#CrowdStrike alternatives

[sahiloditek]

CrowdStrike Falcon sensor | CrowdStrike

CrowdStrike is a top cybersecurity organization recognized for its innovative Falcon platform, which offers full threat prevention via cloud-based solutions. However, a recent July 19, 2024, IT outage brought on by an incorrect upgrade to the CrowdStrike Falcon sensor resulted in extensive disruptions affecting a number of industries, including banking, hospitals, and airlines. This event serves as a reminder of the vital role that CrowdStrike's Falcon technology plays in preserving operational security. What Is CrowdStrike? CrowdStrike is a leading American cybersecurity company based in Texas, renowned for its advanced threat intelligence and endpoint protection solutions. Founded in 2011 by George Kurtz, Dmitri Alperovitch, and Gregg Marston, the company specializes in detecting and preventing cyber threats using its cloud-based Falcon platform. This platform offers comprehensive security features, including CrowdStrike data protection, incident response, and antivirus support, primarily catering to businesses and large organizations. Their innovative approach and emphasis on automation have established it as a trusted name in cybersecurity. Its clients span various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and government, all relying on CrowdStrike to safeguard their critical data and systems from sophisticated cyber threats.

What is the CrowdStrike Falcon sensor? CrowdStrike Falcon is a cloud-based cybersecurity platform designed to provide comprehensive protection against cyber threats. It offers next-generation antivirus (NGAV), endpoint detection and response (EDR), and cyber threat intelligence through a single, lightweight CrowdStrike Falcon sensor. It’s also known for its advanced threat detection capabilities, leveraging machine learning and behavioural analytics to identify and mitigate attacks. The platform is fully cloud-managed, allowing seamless scaling across large environments without performance impact. It integrates security and IT functions, aiming to reduce complexity and lower total costs while providing real-time protection against malware, ransomware, and other malicious activities.

What Happened in the IT Outage? On July 19, 2024, CrowdStrike, a prominent enterprise security company, faced a major IT outage caused by a malformed update to their Falcon program. Falcon, a cloud-based Security as a Service (SaaS) platform, provides next-generation antivirus, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and other security features. The update, intended to enhance the program, contained a logic error that caused the CrowdStrike Windows sensor to crash each time it tried to process the update. This malfunction was particularly impactful because Falcon operates as part of the Windows operating system, rather than just running on top of it. As a result, when Falcon crashed, it also led to a crash of the entire Windows OS, causing widespread disruptions.

The incident resulted in a "Blue Screen of Death" for many Windows users and prompted a reboot loop on their devices. The outage affected multiple sectors, including transportation, media, and healthcare. Hospitals and health systems around the world experienced significant issues, with some facilities like Scheper Hospital in the Netherlands closing their emergency departments. The problem was specific to Windows systems, particularly those running version 7.11 or above, while Mac and Linux users were not affected.

Impact of the crash on investors The crash of Google's stock on July 19, 2024, had significant implications for investors. Here are some key impacts:

Immediate Financial Losses The crash led to a sharp decline in Google's stock price, causing substantial immediate losses for investors holding significant positions in Google. The broader market also reacted negatively, with the S&P 500 and NASDAQ experiencing declines due to Google's large influence on these indices.

Market Sentiment and Tech Sector Impact The crash contributed to a broader sell-off in the tech sector, affecting other major tech stocks like Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia. This sector-wide decline was part of a larger rotation of investments as investors moved from large-cap tech stocks to small-cap stocks in anticipation of potential Federal Reserve rate cuts.

Investor Confidence The crash likely eroded investor confidence, particularly among those heavily invested in tech stocks. This could lead to more conservative investment strategies moving forward as investors seek to mitigate risk.

Broader Economic Concerns The event underscored existing concerns about the overall economic environment, including inflation and Federal Reserve policies. These macroeconomic factors played a role in the market's reaction and were significant in shaping investor behavior during this period.

Top CrowdStrike Alternatives

SentinelOne Singularity SentinelOne Singularity is renowned for its advanced threat detection and response capabilities, powered by cutting-edge AI and automation. The platform excels in identifying and neutralizing sophisticated cyber threats in real-time, providing comprehensive protection for endpoints. Its standout features include:

Behavioral AI: Uses behavioral AI to detect and respond to threats without relying on signatures.

Automated Response: Capabilities for automated threat mitigation and remediation reduce the need for manual intervention.

