Home HomeSwedenLivingWorld world_2_fill WorldBusiness BusinessSports sports-soccer SportsEntertainmentEntertain

So many Windows devices were affected by the outage

8.5 million. That's how many Windows devices were affected, according to Microsoft, by the global IT disaster that on Friday created massive disruptions at, among others, airlines, stock exchanges, and stores worldwide.

» Updated: 21 July 2024, 21:57

» Published: 20 July 2024

So many Windows devices were affected by the outage
Photo: Paul White/AP/TT

8.5 million.

That's how many Windows devices were affected, according to Microsoft, by the global IT disaster that on Friday caused massive disruptions to, among other things, airlines, stock exchanges, and stores around the world.

According to the software giant, which is behind the operating system, this represents less than one percent of all Windows devices in the world.

8.5 million devices may seem like a small number. But it's not, assures IT security specialist Karl Emil Nikka. There are two reasons for this.

In this figure, both Windows computers and servers are included, he says.

Computers and servers

Nikka explains it as if an employee's computer at a company is affected, it's not worse than the employee getting an extra day off.

But if a server is affected, it can happen that an entire department or entire company suddenly cannot conduct its operations.

It can also be about service providers that have been affected, which in turn affects companies that are dependent on them, for example, for payment services.

This outage has had consequences that also affect customers who do not themselves use Crowdstrike Falcon, which is the cause of the problem. When a service provider is affected, the other organizations are also affected, says Nikka.

Probably the largest outage

IT experts call the outage the largest that has ever occurred. The closest is the Wannacry ransomware, which in 2017 had a widespread spread and infected around 300,000 computers in 150 countries, according to BBC.

The current outage began when the IT security company Crowdstrike sent out an update of the Falcon program to its customers. PC users who had Falcon installed on their computers were met with a blue screen with an error message.

Correction: In an earlier version of this text, Microsoft's explanation was described incorrectly.

Tags
TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

New French obstacles for Airbnb
1 MIN READ

New French obstacles for Airbnb

The Government Seeks Support for Those Affected by Northvolt
1 MIN READ

The Government Seeks Support for Those Affected by Northvolt

The regional tax will be raised next year
1 MIN READ

The regional tax will be raised next year

Astra Zeneca's China Chief Arrested by Police
1 MIN READ

Astra Zeneca's China Chief Arrested by Police

More rate cuts - but risk of turmoil with Trump
2 MIN READ

More rate cuts - but risk of turmoil with Trump

Svantesson: Trump's policy may increase inflation
2 MIN READ

Svantesson: Trump's policy may increase inflation

Major Banks Lower Mortgage Rates
1 MIN READ

Major Banks Lower Mortgage Rates

Central Bank Economist: Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate Too Late
2 MIN READ

Central Bank Economist: Central Bank Cuts Interest Rate Too Late

How You Are Affected by Lowered Interest Rates
2 MIN READ

How You Are Affected by Lowered Interest Rates

Thedéen expects turmoil after Trump's victory
2 MIN READ

Thedéen expects turmoil after Trump's victory

Inflation upswing does not threaten interest rate cuts
3 MIN READ

Inflation upswing does not threaten interest rate cuts

The Stockholm Stock Exchange Continues Upwards
1 MIN READ

The Stockholm Stock Exchange Continues Upwards

Most up on Asian stock exchanges
1 MIN READ

Most up on Asian stock exchanges

This is how your wallet can be affected by Trump's victory
2 MIN READ

This is how your wallet can be affected by Trump's victory

Cheerful on Wall Street after Trump win
1 MIN READ

Cheerful on Wall Street after Trump win

Thousand-kronor notes to be picked up when the Central Bank increases the pace
3 MIN READ

Thousand-kronor notes to be picked up when the Central Bank increases the pace

Swish up and running again after disruption
1 MIN READ

Swish up and running again after disruption

Trump's company is soaring on the stock exchange
1 MIN READ

Trump's company is soaring on the stock exchange

Swedish Export Threatened by Trump Victory
2 MIN READ

Swedish Export Threatened by Trump Victory

Sameby's appeal against mining company rejected
1 MIN READ

Sameby's appeal against mining company rejected