MICROSOFT BOLSTERS WINDOWS TO AVOID ANOTHER CROWDSTRIKE CRASH

Microsoft is rolling out a series of updates to make Windows tougher against crashes like the one caused by a faulty CrowdStrike update that knocked out millions of PCs and servers worldwide.

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The changes, part of the Windows Resiliency Initiative, aim to stop such disruptions by tightening how security software interacts with the operating system’s core. The goal is to keep critical systems—think hospitals, airlines, and banks—running smoothly even if a thirdparty update goes wrong.

The CrowdStrike incident, triggered by a flawed software patch, hit 8.5 million Windows devices, a small fraction of the total but enough to ground flights, halt surgeries, and disrupt banking. The problem stemmed from CrowdStrike’s Falcon platform running at the kernel level, the heart of Windows with full access to system memory and hardware. A single bad file caused a Blue Screen of Death, sending machines into reboot loops that often needed manual fixes. Microsoft’s response focuses on making Windows more resilient, with tools to prevent and recover from such failures.

The initiative includes stricter rules for security vendors and new recovery features. Microsoft is working with partners like CrowdStrike, Bitdefender, and Trend Micro to ensure updates roll out gradually and are thoroughly tested. These changes, while invisible to most users, aim to give IT teams better control and faster fixes, sparing them sleepless nights after another outage.

MOVING SECURITY OUT OF THE CORE