Several private entities in Sri Lanka too have been affected by the mass global IT outage, the Sri Lanka Computer Emergency Readiness Team (SLCERT) said.
A massive technology outage disrupted businesses and institutions in multiple countries today, throwing airlines, government services, banks, supermarkets, telecoms and media outlets into chaos.
The cause of the outage was not immediately clear, but it came hours after Microsoft said it was addressing an issue affecting access to Microsoft 365 apps and services.
The disruption was attributed to CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm whose software is used by industries around the world to protect against hackers and outside breaches.
The problem appeared to result in crashes of machines running Microsoft Windows operating system. Microsoft said it was investigating an issue preventing users from accessing its apps and services.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, major US carriers including Delta, United and American Airlines have had flights grounded. International airlines, including Virgin Australia and Qantas, have also seen disruptions.
Airports in the United Kingdom, Germany, Malaysia and the Philippines also reported disruptions to services, while Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, one of Europe’s busiest hubs, was also hit.
Authorities said banks and telecom companies in Australia and New Zealand have been affected, while Israel’s hospitals and health services are facing a computer “malfunction”.
Australia’s national broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and Network Ten also confirmed that their systems had been affected. Sky News in the UK said the glitch had ended its morning news broadcasts. (Newswire/ foreign media)