Cyber Outage Hits Australia, Impacts Banks, Telecoms, and Media

CrowdStrike Outage Affects Businesses Globally

A major cyber outage has disrupted operations at banks, telecommunications companies, and media outlets across Australia on Wednesday, July 19, 2024. The outage is believed to be caused by an issue at CrowdStrike, a leading cybersecurity firm that provides services to businesses and organizations globally.

The outage has impacted operations at major banks such as Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and Westpac, as well as telecommunications companies such as Telstra and Optus. Media outlets including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and News Corp Australia have also been affected.

CrowdStrike has confirmed that it has experienced a major outage and is working to restore services as quickly as possible. The company has not yet disclosed the cause of the outage, but it is believed to be related to a software issue.

The cyber outage has caused widespread disruption to businesses and consumers in Australia. Banking transactions, online payments, and communications have been affected, and businesses are experiencing delays and cancellations in service.

The Australian government is closely monitoring the situation and has advised businesses and consumers to take precautions against cyber threats.

The incident highlights the growing importance of cybersecurity and the reliance of businesses and organizations on technology. It is a reminder that even large, well-established companies can be vulnerable to cyber attacks.