CrowdStrike (CRWD) on Friday said a defect in a single content update for Windows hosts caused the problem. The company said it was not a security incident or a cyberattack. A program update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike early Friday triggered major IT outages worldwide. The loss of service disrupted business operations for many airlines, banks, hospitals, telecommunications providers and more.
CrowdStrike an American cybersecurity technology firm that provides cloud workload protection, threat intelligence and cyberattack response services said the outage is not a due to a cyber attack; it was caused by a software issue that has been identified and a fix had been deployed.
A wave of IT outages swept across the globe Friday morning, causing thousands of flight cancellations and stalling internal and external systems across a variety of industries including hospitals, banks, stock exchanges and other institutions, as some Microsoft-based computers ceased to work.
CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity software used by numerous Fortune 500 companies, including major global banks, healthcare and energy companies detects and blocks hacking threats. Like other cybersecurity products, the software requires deep-level access to a computer’s operating system to scan for those threats. In this case, computers running Microsoft Windows appear to be crashing because of the faulty way a software code update issued by CrowdStrike is interacting with the Windows system.
“We refer customers to the support portal for the latest updates and will continue to provide complete and continuous updates on our website. We further recommend organizations ensure they’re communicating with CrowdStrike representatives through official channels. Our team is fully mobilized to ensure the security and stability of CrowdStrike customers,” Kurtz said.
CrowdStrike Compare to Other Cybersecurity Companies
- Heimdal: An excellent alternative to CrowdStrike, Heimdal offers a seamless command and control platform. Its award-winning lineup includes Threat Prevention, Patch and Asset Management, Privilege Access Management, and Email Security. Heimdal provides proactive protection by detecting threats at the traffic layers even before they reach your machine processes.
- Carbon Black: Known for its endpoint security solutions, Carbon Black focuses on threat detection, response, and prevention. It is a solid competitor in the cybersecurity landscape.
- SentinelOne: This company emphasizes autonomous endpoint protection using AI and machine learning. Their platform detects and responds to threats in real time.
- Cylance: Acquired by BlackBerry, Cylance offers AI-driven endpoint security. It is known for its predictive threat prevention capabilities.
- Microsoft: With its Defender suite, Microsoft provides integrated security across endpoints, cloud, and identities. It is a trusted player in the industry.
- Symantec: Symantec’s comprehensive suite covers various security aspects, including endpoint protection, email security, and cloud security.
- Sophos: Sophos offers a wide range of security solutions, including endpoint protection, firewall, and encryption
Key Features of CrowdStrike
- Endpoint Protection: CrowdStrike provides real-time protection for endpoints (such as laptops, desktops, and servers) against malware, ransomware, and other threats. It uses behavioral analysis and machine learning to detect and prevent attacks.
- Cloud Workload Protection: The platform secures cloud-based workloads (e.g., virtual machines in AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud) by monitoring activity, detecting vulnerabilities, and preventing unauthorized access.
- Falcon Intelligence: CrowdStrike integrates threat intelligence from various sources to proactively identify emerging threats and provide context for security teams.
- Incident Response: The platform assists with incident investigation, threat hunting, and remediation. It provides detailed information about attacks and helps organizations respond effectively.
- Threat Graph: CrowdStrike’s Threat Graph maps relationships between entities (users, devices, applications) to identify suspicious behavior and lateral movement within a network.
- Managed Services: CrowdStrike offers managed services for organizations that need additional support in threat detection, response, and monitoring.
Read also:Cyberattack on CDK Global and 6 Dealerships Benefits from CDK Global Solutions
