A software issue with the cybersecurity technology Crowdstrike is being blamed for the global IT outage.
The specific technology, Crowdstrike Falcon Sensor, is designed to protect against hacking threats. However, engineers quickly identified a problem with this system as the cause of the massive disruption.
The issue predominantly affects PCs running Windows 10 software.
Crowdstrike, valued at over $80 billion, is one of the world’s largest cybersecurity companies, with its tools widely used by businesses globally.
Their typical technology, known as endpoint detection and response, is a type of antivirus used to counter hacking threats. These products are regularly updated to address potential new cyber threats, often adding new tools to PCs automatically.
Cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt noted in a post on X that Crowdstrike’s tools often have “privileged” access to PCs, granting them broad control over the machines to remove threats.
However, he added, this “also means that if something goes wrong with an update, it’s able to catastrophically nuke your machine.”