Integration and Scalability: Integrates well with existing IT infrastructure and scales effectively to meet the needs of organizations of all sizes.

SentinelOne is particularly praised for its strong overall performance in various independent tests and real-world scenarios.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a robust option for organizations already invested in the Microsoft ecosystem. It offers seamless integration with other Microsoft products and services, ensuring a unified approach to cybersecurity. Key benefits include:

Deep Integration: Integrates deeply with Windows, Microsoft Azure, and Office 365, providing enhanced protection and streamlined management.

Advanced Threat Analytics: Utilizes advanced analytics and threat intelligence to identify and mitigate security threats.

User-Friendly Management: Provides a user-friendly interface for managing security across an organization’s endpoints.

Its ability to integrate with Microsoft services ensures efficient management and robust data protection, making it a natural fit for Microsoft-centric environments.

Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks is designed for organizations looking to adopt an extended detection and response (XDR) approach. It aggregates data from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive view of security threats. Features include:

Holistic Threat Detection: Combines data from endpoints, network, and cloud to detect and respond to threats more effectively.

Advanced Analytics: Uses machine learning and advanced analytics to identify complex threats.

Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with other Palo Alto Networks products and third-party tools for enhanced security management.

Cortex XDR's sophisticated capabilities make it an excellent choice for organizations seeking an in-depth and integrated security solution.

Bitdefender GravityZone Bitdefender GravityZone is known for its proactive endpoint protection and robust security features. It offers advanced threat prevention and responsive support, making it a reliable alternative for organizations seeking strong data protection. Key features include:

Advanced Threat Prevention: Utilizes machine learning, behavioral analysis, and heuristic methods to prevent advanced threats.

Centralized Management: Provides a centralized console for managing security across all endpoints.

Responsive Support: Known for its responsive customer support and comprehensive security coverage.

Bitdefender GravityZone’s focus on advanced threat prevention and responsive support makes it a dependable choice for maintaining high levels of security.

Conclusion the CrowdStrike Falcon sensor, while designed to offer advanced endpoint protection and threat detection, encountered significant issues during the IT outage on July 19, 2024. The malformed update led to widespread disruptions, causing crashes across Windows systems and affecting various sectors globally. This incident underscores the critical need for robust testing and validation in cybersecurity updates to prevent extensive operational impacts.

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[cygnetbrown]

Having Backup

When I couldn’t afford to purchase plant pots, I made my own from newspaper and paper tape. A couple of weeks ago on a Friday morning, a massive disruption occurred in the internet system. At its heart, was CrowdStrike, a cybersecurity firm that provides software to companies worldwide. The company says the problem occurred when it deployed a faulty update to computers running Microsoft Windows,…

[nighttimebuzz]

The crowdstrike outage is a great lesson on; not everything needs to be connected to the internet. I am looking at you, stores, who want to add QR codes for price tags. (ew btw.) And all of the mails and other adding QR codes to even use their maps and find directions. This is why, we need to bring back payphones, and whiteboards and even small things like actual boards that show you the map instead of relying on your phone. just in case another Y2K happens again, like it just did. If crowdstrike can knock out the entire world, and make us all lost, what else will?

I am not anti internet, or anti computer, I just dislike how, an outage like this, really shows that we'll be stranded, without some kind of alternate way to go home, or at least know where your going. And that Companies are too reliant on the internet to save them.

[ayeforscotland]

so as I was leaving the megacorp supermarket I saw some self-serve checkouts bearing the Blue Screen of Death (obviously because they're affected by the Crowdstrike calamity); if I could learn one thing from all of this, it's that we need to find an alternative to the lame idea of everyday things having to be constantly online in order to function.

Unfortunately we’re well beyond that now, vast majority of the world’s money only exists digitally.

While ‘data’ is important, there’s little attention being given to how data actually flows. World needs a bit of a mindset change so we can start looking after things properly.

[mariacallous]

Next year will be Big Tech’s finale. Critique of Big Tech is now common sense, voiced by a motley spectrum that unites opposing political parties, mainstream pundits, and even tech titans such as the VC powerhouse Y Combinator, which is singing in harmony with giants like a16z in proclaiming fealty to “little tech” against the centralized power of incumbents.

