A faulty component in the latest CrowdStrike Falcon update is causing major disruptions to Windows-based systems, impacting various organizations and services globally.
The glitch is affecting Windows workstations and servers, leading to massive outages that have taken entire companies and fleets of hundreds of thousands of computers offline.
Reports indicate that emergency services in the U.S. and Canada have also been impacted by the issue. Users have reported Windows hosts being stuck in a boot loop or displaying the “Blue Screen of Death” (BSOD) after installing the latest update for CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor.
CrowdStrike has acknowledged the issue and published a technical alert, explaining that the problem stems from a Channel File within the update for the Falcon sensor. The company has provided a workaround for affected users, advising them to delete the specific file causing the issue.
George Kurtz, President and CEO of CrowdStrike, has assured that the company is actively working with customers to address the problem and has recommended organizations to communicate with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels. He also confirmed that a fix is available and advised customers to access the support portal for the latest updates.
The impact of the update has been felt across various sectors, including 911 emergency service agencies, hospitals, airports, and television stations. The disruptions have led to flight cancellations, ground stops for airlines, and service downtime for customers in affected regions. Additionally, reports from individuals and companies around the world have highlighted the widespread impact of the issue, with tens of thousands of computers experiencing crashes.
Despite the deployment of a fix and the provision of a workaround by CrowdStrike, companies are expected to continue feeling the effects of the issue for some time. At the time of writing, the fix is not able to be applied automatically or remotely, so IT admins managing large computer fleets and diverse IT environments are likely to face significant challenges in resolving the aftermath of the update.
Original story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp4wnrxqlewo
