Experts Warn of Cybercriminals Exploiting IT Outage

Cybersecurity experts are cautioning about a second wave of disruption as cybercriminals aim to exploit the recent mass IT outage. The Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), equivalent to the UK’s GCHQ or the US’s NSA, issued an alert this morning regarding hackers distributing fake software fixes under the guise of CrowdStrike.

The ASD’s alert reads, “Alert! We understand a number of malicious websites and unofficial code are being released claiming to help entities recover.” The agency is advising IT responders to source information and assistance exclusively from CrowdStrike’s official website.

This warning comes after the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) urged heightened vigilance against suspicious emails or calls posing as CrowdStrike or Microsoft support. The NCSC stated, “An increase in phishing referencing this outage has already been observed, as opportunistic malicious actors seek to take advantage of the situation.”

Over 1,500 Flights Cancelled Amid Ongoing Disruptions

The global flight disruptions persist, with significant cancellations continuing today. According to airline data company Cirium, as of 10:00 BST (09:00 GMT), 1,639 flights have been cancelled worldwide, including 23 departures from the UK and 25 arrivals.

Yesterday saw a total of 6,855 flights cancelled globally, accounting for 6.2% of all scheduled flights. The UK experienced 207 departures and 201 arrivals cancelled. For context, on July 18, the day before the outage, only 1.8% of flights were cancelled worldwide.

The cybersecurity community and travel industry are working diligently to manage and mitigate the ongoing effects of the IT outage, striving to protect users and restore normal operations as swiftly as possible.