Why the fall from grace? One reason is that the collateral consequences of the current Big Tech business model are too obvious to ignore. The list is old hat by now: centralization, surveillance, information control. It goes on, and it’s not hypothetical. Concentrating such vast power in a few hands does not lead to good things. No, it leads to things like the CrowdStrike outage of mid-2024, when corner-cutting by Microsoft led to critical infrastructure—from hospitals to banks to traffic systems—failing globally for an extended period.

Another reason Big Tech is set to falter in 2025 is that the frothy AI market, on which Big Tech bet big, is beginning to lose its fizz. Major money, like Goldman Sachs and Sequoia Capital, is worried. They went public recently with their concerns about the disconnect between the billions required to create and use large-scale AI, and the weak market fit and tepid returns where the rubber meets the AI business-model road.

It doesn’t help that the public and regulators are waking up to AI’s reliance on, and generation of, sensitive data at a time when the appetite for privacy has never been higher—as evidenced, for one, by Signal’s persistent user growth. AI, on the other hand, generally erodes privacy. We saw this in June when Microsoft announced Recall, a product that would, I kid you not, screenshot everything you do on your device so an AI system could give you “perfect memory” of what you were doing on your computer (Doomscrolling? Porn-watching?). The system required the capture of those sensitive images—which would not exist otherwise—in order to work.

Happily, these factors aren’t just liquefying the ground below Big Tech’s dominance. They’re also powering bold visions for alternatives that stop tinkering at the edges of the monopoly tech paradigm, and work to design and build actually democratic, independent, open, and transparent tech. Imagine!

For example, initiatives in Europe are exploring independent core tech infrastructure, with convenings of open source developers, scholars of governance, and experts on the political economy of the tech industry.

And just as the money people are joining in critique, they’re also exploring investments in new paradigms. A crop of tech investors are developing models of funding for mission alignment, focusing on tech that rejects surveillance, social control, and all the bullshit. One exciting model I’ve been discussing with some of these investors would combine traditional VC incentives (fund that one unicorn > scale > acquisition > get rich) with a commitment to resource tech’s open, nonprofit critical infrastructure with a percent of their fund. Not as investment, but as a contribution to maintaining the bedrock on which a healthy tech ecosystem can exist (and maybe get them and their limited partners a tax break).

Such support could—and I believe should—be supplemented by state capital. The amount of money needed is simply too vast if we’re going to do this properly. To give an example closer to home, developing and maintaining Signal costs around $50 million a year, which is very lean for tech. Projects such as the Sovereign Tech Fund in Germany point a path forward—they are a vehicle to distribute state funds to core open source infrastructures, but they are governed wholly independently, and create a buffer between the efforts they fund and the state.

Just as composting makes nutrients from necrosis, in 2025, Big Tech’s end will be the beginning of a new and vibrant ecosystem. The smart, actually cool, genuinely interested people will once again have their moment, getting the resources and clearance to design and (re)build a tech ecosystem that is actually innovative and built for benefit, not just profit and control. MAY IT BE EVER THUS!

[randamhajile]

Hoooooly shit there is an alternate universe where my birthday weekend is ENTIRELY fucked thanks to Crowdstrike (I work in IT)

[tocitynews]

A Widespread Microsoft Outage Disrupted Flights, Banks, Media Outlets And Companies Around The World On Friday And Highlighted Dependence On Software From A Handful Of Providers – New York City reporting

The issue affected Microsoft 365 apps and services, and escalating disruptions continued hours after the technology company said it was gradually fixing it.

Microsoft 365 posted on X that the company was “working on rerouting the impacted traffic to alternate systems to alleviate impact in a more expedient fashion” and that they were “observing a positive trend in service availability.”

Major disruptions reported by airlines and airports grew. Flight tracking website Flightaware reports more nearly 1,000 flights canceled and over 12,000 more are delayed. Chicago O'Hare, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Newark , La Guardia and Boston Logan International Airport lead Flightaware's "misery map" with the most delays and cancellations.

In the U.S., the FAA said the airlines United, Delta and Allegiant had all been grounded. American Airlines lifted its ground stop just after 5 a.m ET, saying they were able to "safely re-establish operations."

An earlier ground stop for Frontier Airlines was lifted just after midnight, and the carrier said they had resumed normal operations, for now.

Travelers at Los Angeles International Airport slept on a jetway floor, using backpacks and other luggage for pillows, due to a delayed United flight to Dulles International Airport early on Friday.

Across the pond, Edinburgh Airport said the system outage meant waiting times were longer than usual. London’s Stansted Airport said some airline check-in services were being completed manually, but flights were still operating.

