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CrowdStrike Update Causes Widespread Windows Problems

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Good Morning! CrowdStrike's routine update turned into a nightmare, causing millions of Windows devices to crash worldwide and leaving businesses scrambling. Oracle's feeling the heat too, agreeing to shell out $115 million over privacy concerns - a stark reminder of the challenges in handling personal data today. Google's pulling the plug on its goo.gl link shortener next year, so it's time to start updating those URLs before they break.

CrowdStrike Update Causes Widespread Windows Problems

On July 19, 2024, a routine update to CrowdStrike's Falcon cybersecurity software triggered a massive outage. This affected approximately 8.5 million Windows devices globally, causing them to display the notorious "blue screen of death." The issue disrupted operations across various sectors, including airlines, banks, and healthcare providers.

The problem stemmed from faulty code in a file containing configuration information or malware detection signatures. CrowdStrike confirmed this wasn't a cyberattack and released fixes, but recovery has been slow due to the need for manual intervention on affected systems.

This incident has raised several important points:

  • It highlights the risks of over-reliance on single vendors in critical systems

  • It questions the adequacy of testing procedures in major cybersecurity firms

  • It demonstrates the potential for widespread disruption from a single software update

A lot of people are saying this event means that we need for more rigorous quality control processes, especially given CrowdStrike's significant market share among Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. The incident also shows the importance of having robust backup plans and potentially diversifying cybersecurity solutions to mitigate such risks in the future. Check out Forrest’s video down below to learn more.

Read More Here

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Oracle's $115M Privacy Settlement: A Big Warning for Data Collectors

Oracle has agreed to pay $115 million to end a lawsuit about privacy issues with how it gathered and sold people's information. The lawsuit said Oracle made secret "digital files" on millions of people, with private details like what websites they visited, where they banked, and how they used their credit cards.

Some important points you should know:

  1. Oracle will stop collecting information from websites people visited before and what they type into forms on non-Oracle websites.

  2. The deal covers data collected or sold since August 19, 2018.

  3. The lawsuit mentioned Oracle's ID Graph product, which helps companies make ads more personal.

This case shows the growing problems with collecting and selling lots of data. As privacy rules get stricter around the world, tech companies need to think hard about how they handle data to follow the rules and keep people's trust.

Read More Here

Google's URL Shortener Service Is Ending Soon

Google is turning off its goo.gl URL shortening service for good. After August 25, 2025, all goo.gl links will break and show 404 errors. This means any websites or apps still using these short links need to be updated.

Timeline and Changes: Starting August 23, 2024, you'll start seeing warning pages on some goo.gl links. These pages will tell users that the link won't work much longer. Over time, more and more links will show this warning.

The warning pages might cause problems:

  • They could mess up how links redirect

  • They might break social media previews

If you need a quick fix, you can add "si=1" to the end of your goo.gl links. This will hide the warning page, but it's only a temporary solution.

If you're a developer or manage websites, now's the time to act:

  1. Check all your projects for goo.gl links

  2. Replace these links with new ones that won't break

  3. Do this well before the 2025 shutdown date

When picking new tools to manage URLs, think long-term. Google once said to use Firebase Dynamic Links instead, but even that service is being shut down. This shows why it's crucial to choose stable, lasting solutions for your apps.

Read More Here

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when a null pointer dereference breaks the internet lol

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