A widespread Microsoft Cloud outage has disrupted millions of computer systems worldwide, causing sudden shutdowns and restarts. According to Microsoft, the root cause is a recent update from CrowdStrike.
CrowdStrike Engineering, a cybersecurity services firm that collaborates with Microsoft, has identified a content deployment issue and taken swift action to revert the changes. Additionally, the company has provided steps for affected Windows users to resolve any problems resulting from this issue.
Meanwhile, Indian IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has released a statement stating that MeitY is constantly in touch with Microsoft and that they are working to find
The impact of this outage has been extensive, affecting critical services globally. Airports like SpiceJet, Akasa Air, and IndiGo have reported technical challenges affecting online ticket booking, check-in, and other functionalities in India.
Similarly, flights have been grounded in Australia and the United States due to the tech problem. Financial services and banks have also felt the effects, with reports indicating that the London Stock Exchange has been impacted.
What causes this?
In a detailed thread on X, Microsoft confirmed they are investigating the issue, which has impaired users’ access to various Microsoft 365 apps and services.
Regular users, on the other hand, are stuck in a BSOD look or a bluescreen of death loop. If they have been updated with this poorly patched piece, devices like laptops or desktops will behave erratically. They won’t be able to boot correctly, as the software patch messes up the voltages and makes the system unstable.
Because of this, the laptop or desktop triggers a voltage protection program, which triggers the BSOD.
How do we stop the BSOD loop?
CERT-In and Microsoft have presented a rather simple way to prevent your device from getting stuck in this loop.
Boot Windows into Safe Mode or the Windows Recovery Environment. On most laptops, users can do that by hitting the F10, F11, Enter, or Delete keys.
– From here, select Boot in the Safe Mood option.
Once you’re booted in, navigate to the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike directory.
Locate the file matching C-00000291*.sys and delete it.
Boot the device normally.
Various services take a hit.
This incident also underscores the critical nature of robust cybersecurity measures and the far-reaching impact of technical issues.
As technology advances, companies like Microsoft and CrowdStrike need to maintain the stability and security of their services to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
In conclusion, the recent Microsoft Cloud outage, caused by a CrowdStrike update, has led to significant disruptions across various sectors worldwide. Microsoft and CrowdStrike have taken swift action to address the issue, and users are encouraged to follow the recommended steps for resolution and stay informed through official channels.
