AN ABUNDANCE of blue screens, supermarket chaos and aviation anarchy are being seen across the globe after a major tech outage.
Microsoft systems were brought to a standstill with a faulty update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike believed to be the culprit, forcing a stop to services around the word.
Microsoft Windows users were met with this screen on Friday, including supermarket checkout screens
One man posted a handwritten boarding pass
With Microsoft down, TV stations including Sky News suffered setbacks
Some businesses were forced to shut up shop
A viral photo posted to X by traveller Akshay Kothari shows a handwritten boarding pass.
Alongside the image, he wrote: “The Microsoft/CrowdStrike outage has taken down most airports in India. I got my first hand-written boarding pass today.”
Cyber security researcher Troy Hunt said: “I don’t think it’s too early to call it: this will be the largest IT outage in history.”
He called the blue screen the “blue screen of death”.
According to founder of cyber research company Imperum Senad Aruc, Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport was “frozen” amid a doomsday.
He wrote on X: “Looks like Crowdstrike Doom’s Day it is real, many airline companies having issues with their systems.”
X user Jasper Hamill said it was a reminder of the fragility of the tech-reliant world, suggesting a collapse could send humans back to the dark age.
He said: “I fear one day historians will talk about the Silicon Age Collapse – and we’ll leave no stone tablets/easily readable records to tell the tale.”
Meanwhile, many Microsoft users have shared snaps of the computer screens stuck with a blue display with the message “Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart”.
CrowdStrike regularly push out anti-virus updates but it appears its most recent has plunged much of the world back to a pre-tech past.
Supermarket checkouts were out of order in Australia with their systems hit by the same dreaded blue screen.
Shops were forced to temporarily close and put up signs saying they couldn’t serve customers amid the anarchy.
Big queues were seen at airports with airlines also struck.
Ryanair warned of possible disruptions, citing a “global 3rd party system outage”.
Another user said: “This is surreal like we are in the Twilight Zone.”
Sky News’ breakfast show couldn’t be aired on Friday morning as the meltdown reared its ugly head in Australia, New Zealand, India and Japan.
Holidaymakers in summer hotspot Majorca were forced to form huge queues at Palma airport on Friday morning, pictures show.
Govia Thameslink Railway warned of disruption amid “widespread IT issues”.
They are the company behind Southern, Thameslink, Gatwick Express and Great Northern trains.
What we know so far…
Cybersecurity software firm CrowdStrike sent out a flawed anti-viral update which affected Microsoft Windows systems around the world
Airports, businesses, banks, newsrooms, television networks, supermarkets, ships and more have been plunged into chaos
Planes were even made to remain in the air on Friday morning
Britain woke up to chaos with NHS appointments cancelled, mayhem at supermarkets and huge airport queues
Friday’s Sky News breakfast show was wiped off computer and TV screens completely
Microsoft uses CrowdStrike to handle its system updates – with the tech company looking to fix the outage “urgently”
CrowdStrike said the problem is related to their “Falcon Sensor” and they have reverted back to an older system to avoid further disruption
The company confirmed it was not a hack or cyber attack
British Airways said it had “issues across our operational systems” amid peak summer travel.
Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden said the government was taking action.
He posted on X: “Many people are being affected by today’s IT outages impacting services across the country and globally.
“Ministers are working with their sectors and respective industries on the issue.”
Many social media users joked about the collapse affected office work, with some saying they were disappointed that their computers didn’t shut down.
X was filled with memes, with one showing a woman angrily throwing brick alongside the caption: “When your work laptop is absolutely fine throughout a global Microsoft outage.”
But in a worrying development, British GP services have been impacted and two German hospitals were forced to cancel emergency services.
Bank services in Australia have been affected with Beyond Bank Australia saying it was “experiencing intermittent issues”.
The Paris Olympics IT system was also hit, with global sporting event to kick off next week.
NOT A CYBER ATTACK, SAYS CROWDSTRIKE CHIEF
CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz wrote on X: “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 organizations ensure they’re communicating with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels.
“Our team is fully mobilized to ensure the security and stability of CrowdStrike customers.”
Global services affected by IT outage
UK trains
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) – urged passengers to expect disruption due to “widespread IT issues”
Gatwick Express – warned travellers they are “currently experiencing widespread IT issues”
South Western Railway – all ticket vending machines are currently non operational – buy tickets online
National Rail – some train operators are unable to access driver diagrams at certain locations, leading to potential short-notice train cancellations
TransPennine Express – some TPE stations and systems are having IT issues – buy tickets online
Airports and airlines
Manchester Airport – delays for those checking-in for Swissport flights
London Gatwick – passengers may experience some delays while checking in and passing through security but should still arrive for their normal check-in time
Ryanair – advise passengers to arrive at the airport three hours in advance of their flight to avoid any disruptions
Edinburgh Airport – wait times longer than usual
Stansted Airport – some airline check-in services reverted to being done manually, but main operational systems are unaffected and flights are still operating as normal
Luton Airport – running manual systems
Heathrow Airport – affected but flights operational – check with airline on latest journey information
American Airlines – all flights cancelled
United and Delta – no flights taking off
Mumbai Airport – check-in desks shut down for IndiGo, Akasa and Spice Jet flights
Australian airline Qantas – flights grounded
Schipol Airport in Amsterdam – flights to and from the Netherlands affected
Spanish airport association AENA – reported issues at 42 airports
Television Networks
Sky News – Friday morning breakfast show unable to air but now back on screens with reporter reading from printed notes
Britain’s GPs
The Wilmslow Health Centre in Cheshire – without access to their IT systems
Solihull Healthcare Partnership in the West Midlands – affected ability to book/consult with patients this morning
Central Lakes Medical Group in Ambleside – stated there has been a “big effect” and delays on the phone expected
Pocklington Group Practice in the East Riding of Yorkshire – appointments needing to be cancelled and rearranged
Hulme Hall Medical Group, in Stockport – unable to offer any appointments
Windrush Medical Practice in Witney, Oxfordshire – continuing as normal for urgent enquiries but ask for routine concerns to wait until Monday
Grimethorpe Surgery in Barnsley – no access to the clinical system, EMIS Web
The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) confirmed the IT outage is disrupting community pharmacies
A surgery in Putney, southwest London – Displaying an error message online to patients who attempt to book
Global hospitals
Two German hospitals have been forced to cancel emergency operations
The hospitals, in the northern German cities of Luebeck and Kiel, cancelled all elective operations scheduled for today
Supermarkets and restaurants
Morrisons are affected
Some Waitrose and Co-op are now cash only
Gails and Waterstones experiencing some issues
Wetherspoons pubs – only accepting cash
Woolworths supermarkets in Australia – self service machines not working
Events
Manchester United ticket release postponed – morning’s ticket release will be postponed until midday and website will remain unavailable
Banks and supermarkets in Australia including Beyond Bank Australia have also been experiencing issues this morning.
Various Microsoft services in Japan and New Zealand are also battling tech issues.
The Sky News broadcast was cut off
Huge lines formed at holidayspot Palma, the capital of Spanish island Majorca
Brits have been warned of rail disruptions
Passengers had to wait at Barajas Airport in Madrid, with airports in India and Amsterdam also said to be at a standstill
