Massive Windows Outages Traced to CrowdStrike Update

Widespread Windows outages that plagued users on Wednesday have been linked to a software update from cybersecurity giant Crowdstrike. The outage was caused by a flawed security update by CrowdStrike, according to a statement from the company's chief executive, George Kurtz.

The update was intended to be a routine update, but it caused Blue Screens of Death (BSODs) on many Windows systems. A BSOD is a critical error that can cause a computer to crash and lose unsaved data.

Crowdstrike is known for producing antivirus software intended to prevent hackers from causing this very type of disruption. The company's Falcon Sensor software is used by many businesses and government agencies to protect their networks.

The outage is not believed to be linked to a cyberattack. Crowdstrike said in its statement that it is investigating the cause of the problem and working to fix it.

In the meantime, users who are experiencing BSODs after installing the Crowdstrike update should restart their computers in Safe Mode and uninstall the update.