The budget airline Ryanair said they are "experiencing disruption across the network due to a global third party IT outage which is out of our control. We advise all passengers to arrive at the airport at least three hours before their scheduled departure time.”

Widespread problems were reported at Australian airports, where lines grew and some passengers were stranded as online check-in services and self-service booths were disabled. Passengers in Melbourne queued for more than an hour to check in, although flights were still operating. Airlines Virgin Australia and Qantas were severely affected by the outage.

News outlets in Australia — including the ABC and Sky News — were unable to broadcast on their TV and radio channels, and reported sudden shutdowns of Windows-based computers. Some news anchors broadcast live online from dark offices, in front of computers showing “blue screens of death.” Telecommunications providers, banks and media broadcasters were also disrupted as they lost access to computer systems. Outages reported on the site DownDetector included the banks NAB, Commonwealth and Bendigo, as well as internet and phone providers such as Telstra. The New Zealand banks ASB and Kiwibank said their services were down.

Television stations in the United Kingdom were being disrupted by the computer issues.

Hospitals in Britain and Germany also reported problems.

Israel’s Cyber Directorate said that it was among the places affected by the global outages, attributing them to a problem with the cybersecurity platform Crowdstrike. The outage also hit the country’s post offices and hospitals, according to the ministries of communication and health.

In South Africa, at least one major bank said it was experiencing “nationwide service disruptions” as customers reported they were unable to make payments using their bank cards at grocery stores and gas stations.

Numerous European airlines are using manual check-in.

[ricisidro]

I didn't open the Microsoft Windows laptop today. I'm glad there is a Mac alternative.

Here's a fix for Windows PC affected by the Crowdstrike outrage Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) via @CNET

https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/how-to-fix-your-windows-pc-affected-by-the-crowdstrike-outage-blue-screen-of-death/

[thistlewhistler]

@Luetta Put it very simply and succinctly.

In Shadowrun, a very much alternate future timeline (although with recent events it always seems closer), there was a term for an event very similar: The Crash.

Nigh everything that was internet was simultaneously downed, instantly and unstoppable. The good news in our version here, the hardware running Crowdstrike only BSOD'd and didn't melt themselves.

In software, as in life, diversity is important. Too much of the exact same option everywhere leads to an eventual shared vulnerability.

idk if people on tumblr know about this but a cybersecurity software called crowdstrike just did what is probably the single biggest fuck up in any sector in the past 10 years. it's monumentally bad. literally the most horror-inducing nightmare scenario for a tech company.

some info, crowdstrike is essentially an antivirus software for enterprises. which means normal laypeople cant really get it, they're for businesses and organisations and important stuff.

so, on a friday evening (it of course wasnt friday everywhere but it was friday evening in oceania which is where it first started causing damage due to europe and na being asleep), crowdstrike pushed out an update to their windows users that caused a bug.

before i get into what the bug is, know that friday evening is the worst possible time to do this because people are going home. the weekend is starting. offices dont have people in them. this is just one of many perfectly placed failures in the rube goldburg machine of crowdstrike. there's a reason friday is called 'dont push to live friday' or more to the point 'dont fuck it up friday'

so, at 3pm at friday, an update comes rolling into crowdstrike users which is automatically implemented. this update immediately causes the computer to blue screen of death. very very bad. but it's not simply a 'you need to restart' crash, because the computer then gets stuck into a boot loop.

this is the worst possible thing because, in a boot loop state, a computer is never really able to get to a point where it can do anything. like download a fix. so there is nothing crowdstrike can do to remedy this death update anymore. it is now left to the end users.

it was pretty quickly identified what the problem was. you had to boot it in safe mode, and a very small file needed to be deleted. or you could just rename crowdstrike to something else so windows never attempts to use it.

it's a fairly easy fix in the grand scheme of things, but the issue is that it is effecting enterprises. which can have a looooot of computers. in many different locations. so an IT person would need to manually fix hundreds of computers, sometimes in whole other cities and perhaps even other countries if theyre big enough.

another fuck up crowdstrike did was they did not stagger the update, so they could catch any mistakes before they wrecked havoc. (and also how how HOW do you not catch this before deploying it. this isn't a code oopsie this is a complete failure of quality ensurance that probably permeates the whole company to not realise their update was an instant kill). they rolled it out to everyone of their clients in the world at the same time.

