How one software update grounded flights around the world

Process map by Brian. 13 steps, 1 layer. Tags: technology, security, software, news.

  1. Security software company: Builds a routine update to detect new threats
  2. Security software company: Tests miss a bug in one data file
  3. The update: Pushes the file to every customer at once, not a few at a time
  4. Millions of Windows computers: The security driver reads the file and crashes the computer
  5. Millions of Windows computers: Computer reboots, crashes again, and loops
  6. Airlines, banks and hospitals: Check-in desks, 911 lines and hospital systems go dark
  7. Airlines, banks and hospitals: Flights are cancelled around the world
  8. Security software company: Pulls the bad file within about an hour
  9. IT teams: Can they fix it remotely?
  10. IT teams: Fix each computer by hand in safe mode
  11. Airlines, banks and hospitals: Operations recover over days, and some airlines take far longer
  12. Security software company: Publishes the cause and promises staged rollouts and better testing
  13. IT teams: Push a fix

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