A major IT outage caused global chaos, impacting millions of users and businesses. The disruption began when Microsoft users encountered the notorious “Blue Screen of Death,” a critical error that left numerous Windows PCs inoperable.

The root cause was identified as a faulty update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, leading to widespread disruptions. The immediate and extensive impact was felt by businesses worldwide, including banks, airlines, and media outlets, all of which faced significant operational challenges. European markets experienced a volatile day as investors reacted to the crisis.

CrowdStrike’s shares plummeted nearly 20%, and Microsoft’s stock also took a hit, underscoring the severity of the situation. Air travel was heavily affected, with grounded flights and extensive delays causing frustration among passengers. Airports globally displayed the infamous blue error screens, adding to the confusion. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States had to assist several airlines with ground stops until the issue was resolved.

Throughout the day, live updates provided details on the outage’s extent and the efforts to restore normalcy. Both CrowdStrike and Microsoft worked tirelessly to reverse the problematic update and mitigate the damage. Despite their efforts, the incident highlighted the vulnerabilities in our interconnected digital world and the cascading effects of a single point of failure.

CrowdStrike shares fell around 15 percent on Friday.

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