and this seems pretty hilarious on the surface. i was havin a good chuckle as eftpos went down in the store i was working at, chaos was definitely ensuring lmao. im in aus, and banking was literally down nationwide.

but then you start hearing about the entire country's planes being grounded because the airport's computers are bricked. and hospitals having no computers anymore. emergency call centres crashing. and you realised that, wow. crowdstrike just killed people probably. this is literally the worst thing possible for a company like this to do.

crowdstrike was kinda on the come up too, they were starting to become a big name in the tech world as a new face. but that has definitely vanished now. to fuck up at this many places, is almost extremely impressive. its hard to even think of a comparable fuckup.

a friday evening simultaneous rollout boot loop is a phrase that haunts IT people in their darkest hours. it's the monster that drags people down into the swamp. it's the big bag in the horror movie. it's the end of the road. and for crowdstrike, that reaper of souls just knocked on their doorstep.

[newstech24]

CrowdStrike's Renewed Progress Alternative Has Been Overbought

CrowdStrike's Renewed Progress Alternative Has Been Overbought

[zealousnightsublime]

Investment Strategies for a Post-COVID World

Investment Strategies for a Post-COVID World.The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted global economies, financial markets, and individual investment portfolios. As the world emerges from the pandemic, the investment landscape has shifted in many ways. Factors such as changes in consumer behavior, the acceleration of digital transformation, unprecedented fiscal and monetary policies, and supply chain disruptions all play critical roles in shaping the post-pandemic economy. Investors must adapt to these new conditions and develop strategies that reflect the post-COVID world. In this guide, we will explore key investment strategies to consider in the post-pandemic era, including an analysis of emerging trends, sectors to focus on, and the risks to be aware of. 1. Adapting to a Low-Interest Rate Environment During the pandemic, central banks worldwide slashed interest rates to near-zero levels to stimulate economic growth. These low-interest rates are likely to persist for the foreseeable future as central banks remain cautious about withdrawing monetary stimulus too quickly. - Fixed Income Investments: Traditional bonds, particularly government bonds, have yielded minimal returns due to historically low interest rates. Investors may need to seek higher-yielding alternatives, such as corporate bonds or high-yield (junk) bonds, though these come with increased risk. - Dividend-Paying Stocks: In a low-rate environment, dividend-paying stocks can provide a steady stream of income. Companies in sectors like utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples often have stable cash flows and reliable dividend payments, making them attractive to income-seeking investors. - Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs): REITs are another potential source of income in a low-rate environment. They offer exposure to real estate assets while providing dividend payments, as they are required to distribute at least 90% of taxable income to shareholders. Key Strategy: Investors may need to shift their focus from traditional fixed-income investments to dividend-paying stocks, REITs, and alternative assets that offer higher yields without taking on excessive risk. 2. Embracing the Digital Transformation The pandemic accelerated the shift towards digitalization across nearly every industry. Remote work, e-commerce, cloud computing, digital payments, and cybersecurity became central to how businesses and consumers operate. These trends are likely to continue in the post-pandemic world, making technology-related sectors attractive investment opportunities. - Tech Stocks: Companies like Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet (Google’s parent company) have benefitted from the increased reliance on digital infrastructure during the pandemic. These companies are expected to continue driving growth in areas like cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and software-as-a-service (SaaS). - Cybersecurity: With more businesses operating digitally, the need for robust cybersecurity solutions has grown. Companies like CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, and Fortinet are poised to benefit from the increasing demand for cybersecurity as cyber threats become more frequent and sophisticated. - E-Commerce and Digital Payments: The pandemic dramatically boosted online shopping and digital payments. E-commerce giants like Amazon and Alibaba, as well as digital payment platforms like PayPal and Square, have experienced significant growth and are likely to continue expanding as consumer behavior shifts permanently towards online transactions. Key Strategy: Consider increasing exposure to technology and digital infrastructure companies that are capitalizing on the post-pandemic digital revolution. Cybersecurity and e-commerce are especially promising sub-sectors. 3. Investing in Health and Biotechnology COVID-19 highlighted the critical importance of healthcare and biotechnology, with record investment flowing into the sector. The pandemic accelerated innovation in areas such as vaccines, diagnostics, and telemedicine, and these advancements are likely to continue influencing the healthcare sector. - Pharmaceutical and Biotech Stocks: Companies involved in vaccine development and other life-saving treatments, such as Pfizer, Moderna, and BioNTech, have seen unprecedented demand. The global focus on healthcare innovation suggests that the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors will remain strong investment candidates. - Telemedicine: Telehealth services expanded rapidly during the pandemic as patients and healthcare providers turned to virtual consultations. Companies like Teladoc Health have experienced significant growth and will likely continue benefiting from the broader adoption of digital health services. - Healthcare REITs: Aging populations and increased healthcare demand make healthcare real estate, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and medical office buildings, an attractive investment. Healthcare REITs provide exposure to this growing demand. Key Strategy: Consider increasing exposure to pharmaceutical and biotech companies, particularly those focused on vaccine development, drug innovation, and healthcare technology. Telemedicine and healthcare real estate also present strong growth opportunities in the long term.

