A botched CrowdStrike Falcon security update not only caused a massive outage of Windows-based IT systems around the world, but also led to a wave of disinformation and fakes. In particular, the Sfera entertainment center in Las Vegas, whose facade is covered in a multitude of programmable LEDs, allegedly displayed a blue screen of death (BSOD).
Image source: Sunrise King/Unsplash
An image of the “Sphere” with a “blue screen of death” has been shared on the social network X (formerly Twitter), which has collected millions of views. And it seems that everyone believed in the authenticity of the image. However, according to a representative of the center, this photo was faked in a graphics editor, and the object itself was not damaged by CrowdStrike.
Of course, with computers in airports, stores and hospitals around the world now showing blue screens, it’s easy to believe the photo is real. However, as writes According to TechCrunch, the only evidence that the Sphere was damaged is the publication of this fake image by the Daily Mail and the Express Tribune. Additionally, live footage on YouTube shows that the sphere is fine, despite how much some people would like to believe the funny idea of a “BSOD Sphere.”
Image source: YouTube screenshot/TechCrunch
Another vector of disinformation has been trends in X related to the tag “cyberattack,” as well as a surge in Google searches for the same term. But according to CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz, this is not a security incident or a cyberattack.
Recall that today there was a failure caused by problems with the CrowdStrike protection system, which affected computers of airlines, stores, media outlets and many other companies around the world running Windows. The failure had the most pronounced effect on civil aviation. The failure did not directly affect flight safety, but led to flight delays and problems with check-in due to the inability to issue tickets and baggage. Russia practically does not use CrowdStrike, so Russian companies were not affected. However, Russians traveling on connecting flights or working in foreign companies using CrowdStrike could have faced inconveniences. At the moment, more precise reasons for the failure are unknown, experts are considering both technical reasons in CrowdStrike and the possibility of a cyber attack.
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