WIRED Jul 19 24
The Global CrowdStrike Outage Triggered a Surprise Return to Cash:
The event caused chaos at airports, grocery stores, and Starbucks outlets.
wired.com/story/microsoft-crowdstrike-outage-cash/
Photo: wired.com · view article
Cloud Outage Forces Return to Cash PaymentsOn July 19, outages disrupted card payments in Australia and the US, causing long lines and some stores to close temporarily.
Key FactsJul 20, 2024 · Reading time: ~45 sec.
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: wired.com
Summary created with AI assistance · Source: wired.com
- A global cloud service failure caused widespread disruption to cashless payment systems in airports, stores, and coffee shops.
- Australia experienced severe impacts, with card-only checkouts failing and some stores locking their doors due to long queues.
- Starbucks faced significant operational issues including downed mobile ordering and label printers during a popular $3 drink promotion.
- Cybersecurity experts highlight this incident as a clear example of the fragility and security risks inherent in cloud infrastructures.
Software supply chains have long been a serious cybersecurity concern and potential single point of failure.— Richard Forno, a cybersecurity lecturer at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, discusses the vulnerability of our current cloud and internet infrastructure.
