Faulty Update Causes Global Chaos
Microsoft has pointed fingers at the European Union for the massive IT outage last Friday, which disrupted up to 8.5 million Windows devices. The chaos began when an antivirus update from CrowdStrike malfunctioned, causing widespread failures.
EU Agreement Restricts Microsoft’s Actions
The tech giant explained that a 2009 agreement with the European Commission prevented it from implementing security changes that could have blocked the problematic CrowdStrike update. This agreement aimed to ensure fair competition by allowing multiple security providers to operate at the kernel level of computers.
Widespread Disruptions
The outage had far-reaching consequences, affecting thousands of flights, the UK’s NHS service, and contactless payment systems worldwide. The defective update from CrowdStrike’s Falcon system, designed to prevent cyberattacks, ended up crippling millions of computers globally.
Microsoft’s Constraints Compared to Apple
While Microsoft had to comply with the EU’s competition rules, Apple took a different approach by blocking kernel access on its Mac computers in 2020, citing improved security and reliability. Microsoft, however, could not follow suit due to the 2009 EU agreement, which aimed to maintain competition among security software providers.
CrowdStrike’s Response and Ongoing EU Regulations
CrowdStrike admitted to the defect in its software update and confirmed that a significant number of affected computers are now back online. They have apologized for the disruption. Meanwhile, the EU is pushing its new Digital Markets Act, aiming to force Apple to open its iPhone to alternative app stores and web browsers, continuing its efforts to regulate big tech companies and ensure fair competition.
SOURCE: Ref Image from The Telegraph
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