How a faulty CrowdStrike update crashed computers around the world

The logo for CrowdStrike and a Spirit Airlines webpage are shown on a computer screen and mobile phone screen, in New York, Friday, July 19, 2024. A global technology outage grounded flights, knocked banks offline and media outlets off air after a faulty software update disrupted companies and services around the world and highlighted their dependence on just a handful of providers. — AP

Airlines, banks, hospitals and other risk-averse organisations around the world chose cybersecurity company CrowdStrike to protect their computer systems from hackers and data breaches.

But all it took was one faulty CrowdStrike software update to cause global disruptions on July 19 that grounded flights, knocked banks and media outlets offline, and disrupted hospitals, retailers and other services.