A recent software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike caused widespread problems for Windows devices, highlighting our dependence on technology and the potential for disruption. This incident, now resolved, serves as a reminder of the far-reaching consequences a larger tech meltdown could have. From air traffic control to hospital equipment and financial transactions, our modern world relies on a complex web of interconnected systems.

What caused the tech outage on July 19, 2024?

The global tech outage, courtesy of CrowdStrike involved a bug within their Falcon sensor update for Windows systems. Security software like Falcon directly interact with the foundational kernel of an Operating System and set up their "office space" along-side the core drivers of the Windows OS. The CrowdStrike bug, released in their software update, caused a driver to malfunction and in turn, broke the kernel's normal operations causing the dreaded "Blue Screen of Death" on a Windows device.

Similar to CrowdStrike, many other softwares like antivirus programs, firewalls, user monitoring apps also use kernel-level access to read, manage and control data. Businesses and companies across the world use.

Technical Doomsday Scenario

Picture this: a faulty line of code or worse, an intentional bug in the latest release of a prominent security software that is widely used across multi-national businesses. This time though, the impact was not just for a single device. The innocent-seeming code, with its intended or unintended viral capabilities, posts malicious requests to servers and starts affecting non-user-facing server sites too. And servers in turn spread it on to other servers, and devices that connect to it.

In a connected world like today's, no sector is immune to the dangers of simply being online. From airlines to grocery stores, from hospitals to weather monitoring stations, everything is affected. The bug doesn't discriminate.

Everything's Cancelled

Air travel, the lifeblood of globalization, would come to a screeching halt. Modern airlines rely on tech for everything from Air Traffic Control (ATC) to passenger entertainment systems. ATC systems rely on real-time data exchange for safe and efficient flight operations. All other means of travel affected equally, if not worse. A 2021 computer failure in Florida's ATC system resulted in significant delays and mass cancellations. In a doomsday scenario, the extent of this would not be limited to the sunshine state. Flights would be grounded globally, and possibly indefinitely, and thousands of passengers would be stranded.

A Barter System Reborn

Our modern, plastic-reliant economy would come to a screeching halt. Cash machines would be rendered inoperable, and credit card transactions would be impossible without the complex network of online authorization systems. The 2012 Visa outage, left millions scrambling for cash due to a system malfunction. That incident offered a glimpse into the potential chaos. Barter systems, relics of a bygone era, might emerge as a desperate attempt to facilitate basic transactions. A cashless society is a vulnerable society and a breeding ground for social unrest as access to essential goods and services becomes restricted.

Out of Stock

The carefully planned modern "just-in-time" inventory systems, responsible for keeping supermarket shelves stocked, rely on meticulous digital coordinations for efficient delivery of food from across the globe. In 2021, a cyberattack on JBS, a major meat supplier, caused significant disruptions to the food supply chain. A global tech meltdown would cripple this system entirely, leading to empty shelves and potential food shortages. Remember how during the early days of the COVID pandemic, nearly half of all grocery stores in the United States were out of stock of toilet paper. Densely populated areas would be particularly vulnerable as local resources struggle to meet the sudden surge in demand.

Humanity in Crisis

The human cost is worse than empty shelves. Hospitals, heavily reliant on Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and digital monitoring equipment, would face a desperate scramble back to analog practices. We've been working hard for several decades to switch from analog to digital medicine. Accurate diagnoses and efficient treatment plans depend heavily on digital data. The 2019 outage at Alton Memorial Hospital in Illinois serves as a cautionary tale. With EHRs inaccessible and vital signs monitored manually, healthcare professionals would face significant challenges. Communication breakdowns between medical personnel and emergency services would have life-threatening consequences.

The Crowdstrike incident was a warning shot. We've built a world so dependent on technology that a single glitch could unravel everything. Are we aware and ready for a reality where a single logic of faulty code could directly lead to a desolate future? Yes, we are aware, but, no, we are not ready.