BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – It was an update that paused the world. Businesses and governments worldwide experienced disruptions Friday as a widespread technology outage affected services across industries.
At the heart of it all was CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm that provides software to companies worldwide. The company says the problem occurred when it deployed a faulty update to computers running Microsoft Windows, noting that the issue behind the outage was not a security incident or cyberattack.
The outages affected our region as well.
“I’m thinking I got up early for nothing,” said Michael Jensen of Brandon.
“The life of an airport director is always different every day, every time I wake up in the morning, and that’s why I love this airport. But today was definitely a little bit different, a little bit challenging,” Burlington Airport Director Nic Longo said.
A dozen flights out of the Burlington airport were delayed for multiple hours Friday and five were canceled. Now, a scheduling shuffle with futile hopes of resolving things in a timely fashion.
Longo prays things will be back on track by Saturday.
“The hope is to make sure flights come in for our midnight bank to make sure they get out on time tomorrow morning,” he said.
As airlines worked to reschedule travelers, at the hospital, folks scrambled to get their appointments rescheduled.
Officials with the Univeristy of Vermont Health Network said phone systems are down at hospitals around the region, including Middlebury’s Porter Medical Center and CVPH in Plattsburgh. Many procedures, surgeries, and appointments were delayed.
And at UVM Medical Center and Central Vermont Medical Center, phlebotomy wasn’t able to accept any patients.
One phlebotomist said there are some minor inconveniences inside the emergency department, but nowhere near the harm that was caused by the Russian hack.
Now, one nurse is posting on Facebook that anyone who is trying to get to the hospital should stay away unless it is an emergency.
The Vermont Attorney General’s Office warns CrowdStrike scams may already be proliferating. The office says scammers could pose as CrowdStrike employees trying to get access to your devices.
A reminder that it’s important to independently verify anyone who you allow to access your computer.
The AG’s office says businesses may be a target.
If you have concerns — you can contact the office’s consumer assistance program.