7 Major Glitches That Disrupted 2024 because of Technology
Despite AI’s power to change things, 2024 has also had its share of tech failures. One of the biggest was a glitch with Microsoft and CrowdStrike that affected 8.5 million Windows devices, causing systems to crash and disrupting businesses, governments, and people worldwide.
From big tech companies to social media platforms and stock exchanges, here are seven major tech glitches from 2024 that remind us how much we rely on technology.
Microsoft and CrowdStrike
Microsoft and CrowdStrike
On July 19, 2024, Microsoft users experienced an outage due to a mistake made by CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity company. They released a faulty software update that caused Windows systems using CrowdStrike’s Falcon sensor to crash, leading to widespread disruptions.
As a result, 911 emergency lines were down in several U.S. states, and the Federal Aviation Administration reported that some American airlines had to temporarily ground their flights. Airlines like KLM and airports such as Berlin Brandenburg and London Stansted also reported disruptions.
Paul Semaan, a Digital Transformation Expert at the UNDP, told Forbes Middle East that this incident shows how much we rely on technology. He said that the outage affected many important services worldwide, including air travel, healthcare, financial markets, and media. This event highlights how connected and vulnerable our systems are when something goes wrong.
On the day of the outage, Microsoft’s stock price dropped to $437.1, ending the week with a 3.6% decline from $453.6 the previous week. CrowdStrike’s stock also fell by 17.9%, closing at around $305. Besides financial losses, these tech companies also faced public embarrassment due to the glitch.
SIX Swiss Exchange
SIX Swiss Exchange
Business leaders were still dealing with the fallout from the CrowdStrike update when another issue arose at the end of July. On July 31, 2024, trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange was halted for several hours due to technical problems. As a result, the SMI, the main index of SIX, dropped by 3.6% on August 2, 2024, the first trading day after the disruption, reaching 11,875.5 points.
Paul Semaan pointed out that the disruptions in essential services and halted financial transactions show how a failure in our tech infrastructure can cause major problems in everyday life and business. He emphasized the importance of having strong backup plans and diverse technology solutions to reduce risks.
Netherlands’s Ministry of Defence
Netherlands’s Ministry of Defence
On August 28, 2024, air traffic at Eindhoven Airport, the second-largest airport in the Netherlands, was halted for several hours due to IT network issues at the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The ministry clarified that there was no evidence of malicious intent, stating that the disruptions were caused by a software bug. This issue led to login problems for Ministry of Defence employees and affected other government services as well.
NYSE
NYSE
On June 3, 2024, a technical issue with industry-wide price bands from the Consolidated Tape Association’s Securities Information Processor (CTA SIP) caused trading halts for several stocks on NYSE Group exchanges. The error led trading platforms to mistakenly show a nearly 100% drop in Berkshire Hathaway’s share price that morning, making it appear as though Warren Buffett’s company had lost almost all its value, dropping from nearly $900 billion to less than $1 billion. Trading in Berkshire Hathaway stock was paused for about two hours before resuming.
Trump’s interview
Image Source: Forbes and Image by NICHOLAS KAMM and Brendan Smialowski / AFP
On August 12, 2024, a technical glitch on X caused a 40-minute delay in the much-anticipated interview between former US President Donald Trump and X owner Elon Musk. Musk attributed the issue to a cyberattack. The glitch prevented many users from accessing the X Spaces audio stream through the shared link, leaving 765,000 listeners with only music until the interview finally started.
After the event, Trump posted on Truth Social, claiming that his two-and-a-half-hour conversation with Musk still achieved “all-time record views and hits,” and criticized the media for focusing on the delay rather than the event’s success.
Meta services
Meta services
On March 5, 2024, Meta faced a major outage that disrupted access to its popular platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, for several hours.
Meta acknowledged the outage and apologized for the inconvenience, but the exact cause of the disruption has not been revealed. While some reports suggested widespread network issues, further analysis indicated that the problem was likely related to a backend issue within Meta’s infrastructure, possibly involving authentication or core system functions.
HGC’s internet
HGC’s internet
In February 2024, HGC Global Communications (HGC) experienced major internet service disruptions after four of its underwater cables in the Red Sea were damaged. This severely affected communication networks across the Middle East, impacting 25% of their internet traffic. The incident highlighted the fragility of global internet infrastructure and the widespread effects on businesses and individuals who rely on consistent online connectivity.
Paul Semaan noted that tech outages can disrupt business operations, financial markets, and daily life, exposing the economic risks tied to our dependence on digital infrastructure. However, he emphasized that AI and machine learning are crucial for improving system reliability, efficiency, and resilience, making them key to preventing and managing such tech glitches.
Published: 3rd Sep 2024
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