As millions of Windows computers were left crippled for hours, disrupting the services of airlines, banks, hospitals and stock exchanges worldwide, cyber-security platform CrowdStrike on Saturday tried to explain what actually went wrong at their end.
According to the company which provides third-party security updates to the Satya Nadella-run tech giant, on July 19, at 9.30 a.m. (India time), it released a sensor configuration update to Windows systems.
Sensor configuration updates are an ongoing part of the protection mechanisms of the Falcon platform.
“This configuration update triggered a logic error resulting in a system crash and blue screen (BSOD) on impacted systems,” said CrowdStrike.
In a technical blog, the company said the sensor configuration update that caused the system crash was remediated at around 10.57 a.m.
“This issue is not the result of or related to a cyberattack,” it said.
Millions of customers running Falcon sensor for Windows version 7.11 and above that were online were impacted.
“Systems running Falcon sensor for Windows 7.11 and above that downloaded the updated configuration from 9.30 a.m. to 10.57 a.m. -- were susceptible to a system crash,” the company said.
According to it, this is not a new process and the architecture has been in place since Falcon’s inception.
The update that occurred at 9.30 a.m. was designed to target newly observed, malicious named pipes being used by common C2 frameworks in cyberattacks.
The configuration update triggered a logic error that resulted in an operating system crash.
“CrowdStrike has corrected the logic error by updating the content in Channel File 291. No additional changes to Channel File 291 beyond the updated logic will be deployed. Falcon is still evaluating and protecting against the abuse of named pipes,” the company explained.
Systems that are not currently impacted will continue to operate as expected, continue to provide protection, and have no risk of experiencing this event in the future.
“We understand how this issue occurred and we are doing a thorough root cause analysis to determine how this logic flaw occurred. This effort will be ongoing,” said CrowdStrike.
Tripura has begun experimental soilless hydroponic farming: Minister
The Tripura government has experimentally started the hydroponics method of cultivation without any soil, the state’s agriculture minister Ratan Lal Nath said here on Friday.
Assam Rifles seized cannabis worth Rs 30 lakh from Tripura
In a swift and decisive operation against narcotics smuggling, Assam Rifles, in close coordination with representatives of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), successfully seized approximately 195 kg of marijuana from the general area of Taranagar, Agartala during the early hours of 12 June.
High-Level Meeting Held to Curb Illegal Infiltration in Tripura
A high-level administrative meeting was held today at the state secretariat under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary J. K. Sinha, following the directives of Tripura Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha, to review and strengthen measures against illegal infiltration in the state.
Agriculture minister announces development of 3 new paddy varieties in Tripura
The state agriculture and farmers welfare department minister Ratan Lal Nath on Friday announced development of three new paddy varieties in Tripura, which can address the recurring flood-related challenges faced by farmers in the state.
CM Dr Manik Saha inaugurates state-of-the-art Cancer Care Unit in Agartala Private Run Hospital
Chief Minister Prof. (Dr.) Manik Saha on Friday inaugurated a state-of-the-art Cancer Care Center at a private run hospital in Agartala. The new center has been established in collaboration with the International Oncology Cancer Institute, aiming to make quality cancer treatment more accessible within the state.
‘I can’t believe I survived’, says lone survivor of Air India crash in emotional meeting with PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, the sole survivor of the devastating Air India plane crash. Ramesh, a British national of Indian origin, is recovering from injuries sustained in the crash and is being treated at a hospital in Ahmedabad.
Ahmedabad crash: Two Manipuri crew members of London-bound Air India flight killed
Two cabin crew members from Manipur - Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma (20) and Lamnunthem Singson (26) – were killed when the London-bound Air India flight, carrying over 240 passengers, crashed shortly after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport.
Doctor couple’s dreams of new beginning in UK turned to ashes
A doctor couple’s dreams of a new beginning together as a family in UK turned into a nightmare and their last trip together as the ill-fated flight that was to take them to London crashed seconds after take-off on Thursday.