Microsoft has blamed EU rules for causing a botched security update to lead to the world’s biggest computer outage, according to The Telegraph.
Between Friday and Sunday, more than 9,000 flights were cancelled. PHOTO Shutterstock (Archive)
The software giant said a 2009 settlement with the European Commission prevented it from making security changes that would have blocked the CrowdStrike update that caused widespread travel and healthcare chaos on Friday.
CrowdStrike’s Falcon system, created to prevent cyber attacks, has special access to a critical part of a computer called the kernel.
A week ago, a faulty update rendered millions of Windows PCs and servers unusable, causing flights to be cancelled, contactless payments to be made impossible and GP appointments to be made impossible.
Microsoft, which has its own alternative to CrowdStrike called Windows Defender, agreed in 2009 to several security vendors installing kernel-level software as part of a European competition investigation.
Instead, Apple banned access to the core of its Mac computers four years ago, which would improve security and reliability.
A Microsoft spokesperson told the Wall Street Journal that no such change could be made because of the EU agreement.
More than 8 million Windows devices were affected
Microsoft said on Saturday that the CrowdStrike update affected 8.5 million Windows devices. That’s less than 1% of all devices using the software, but it had a major impact considering CrowdStrike is widely used in businesses.
The botched update resulted in an error appearing on the screens of many computers, rendering them unusable until the problem was fixed.
CrowdStrike announced on Monday that “a significant number” of affected computers were back up and running and apologized for the inconvenience.
According to figures provided by data company OAG, 9,650 flights were canceled between Friday and Sunday. Although many airlines have resumed operations, 2,619 flights were canceled on Sunday, most of which were canceled by the US airline Delta.
Britain’s National Health Service (NHS) said its systems were back up and running, but that “there may still be some delays as services are restored.”
The European Commission took action against Microsoft in the early 2000s on the grounds that the company’s popular Windows software gave it an unfair advantage in other areas, such as web browsers.
In 2009, the company agreed to improve computer users’ options for browsers and other programs.
This deal comes as new European laws force Apple to offer more options to iPhone users. Under the new Digital Markets Act, the company will have to allow iPhone access to alternative app stores and web browser engines.
Apple claimed the changes would make the iPhone less secure.
