Web down: Major IT Outage Disrupts Banks, Retail Giants, and Other Key Organizations
Major IT Outage Disrupts Businesses, Banks, and Retail Giants
A significant IT outage has struck organizations, government agencies, and businesses across Australia and globally. The outage is linked to CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm known for its advanced cloud-native platform that protects data and identities. Downdetector, a site that tracks outages, reported a growing list of affected entities, with many workers experiencing the dreaded "blue screen" on their devices.
:CrowdStrike at the Center
CrowdStrike, which boasts 29,000 clients globally, is at the heart of the issue. The company is currently dealing with an influx of support requests and has issued a recorded message acknowledging the problem, specifically related to its Falcon sensor on Windows systems.
:Banking and Finance Impact
Banks such as Bendigo Bank, ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, and Bank of Queensland are among those affected. Accounting software like Xero and MYOB is also down, potentially causing payroll issues. The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) reported that while its website was affected, share trading continued unaffected due to an independent server system.
:Retail Disruptions
Chaos ensued at retail outlets, including Woolworths and Coles, as customers scrambled to withdraw cash, bypassing electronic payment methods. Several stores in Perth closed early, and betting services like TAB went offline. The outage has sparked concerns about the reliability of cashless transactions during such crises.
:Travel Delays
Perth Airport reported minimal impact, with some self-check-in systems down but no flight delays yet. However, in Sydney, Virgin Australia experienced a "complete ground stop," halting all flights in and out of the airport. Melbourne Airport advised travelers to allow extra time due to check-in issues. In the U.S., the FAA grounded all flights from major carriers like Delta, United, and American Airlines.
:Emergency Services
WA Police confirmed that emergency services, including triple zero calls, were not affected. However, some systems at St John WA, including urgent care, were impacted, though ambulance responses remained uninterrupted.
:Sports and Media
The Fremantle Dockers informed members they might face difficulties accessing tickets via the app. TV programming was also affected, with Sky News' breakfast show in the UK unable to air, replaced by archive footage. Postal and freight services, including Australia Post and Amazon, are likely to face delays.
The cause of the outage is believed to be a technical issue with a third-party software platform, not a cybersecurity incident. The National Cyber Security Coordinator confirmed ongoing communication with key stakeholders and emphasized that the incident appears to be non-malicious.
Conclusion
The widespread IT outage that affected major organizations highlights the vulnerability of relying on digital systems and underscores the need for robust cybersecurity and backup measures to mitigate such disruptions.