4. Capitalizing on ESG and Sustainable Investing Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing gained significant traction during the pandemic, as investors increasingly focused on sustainability, corporate ethics, and long-term social responsibility. In the post-pandemic world, ESG factors are likely to play a larger role in shaping investment strategies. - Sustainable Energy: With a global push towards reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change, renewable energy companies, such as those involved in solar, wind, and electric vehicles, offer significant growth potential. Companies like Tesla, NextEra Energy, and First Solar are leaders in the sustainable energy space. - Green Bonds: Green bonds, which finance environmentally friendly projects, have seen increasing demand from socially conscious investors. These bonds fund renewable energy projects, energy efficiency initiatives, and other environmental sustainability programs. - ESG-Focused Funds: Mutual funds and ETFs that prioritize companies with strong ESG practices have become more popular. Funds such as the iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) and Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund (VFTAX) allow investors to gain exposure to companies with strong ESG metrics. Key Strategy: Incorporating ESG factors into your investment portfolio can provide exposure to long-term growth opportunities in renewable energy and sustainability. Consider adding green bonds or ESG-focused funds to align your investments with sustainability goals. 5. Diversifying into Emerging Markets Emerging markets (EM) are likely to see a stronger economic rebound post-COVID as vaccines become more accessible and global trade recovers. While developed economies were hit hardest during the pandemic, some emerging markets are now well-positioned to benefit from growth in sectors such as technology, manufacturing, and commodities. - Asian Economies: China, South Korea, and India are emerging as key players in the global recovery, with robust technology sectors and manufacturing industries. Chinese tech companies like Alibaba and Tencent, as well as Indian IT firms such as Infosys, offer attractive investment opportunities. - Commodities and Natural Resources: Emerging markets that are rich in natural resources, such as Brazil and Russia, stand to benefit from the global recovery as demand for commodities like oil, metals, and agricultural products rebounds. - Frontier Markets: Frontier markets, which are smaller and less developed than traditional emerging markets, also present high-growth potential. Countries in Africa and Southeast Asia, such as Vietnam and Nigeria, offer opportunities for early-stage investments in sectors like infrastructure and technology. Key Strategy: Diversify your portfolio by increasing exposure to emerging markets, particularly in Asia and Latin America. Look for growth in technology, manufacturing, and commodities. Be mindful of the risks associated with political instability and currency fluctuations in these regions. 6. Hedging Against Inflation and Currency Risk As economies recover and governments continue to implement stimulus measures, concerns about inflation and currency fluctuations have come to the forefront. Investors should be prepared to hedge against these risks in their portfolios. - Commodities: Commodities such as gold, silver, and oil are traditional hedges against inflation. Gold, in particular, is seen as a store of value during periods of high inflation and economic uncertainty. Investors can gain exposure to commodities through ETFs, mutual funds, or direct investment. - Real Assets: Real estate, infrastructure, and other tangible assets tend to perform well during inflationary periods, as their value rises along with the cost of goods and services. Investing in REITs or infrastructure funds can provide a hedge against inflation. - Cryptocurrency: Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have emerged as an alternative hedge against inflation and currency debasement. While volatile, Bitcoin and other digital assets are being viewed by some investors as "digital gold" and a way to protect against inflationary pressures. Key Strategy: Consider diversifying into commodities, real assets, and potentially even cryptocurrencies to hedge against inflation and currency risk. However, remain cautious about the volatility of these asset classes and ensure they complement your broader portfolio. 7. Managing Risk and Volatility The post-pandemic world remains highly uncertain, with ongoing concerns about new COVID-19 variants, supply chain disruptions, and geopolitical tensions. Investors should focus on managing risk and preparing for market volatility. - Diversification: Maintaining a well-diversified portfolio across different asset classes (stocks, bonds, real estate, etc.) and geographies is key to managing risk. Diversification helps reduce exposure to any single investment or market. - Defensive Stocks: Defensive sectors, such as utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples, tend to perform well during periods of economic uncertainty. These companies provide essential goods and services and often offer stable dividend payments. - Alternative Investments: Hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital are examples of alternative investments that can offer diversification benefits and help manage portfolio risk. Key Strategy: Focus on maintaining a diversified portfolio and consider incorporating defensive stocks or alternative investments to help navigate ongoing market volatility. The post-COVID investment landscape presents both challenges and opportunities. Investors must navigate a world with low interest rates, rapid digital transformation, ESG priorities, and inflation concerns. By adapting to these trends and focusing on long-term growth sectors such as technology, healthcare, and sustainable energy, investors can position themselves for success in the evolving financial landscape. Diversification, risk management, and a focus on income-generating assets will be key strategies for In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the investment landscape has undergone a significant transformation. Investors need to navigate low interest rates, digital acceleration, increased attention to sustainability, inflation concerns, and ongoing uncertainty. Here are the key strategies to consider in the post-COVID world. Read the full article

