A major global IT outage has hit companies worldwide, severely affecting Windows operating systems. The issue, caused by a defect in CrowdStrike's cybersecurity software, has resulted in the notorious 'Blue Screen of Death' appearing on monitors across various sectors including banking, healthcare, and travel. Flights have been canceled, and TV studios have paused broadcasting. CrowdStrike has isolated and deployed a fix for the defect, but the chaos continues as the company’s shares drop by over 20%. Meanwhile, the internet is buzzing with memes about the outage.

What caused the global IT outage affecting Windows systems?

The global IT outage was caused by a defect in the cybersecurity software from CrowdStrike, affecting Windows operating systems and leading to widespread instances of the 'Blue Screen of Death'.

The 'Blue Screen of Death' (BSoD) is a critical system error screen displayed on Windows operating systems following a fatal system error. Typically caused by malfunctioning hardware, driver issues, or software bugs, the BSoD provides error codes to help identify the problem. This is one of the most feared errors for Windows users, as it can signal serious issues within the computer's hardware or software.