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Major IT outage across Australia brings down businesses
A widespread CrowdStrike outage has brought down Microsoft systems worldwide on Friday afternoon, affecting banks, supermarkets, telecommunications and airports.
The ongoing widespread outage is reportedly related to US-based cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike. Its ‘Falcon sensor’ is installed on many business computers to gather security data.
“CrowdStrike is aware of reports of crashes on Windows hosts related to the Falcon sensor,” the company said in a statement on its website.
“Symptoms include hosts experiencing a bugcheck\blue screen error related to the Falcon sensor. Our engineering teams are actively working to resolve this issue and there is no need to open a support ticket. “Status updates will be posted below [on the website] as we have more information to share, including when the issue is resolved.”
Services affected worldwide
Payment systems have been impacted around the world with customers unable to use Apple Pay to pay for goods and services.
Customers at Coles and Woolworths have reported not being able to tap their cards at terminals. EFTPOS appears to be working at some outlets.
Betting systems have also been suspended including at TAB in Australia.
ANZ’s internet banking also reported an “industry-wide issue” affecting the processing of some payments, but traditional transfers via BSB and bank account numbers are not impacted.
Telco giant Telstra confirms some of its systems are being impacted by the outage.
“Like a number of other organisations, global issues affecting CrowdStrike and Microsoft are disrupting some of our systems,” a spokesman said.
“The issue is causing some holdups for some of our customers, and we thank them for their patience.
“There is no impact to our fixed or mobile network which continue to operate.”
Several NSW Police systems have gone down, restricting the ability of police to disseminate information, but the triple zero service remains operational.
A NSW Police spokesperson urged the public to only contact triple zero in an emergency. NSW Police will provide an update shortly on what systems have been impacted.
Victoria Police says its triple zero emergency number and online reporting remain operational. “We’ll keep you updated if anything changes,” a spokesman said.
No evidence to suggest a hack
There’s no evidence to suggest the mass outage is a hack or cybersecurity incident, according to National Cyber Security Coordinator Michelle McGuinness.
“I am aware of a large-scale technical outage affecting a number of companies and services across Australia this afternoon,” McGuinness said in a statement on X.
“Our current information is this outage relates to a technical issue with a third-party software platform employed by affected companies.
“There is no information to suggest it is a cyber security incident. We continue to engage across key stakeholders.”
Microsoft laptops suddenly restarted across Australia on Friday afternoon.
Airports impacted by incident
The outage has caused the grounding and cancellation of flights across the United States, and at Sydney Airport, customers have been told they can’t check in their bags.
Delays have swept across Sydney’s domestic and international terminals, hitting check ins during the peak Friday travel rush.
”A global technical outage has impacted some airline operations and terminal services,” an airport spokesperson said.
“Flights are currently arriving and departing however there may be some delays throughout the evening. We have activated our contingency plans with our airline partners and deployed additional staff to our terminals to assist passengers.”
The spokesperson urged customers travelling on Friday to leave plenty of time to come to the airport and check with their airline regarding the status of their flight.
Virgin Australia says the outage is preventing all planes from coming and going at Sydney Airport.
“We have no ability to get flight plans,” a staff member has said over the PA at the Virgin Australia lounge.
“The airline has put a stop on in-and-out flights, so it’s a complete ground stop; there’s no flights coming in and there’s no flights going out.
“We know as much as you do at the moment so just bear with us. We’re going minute-by-minute and getting information as we go.”
International and domestic check-in stations have also gone down at Perth Airport, while autocues have failed in TV newsrooms around the country.
