Tag Archives: Windows

Gadget Man, Matt Porter, Microsoft, The Gadget Man

Global Windows Crash Crisis: The Crowdstrike Falcon Update Fiasco

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Earlier today, a significant issue has come to light affecting Windows users globally. CrowdStrike’s Falcon sensor update for Windows hosts has led to widespread system crashes, commonly known as the “blue screen of death” (BSOD). This disruption has impacted critical sectors across the globe, including transport, banking, and media.

What Happened?

The latest content update from CrowdStrike for its Falcon sensor, designed to enhance security measures, inadvertently introduced a defect. This defect has caused systems to crash, triggering BSOD errors. Users began experiencing these problems shortly after the update was deployed, leading to a flurry of reports and concerns from various industries dependent on uninterrupted system operations.

Affected Areas

The fallout from this update has been extensive. Industries such as transport have seen operational disruptions, banking systems have faced downtime affecting transactions, and media outlets have struggled with system reliability. This has not only caused inconvenience but has also raised concerns about the stability and reliability of critical cybersecurity tools.

Cloudstrike Statement
Cloudstrike Statement

CrowdStrike’s Response

In response to the crisis, CrowdStrike has issued a statement acknowledging the problem and detailing their steps to mitigate the issue. They have provided guidelines for affected users to stabilise their systems and are working on a resolution to prevent further incidents. CrowdStrike’s team is actively investigating the root cause and is committed to restoring normal operations as swiftly as possible.

What to Do If You’re Affected

Users experiencing issues are advised to follow CrowdStrike’s interim measures to disable the problematic update and revert to a stable version of the Falcon sensor. Detailed instructions are available on CrowdStrike’s official blog, ensuring that users can manage their systems and mitigate the immediate impact while a permanent fix is developed.

For ongoing updates and support, affected users are encouraged to stay in touch with CrowdStrike’s customer service and monitor their communication channels.

Conclusion

This incident underscores the critical importance of robust update testing and rapid response mechanisms in cybersecurity. While CrowdStrike’s proactive measures are a step in the right direction, the incident highlights the need for vigilance and preparedness in handling unforeseen software issues.

For more detailed information, you can visit the official statement from CrowdStrike here.

Crowdstrike, Gadget Man, Matt Porter, Microsoft, Podcast, Technology, The Gadget Man, Worldwide Outage

Global Windows Crash Crisis: Crowdstrike Falcon Sensor Update “Defect” Disrupts Key Sectors Worldwide

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Today, I’m addressing a significant issue affecting numerous Windows users worldwide. Reports have emerged of widespread crashes, commonly referred to as the “blue screen of death,” impacting various critical sectors, from transportation to banking and media.

I spoke with Sarah Julian at BBC Radio WM about the worldwide problems that continue to persist

Understanding the Issue:

The root cause of these crashes has been traced back to an overnight software update for CrowdStrike’s Falcon Sensor. For those unfamiliar, Falcon Sensor is a security tool designed to act as a sentinel for your computer, monitoring and protecting against malicious activities. A single corrupted system file from this update is causing Windows systems to crash upon booting.

Why This Matters:

Windows holds a substantial market share, with 72% of global computers running this operating system. The automatic update to Falcon Sensor has inadvertently introduced a fault, leading to these severe crashes. The update, once applied, seems to corrupt system functionality, causing the dreaded blue screen on countless machines.

Impact Across Sectors:

The ripple effect of this issue is profound. The update has disrupted services across various sectors:

  • Transportation: Both train and plane operations have been hampered.
  • Banking: Financial institutions are facing operational challenges, with payment systems affected.
  • Media: Broadcast systems have been affected, causing interruptions, including Sky News and CBBC.
  • Healthcare: NHS GP surgery systems are impacted, with reports of doctors having to handwrite prescriptions.
  • Emergency Services: Even essential services like emergency call centres have not been spared.
  • Airports: Airports, including Birmingham Airport, have reported issues with check-in services, and operations at the Port of Dover are also impacted.

Al Lakhani, CEO of IDEE, said:

“Many people might be thanking Microsoft for their accidental day off, but countless businesses are suffering due to Microsoft’s and their partners’ failure to maintain their services. This incident underscores the importance of businesses thoroughly researching and vetting their cybersecurity solutions before implementation. Microsoft clearly fell short in this regard, and we are witnessing a cascade of operational failures around the world as a result.”

“CrowdStrike’s platform approach, which relies on a single agent focused on detection, might seem good at first glance, but as we can see, it can create significant issues. For instance, agents require installation and maintenance of software on multiple different OSes, adding layers of complexity and potential points of failure. Moreover, agents can become a single point of failure, as a bad update can compromise the entire network, as seen with the SolarWinds attack.

“The lesson here is blindingly obvious: investing in cybersecurity is not just about acquiring the latest or most popular tools but ensuring those tools are reliable and resilient. This is why businesses must prioritise agentless solutions like MFA 2.0, which reduce the risk of widespread failures and ensure more resilient defences.”

