In a widespread IT outage, large-scale technical failures have been reported globally, affecting various sectors. It is believed the issue lies with Crowdstrike cybersecurity software, not a hacker attack.
The BBC reports significant IT disruptions impacting major banks, media outlets, and airlines. Sydney Airport has grounded flights, United Airlines has halted operations, and the London Stock Exchange’s platform is experiencing interruptions.
Spanish airport management body Aena has warned of potential delays due to IT issues, with efforts underway to resolve the problems. These disruptions are affecting some, but not all, Spanish airports.
Berlin International Airport is currently shut down due to a technical fault, halting all flights, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the airport.
In the UK, the largest train operator is facing widespread IT issues, leading to cancellations on Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) lines. Additionally, the London Stock Exchange has experienced delays in updating its FTSE 100 index due to technical problems.
US tech giant Microsoft has acknowledged the service disruptions, stating that it has taken “mitigation actions” and continues to improve its services. Users may face difficulties accessing Microsoft 365 apps and services as Australia reports extensive IT disruptions.
How is Italy affected by the IT outage?
Ita Airways has announced global IT system issues causing significant air transport delays and cancellations. The company is working to minimise passenger inconvenience and advises checking their app or official website for flight updates.
Fiumicino Airport in Rome has not been directly affected by the digital disruptions, but delays are noted due to the global issue. Flights to the USA and Europe are experiencing delays of 60 to 90 minutes on average.
Museums in Florence have been affected with the processing of electronic tickets. Tour guide Leonardo described it as “disastrous” this morning.
Autostrade per l’Italia has activated its Business Continuity IT system to manage the digital disruption, ensuring network service remains operational with minimal issues.
At the Milan Stock Exchange, the Ftse Mib index was calculated late due to the computer problems linked to Microsoft. Operations were restored later in the morning.
Cause of IT outage
The root cause of these failures is attributed to a software agent update error, not a hacker attack. The problem lies with Crowdstrike cybersecurity software, which is failing to update properly due to a configuration error. This has led to widespread crashes on Windows platforms, with many computers displaying a blue screen and unable to restart.
In contrast, Beijing’s airports have not been impacted by the global cyber outage, with operations remaining normal, as reported by Chinese state media CCTV.
These widespread technical failures highlight the vulnerability of global digital infrastructure and the cascading effects on various sectors.
The full statement from George Kurtz, the CEO of Crowdstrike:
“Crowdstrike 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 organisations ensure they’re communicating with Crowdstrike representatives through official channels.
“Our team is fully mobilised to ensure the security and stability of Crowdstrike customers.”
