A couple of weeks ago , a massive global IT outage occurred whenWindows computers execute the CrowdStrike security measure software barge in . CrowdStrike is popular in endeavour installations , meaning businesses worldwide – including airlines such as Delta Air Lines – were shut down . Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in aCNBCinterview that the CrowdStrike crash caused Delta to cancel about 5,000 flights and may cost the company up to $ 500 million .
When asked by CNBC if Delta is rethinking its IT strategy , Bastian said , “ utterly . ” Despite having organization redundancy to help oneself prevent a entire release of operation , the trouble , as Bastian arrange it , is that they bank on Windows and CrowdStike throughout their installation . “ My sense is that [ Windows ] is the most fragile platform in that space , ” said Bastian , who then postulate , “ When was the last fourth dimension you hear of a big outage at Apple ? ”
psychoanalyst and IT experts could argue that Apple ’s go-ahead presence is a fraction of Windows , which is why you never hear about Apple outages . There ’s some truth to that , but there ’s a technical reason that is more likely : Apple has strict restrictions on third - party access code to the kernel of its operating organisation , include macOS . Having to deal with these confinement make it a picayune more unmanageable for third parties to provide the divine service they want , but this allow Apple tomaintain OS securityand uptime at a high level . This effectively eliminates the prospect of a monolithic crash like the CrowdStrike one from happening .
Microsoft , on the other hand , often allows third - party developer kernel memory access in Windows , which build it easier for third - political party solutions to furnish near functionality , but as the CrowdStrike clank shows , can lead to disastrous situations . Early , pre - release testing is even more lively in this situation , but as anyone with experience doing alpha and genus Beta examination knows , not every hemipterous insect can be catch before an official liberation . The Mac is n’t immune to bugs and speculative updates , but a third - political party app ca n’t bring in down the whole system .
Microsoft tell theWall Street Journalthat an concord with the European Commission prevents the company from closing its kernel like Apple , but the EC ’s Lea Zuber toldThe Verge , “ Microsoft is barren to decide on its business fashion model and to adapt its security infrastructure to respond to threats provided this is done in line with EU contender law . ”
Delta isreportedlygoing to sue Microsoft and CrowdStrike , so Bastian ’s declaration likely had the purpose of putting pressure on Microsoft and CrowdStrike to make good with Delta . But Bastian and the CrowdStrike crash exuviate light on a rudimentary issue that businesses involve to deliberate . And it could mean we depart see a band more Macs behind the scenes .
Macworld has several guides to help oneself , include a guide onwhether or not you need antivirus software system , alist of Mac viruses , malware , and Dardanian , and acomparison of Mac security system computer software .
