risk of cyberattacks following the outage, with malicious actors taking advantage of the situation. Pharmacies, doctors’ offices, and NHS services have also been affected by the IT outage, with a third of England’s pharmacy drug supplies reportedly hit.
Overall, the impact of the Microsoft outage on global infrastructure and businesses is significant, with experts warning that the full recovery process could take weeks.
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