How The Crowdstrike Outage Stopped The World: What Happened?

Imagine waking up to a world without computers. At first, it may sound nice, even relaxing, to have a day without technology. On second thought, you may also be thinking of our daily reliance on technology for food, business, travel, and more. For some, on Friday, July 19th, this was the unfortunate reality as a Crowdstrike outage took out millions of devices across the globe. 

The event marked a major technical breakdown that is novel in recent history. The Crowdstrike outage impacted all aspects of life, from personal computers and businesses to hospitals and airlines. Even officials working with the Paris Olympics planning groups report impacts on their business functions. 

The problem was originally traced to a Windows update issued for Microsoft devices by Crowdstrike. The company spotted the outage at 6 a.m. on Friday, but it was already too late to stop its widespread effects. 

The Crowdstrike outage only affected Microsoft computers, with Linux and Mac devices remaining unaffected. Furthermore, only companies using Crowdstrike software were affected. Unfortunately, many businesses rely on Crowdstrike software to protect from hackers. With the increasing importance of cybersecurity, businesses equipped millions of devices with this software.

How Were Businesses Effected? 

Across the globe, 8.5 million devices suffered an impact. The software affected all professional and personal computers, causing disruptions in nearly every business sector. Airlines, hospitals, and emergency services were particularly hard hit.

Airport Impacts

National and international airlines bore the brunt of the impact initially. Small-budget airlines experienced disruptions early in the morning. As time passed, larger carriers felt the effects as well. By Friday evening, more than 40,000 flights had encountered delays, and 4,400 flights were canceled.

Issues were too widespread to address within airports quickly. Programs that controlled security, baggage, customer check-in, and more experienced separate impacts. Airlines report that the issues were similar to those during a major snowstorm. That is, of course, if the snowstorm occurred worldwide. The Crowdstrike outage is a testament to our reliance on delicate computer systems. As you would imagine, the event left many people stuck in the wrong location, unable to return home or attend plans they had made. Iconically, emotional images of families and groups stranded in crowded airports flooded social media platforms.

Other Impacts

Even more dangerously, the outage also affected medical providers around the globe. Doctors and medical professionals could not access records, scheduling programs, and other information, which resulted in some cancellations and postponements of elective surgeries. 

The Crowdstrike outage also affected newscasters. Many were abruptly off-air, leaving viewers bewildered due to the lack of explanation. Meanwhile, millions of Americans lost access to their usual news sources. Even emergency services, including 911, encountered disruptions nationwide.

The Crowdstrike outage was so large that even President Biden was briefed on the issue and put into personal contact with the country. 

Crowdstrike’s Response 

In response, Crowdstrike issued multiple apologies and guidance sources for their users. In the words of their CEO, “I want to sincerely apologize directly to all of you for the outage. All of CrowdStrike understands the gravity and impact of the situation. We quickly identified the issue and deployed a fix, allowing us to focus diligently on restoring customer systems as our highest priority.”

On their website, they provide a comprehensive explanation of the incident and the current status of their systems. Additionally, they outline steps for users to take if hackers impact their devices.

What Should You Do in a Flight Delay Situation?

Aside from the general implications of the Crowdstrike outage, people are becoming increasingly aware of how delicate our systems and businesses are. Additionally, everyone who felt the impact or heard of the incident wants to know what to do if they find themselves in a similar situation. Frequent flyers want tips for reacting to other flight delays and cancellation scenarios. 

Under the Biden Administration, airlines now face accountability for delays. These rules require airlines to provide a full refund if passengers experience a major delay, typically defined as a 3-hour- or 6-hour international delay. Each major airline may also have a variety of other compensations for delays. For instance, some will offer hotel stipends or meal tickets. 

If you find yourself with a delayed flight, there are a few things you can do to help acquire the proper compensation. Firstly, you should check if the airline has stated the delay. If not, you should ask an airline employer and record their name and their answer for posterity. In some situations, such as adverse weather that is out of the airline’s control, the delay may not constitute compensation. 

If the delay is due to other reasons, you should inquire through the airline’s proper channels. Most airlines issue compensation “per request,” meaning the customer has to initiate the conversation. When you are discussing the possibilities of a refund, you should have your receipts ready, be open, and communicate with the airline employee. In most situations, following this guide of steps is the best way to alert the airline and properly request a refund. 

Other Ways to Refund a Delayed Flight 

In some unfortunate circumstances, a delayed flight may not be enough to warrant an airline’s refund. Some people protect themselves by purchasing specialized travel delay insurance. Third-party delay insurance can cover a variety of things, including missed events, hotels, and meals. Likewise, it can also cover things when the airline isn’t required to.

If those options aren’t feasible, you might consider credit card flight delay insurance. Certain travel cards offer delay reimbursement as part of their travel insurance. These cards typically have specific rules regarding delays, often reimbursing costs for delays of at least 6-12 hours. Although this option can be more complicated than speaking with the airline directly, it might cover more considerable expenses or be more reliable than traditional refunds.