Cloudstrike Falcon Sensor Blue Screen of Death BSOD Global Outage
Cloudstrike Falcon Sensor Blue Screen of Death BSOD Global Outage

Current Status and Actions:

Microsoft has acknowledged the problem and stated that a fix is in place. However, this does not immediately rectify the situation for all affected devices. Many computers remain non-functional, and a manual fix may be required. One proposed solution involves removing the corrupted update link to restore system operations.

Security Concerns:

This incident raises critical questions about our reliance on third-party providers and the level of access they have to our systems. The Falcon Sensor update had kernel-level access, the deepest level of system access, which allowed it to cause such widespread disruption.

Tech Alert Windows Crashes Related to Falcon Server
Tech Alert Windows Crashes Related to Falcon Server

Moving Forward:

As we navigate this challenging situation, it’s essential to stay informed and take proactive steps to secure our systems. Further updates will be provided as new information becomes available and solutions are implemented.

For now, if you’re experiencing issues, consult with your IT department or follow the suggested manual fix to remove the problematic update. Manual intervention is likely to be needed to address the corrupted system file causing the crashes. Stay vigilant and prioritise your system’s security.

Gadget Man, Microphones, Press Release, retro, Retro Gadgets, Shure

Shure Unveils MV5C Home Office Microphone Designed for Professionals who Require Pristine Audio

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Latest Addition to MOTIV Microphone Line Provides Consistent Audio for Important Meetings

Executives presenting to leadership, sales teams pitching to a new client, and teachers tackling the world of distance-learning, all demand one thing in this new age of virtual collaboration: crystal clear audio that allows them to speak confidently while delivering their message. To support the needs of this new working environment, Shure launched the MV5C Home Office Microphone, which provides optimal audio quality by prioritising the user’s voice and not the environment. The ideal solution for working-from-home professionals, the sleek digital microphone provides clear audio for conferencing and video calls from any home office, without the need to wear headphones.

Shure launches the MV5C Home Office Microphone
Shure launches the MV5C Home Office Microphone

“With nearly everything now operating from home—TV productions, education, health and wellness, and our everyday work—we quickly realized the need for improved audio in these settings,” said John Born, Senior Global Product Manager at Shure.

“The MV5C provides drastically better sound from a brand that professionals have been trusting for decades to support their biggest moments on stage. In the simplest and most concise way, you can now have the confidence that your message, presentation, or story, is being heard loud and clear.”

Shure launches the MV5C Home Office Microphone
Shure launches the MV5C Home Office Microphone

One-Step Set-Up
User set-up is intentionally simplified, so professionals of all levels can unbox the MV5C, plug it into their computer, and that’s it. The set-up also provides different audio modes for “set it and forget it” applications. Headphones are optional, allowing users to take a break and listen through the computer’s built-in speaker or external speakers. The microphone is compatible with Mac or Windows devices by using the supplied USB-A or USB-C cables for a direct connection.

Studio-Quality Sound for the Home Office
Out-of-the-box, the MV5C is a directional microphone and features Shure’s Speech Enhancement Mode to enhance the user’s voice on audio or video calls for even clearer sound. Users can speak with assurance knowing that their voice will be heard clearly during virtual pitches, presentations, and lessons without having to repeat themselves or be asked to talk louder.

Shure launches the MV5C Home Office Microphone
Shure launches the MV5C Home Office Microphone

Retro-Inspired Design
The MV5C features a sleek, compact design that easily fits on any desk for a powerful solution that offers studio-quality sound. The fully adjustable desk mount stand allows users to easily tilt the position of the MV5C toward the talker’s mouth. The MV5C is a home audio upgrade to help professionals speak more confidently, knowing they will be clearly heard on the other end of the call.
The MV5C Home Office Microphone is available for purchase at select retailers and at www.shure.com for £115 GBP.

Shure’s range can also be purchased on their Shure Amazon Store

Fuze, Gadget Man

FUZEBOX: The Most Accessible Coding Device Ever

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https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1093182079/fuzebox-the-most-accessible-coding-device-ever

For the first time just about any computing device can be used to program games and apps, control robotic devices, interact with sensors and experiment with electronics. The FUZEBOX doesn’t care if you have Windows, OSx, iOS, Android or Linux, or if you are using a phone, tablet, laptop or PC. It simply connects to your device via USB, Bluetooth or WiFi and allows you to get coding straight away.

Loaded with sensors such as heat, humidity, light, pressure, a microphone and camera, infra-red, gyro and more, you can transform the FUZEBOX into almost anything. For example, a thermometer, weather station, games controller, TV remote, motion sensing camera, spirit level, tilting maze puzzle game, synthesiser keyboard and much more – you write the code, you make it happen!

Passionate about coding, the FUZE team have designed the FUZEBOX to make coding accessible for anyone. Schools teaching coding now don’t need separate computers for the children to use, all the need to do is plug in the FUZEBOX to existing equipment. The language used with the FUZEBOX – FUZE BASIC, provides the perfect stepping stone between Scratch and Python, and puts sensors right at children’s fingertips so they can interact with the sensors and code they have written themselves.

Not just a cool coding gadget, the FUZE team want the FUZEBOX to inspire our younger generations to understand and love coding.