A major global outage has struck Microsoft, causing widespread disruption across several critical services, including Microsoft Teams, Windows 365, and OneDrive. Millions of users worldwide are grappling with a severe malfunction known as the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), which is causing computers to shut down or restart abruptly.
The problem, which has primarily impacted Windows 10 systems, was traced back to a recent update from CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm. This update, part of CrowdStrike’s Falcon suite, was intended to enhance security but has inadvertently caused a significant technical glitch affecting countless users.
Social media platforms have been flooded with frustrated users posting images of their screens displaying the BSOD. The sudden crashes have brought productivity to a halt in offices globally, as employees find their work disrupted by the unexpected system failures.
Despite the widespread frustration, some users have found a silver lining in the situation. The outage has sparked a wave of humor, with social media users sharing memes and jokes about the BSOD.
Take a look at the memes:
#Microsoft #Windows #crowdstrike
IT Employees right now 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/CpW6kbBzKr
— Ex Bhakt (@exbhakt_) July 19, 2024
Happening now:
Windows laptops have started crashing for several users across India
Reported on Grapevine by employees at Bain and Company, Microsoft, Deloitte and TCS in the last 10 minutes
One user said “The weekend has started early” 😂 pic.twitter.com/x5R9xDxwmm
— Saumil Heard It (@OnTheGrapevine) July 19, 2024
Corporate employees facing Microsoft outage on Friday – pic.twitter.com/1KCxoEZvbg
— Pakchikpak Raja Babu (@HaramiParindey) July 19, 2024
That one guy after destroying Microsoft globally #Microsoft pic.twitter.com/XYDiJk1IvH
— Vivek Gautam (@Imvivek04) July 19, 2024
Me enjoying free time in the office after the Microsoft crash #Microsoft pic.twitter.com/4oh4oLaUo7
— Vivek Gautam (@Imvivek04) July 19, 2024
Me enjoying free time in the office after the Microsoft crash #Microsoft pic.twitter.com/4oh4oLaUo7
— Vivek Gautam (@Imvivek04) July 19, 2024
while all of these memes have been going viral over the internet, one such meme was responded to by X owner Elon Musk who found it amusing. He responded to the meme with a laughing face emoji
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 19, 2024
The impact of the outage extends beyond office environments, affecting critical services across various sectors. According to a report by Guardian Australia, the BSOD has disrupted operations in banks, airlines, telecommunications companies, TV and radio broadcasters, and supermarkets. The scale of the disruption highlights the extensive reach of the technical issue.
Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and is actively investigating the cause. The company has identified the CrowdStrike update as the likely source of the issue and is working to resolve the malfunction and restore normal service.
As the investigation continues, Microsoft has urged users to remain patient and has promised to provide updates as they work to fix the outage.
Also read: Global Microsoft Outage Causes Widespread Disruptions Across Multiple Sectors