A widespread outage on July 18, 2024, severely impacted Windows-operated devices, disrupting critical services such as airports, communications, and media outlets. The disruption stemmed from an erroneous update issued by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. While the primary issue has been resolved and most affected services have resumed operations, some users continue to experience problems. Additionally, investigations into the outage's cause and assigning responsibility are still underway. Concerns have arisen that the Windows crisis could worsen the e-waste crisis. Many users may be forced to discard their older devices due to their incompatibility with newer operating systems or a lack of security updates.
A widespread outage on July 18, 2024, severely impacted Windows-operated devices, disrupting critical services such as airports, communications, and media outlets. The disruption stemmed from an erroneous update issued by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. While the primary issue has been resolved and most affected services have resumed operations, some users continue to experience problems. Additionally, investigations into the outage's cause and assigning responsibility are still underway. Concerns have arisen that the Windows crisis could worsen the e-waste crisis. Many users may be forced to discard their older devices due to their incompatibility with newer operating systems or a lack of security updates.