Microsoft and Crowdstrike

[Akira Urushibata]

The massive computer outages of Friday July 20 were caused by an
update of security software.  Microsoft computers were affected but
the source of the problem was an update supplied by a third-party
security firm named CrowdStrike.  Headlines showed the names of
both Microsoft and CrowdStrike. I believe this was necessary because
only computers running Microsoft softwre were affected: the information
was valuable for those dealing with the problem.  However the wording
probably led the unsuspecting to believe that both firms were
responsible.  The articles which followed the headlines typically said
that Microsoft had identified the problem and was helping those
affected.

I would like to know about the relationship between Microsoft and
CrowdStrike.  It is quite likely that security software requires
privileges that the OS maker has to provide through a special
agreement.  The two companies are separate, yet they are likely in a
cooperative relationship of some sort.

If Microsoft was not at all responsible for the ordeal, how do we
explain its generous attitude?  One possible explanation is that it
understands that it does not dominate the OS field any more.
Customers are likely to consider alternatives including GNU/Linux
after this ordeal and it would not be good policy to be callous toward
their anxiety.

I would like to hear your opinions.  Thank you in advance.

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CrowdStrike and Microsoft: What we know about global IT outage
- BBC News 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp4wnrxqlewo

This is an example of an article from a major news article that says
that Microsoft is working on mitigating the issue, without reporting
whether it has said anything about its own responsibility.