[The Sydney Morning Herald]
Latest News
Landslide RED warnings continue to be in force for the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
The RED Landslide Early Warnings issued by the Landslide Early Warning Center of the National Building Research Organization [NBRO] to the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya have been extended until 1600hrs today [06th December 2025]. Landslide Early warnings have also been issued to the districts of Badulla, Colombo, Galle, Gampaha, Kalutara, Matara, Monaragala and Ratnapura,
Accordingly,
LEVEL III RED warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Gangawata Korale, Deltota, Doluwa, Thumpane, Medadumbara, Minipe, Pathahewaheta, Yatinuwara, Ganga Ihala Korale, Akurana, Udunuwara, Panvila, Pathadumbara, Kundasale, Pasbage Korale, Hatharaliyadda, Ududumbara, Poojapitiya, Harispattuwa and Udapalatha in the Kandy district, Galigamuwa, Kegalle, Mawanella, Rambukkana, Dehiowita, Warakapola, Deraniyagala, Bulathkohupitiya, Ruwanwella, Yatiyanthota and Aranayaka in the Kegalle district, Narammala, Mawathagama, Mallawapitiya, Alawwa, Rideegama and Polgahawela in the Kurunegala district, Rattota, Wilgamuwa, Ukuwela, Pallepola, Matale, Laggala Pallegama, Yatawatta, Naula and Ambanganga Korale in the Matale district, and Nildandahinna, Walapane, Hanguranketha and Mathurata in the Nuwara Eliya district.
LEVEL II AMBER warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Uva Paranagama, Kandeketiya, Bandarawela, Soranathota, Hali_Ela, Meegahakivula, Badulla, Ella, Haputhale, Lunugala, Welimada, Passara and Haldummulla in the Badulla district, Nuwara Eliya, Ambagamuwa Korale, Thalawakele, Norwood, Kothmale West and Kothmale East in the Nuwara Eliya district, and Kahawaththa, Godakawela and Kolonna in the Ratnapura district.
LEVEL I YELLOW warnings have been issued to the Divisional Secretaries Divisions and surrounding areas of Padukka and Seethawaka in the Colombo district, Elpitiya and Yakkalamulla in the Galle district, Mirigama, Attanagalla and Divulapitiya in the Gampaha district, Bulathsinhala, Ingiriya and Horana in the Kalutara district, Athuraliya and Pasgoda in the Matara district, Bibile and Medagama in the Monaragala district, and Kiriella, Nivithigala, Eheliyagoda, Kuruwita, Kalawana, Pelmadulla, Elapatha, Balangoda, Openayake, Imbulpe, Ayagama, Ratnapura and Kaltota in the Ratnapura district.
Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman has been fined 10% of his match fee and docked one demerit point after he was found guilty of breaching level 1 of the ICC code of conduct during the tri series final against Sri Lanka on November 29.
Fakhar was found to have breached article 2.8 of the code of conduct, which relates to “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during an international match.” He admitted to the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by the match referee, so there was no need for a formal hearing, said an ICC release.
The incident occurred in the 19th over of the final when Fakhar back-peddled from short-third, dived and seemed to have taken a stunning catch off Dasun Shanaka’s leading edge. The third umpire was called to check for the catch, and he deemed that the ball brushed the ground when Fakhar dived, and ruled it not out. Both Fakhar and the bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi weren’t happy with the decision and made it known to the on-field umpires.
The very next ball, Shanaka swiped across the line and was clean bowled. Fakhar looked at the umpire and sarcastically appealed for the decision. Pakistan eventually won the final by six wickets as batting first, Sri Lanka collapsed in a heap, losing 9 for 30 to be bowled out for 114. Babar Azam shepherded the chase with an unbeaten 37, taking Pakistan over the line in 18.4 overs.
This was Fakhar’s first offence in a 24-month period. Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
[Cricinfo]
The situation report issued by the Disaster Management Centre at 1800hrs today (5th December) confirms that 607 persons have died due to the adverse weather conditions while the number of missing persons has reduced to 214.
The number of persons affected topped the 2 million mark (2,082,195).
Landslide RED warnings continue to be in force for the Districts of Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala, Matale and Nuwara Eliya
Fakhar Zaman fined 10% of match fee for showing dissent at umpire’s decision
Showers will occur in the Northern, North-Central, Eastern,Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern, North-western and Uva provinces and in Matale district
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Marrikkar Mohamed Thahir takes oath as SJB National List MP
Govt. to roll out loan facilities for new entrepreneurs from next month
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