[nondescript-individual]

This specific class of issue might actually not have affected Linux—Crowdstrike's agent on sufficiently recent kernels, unlike the Windows version, does not use a kernel module. Instead it uses eBPF programs.

It conceivably could still have brought down a system, but that would be both a Crowdstrike bug and a kernel bug (since it would have presumably had to erroneously pass the verifier).

Essentially, vendors like Crowdstrike should not be writing kernel modules, and the platform ought to provide alternatives to doing so.

hey i was gonna make a post of my own but i realized i dont know enough about linux to like. really talk about it beyond "well a lotta places like hospitals/military places run legacy software and theyre super dependent on it and it would be a ton of work to switch over" and "well if everyone started using linux then the hackers would probably also Start Using Linux, like how nobody used to target macs when they were uncommon" so as a smart person who knows things about computers do u have a general response to the ppl pointing to the crowdstrike thing and going "see??? this is why everyone should switch to linux"

like. i also plan on switching to linux but that just feels like switching all of our eggs to a different basket u kno

I find that Linux advocates tend to inappropriately conflate "this specific problem would not have affected Linux operating systems" with "problems of this type would not affect Linux operating systems", when the former typically doesn't imply the latter.

Would the specific mechanism by which the Crowdstrike vendor accidentally bricked millions of Windows computers have affected Linux platforms? No.

Could an inadequately vetted security update have bricked a Linux platform? Absolutely.

The fact that you don't see much of the latter has less to do with Linux in itself, and more to do with the fact that, as a specialist operating system, Linux users as a group tend to have an above-average level of compliance with security best practices. The level of compliance that's reasonable to expect for a mass-market operating system changes things considerably – if everybody and their dog was running Linux, you can bet your ass there'd be millions of Linux platforms set up to just automatically accept and apply whatever updates come down the pipeline without human oversight or a validated recovery path, too.

[fahrni]

Saturday Morning Coffee

Good morning from Charlottesville, Virginia! ☕️

I got my first React Native PR submitted and I’ve received some good feedback.

On the whole it’s fine. I still find the syntax extremely strange but I’ll figure it out.

I still very much prefer Swift and Xcode to TypeScript and VSCode. 😃

Barack Obama

Joe Biden has been one of America’s most consequential presidents, as well as a dear friend and partner to me. Today, we’ve also been reminded — again — that he’s a patriot of the highest order.

Thank you President Biden for serving your country. ❤️

Robert Reich

Let me add my words of gratitude to Joe Biden for doing something Donald Trump is incapable of doing — putting his country over ego, ambition, and pride.

Biden bowed out with grace and dignity.

Yes, yes he did. Now let’s all get behind Kamala Harris, make her the 47th President of this great nation, and save Democracy.

David Gilmour • Mediaite

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow flipped the question that has long chased Democrats of presidential candidate age and capability on Republicans Sunday night after President Joe Biden announced he would no longer run for re-election, calling out former President Donald Trump as now the “old man in the race.”

It’s time for the media to ask the Orange Man to withdrawal from the run for President because of his age and his lack of mental capacity to properly do the job.

Luke Deniston

This is the story of a process that died, and the tale of what we went through to track down the killer and bring it to justice. More accurately, it was a process that kept dying, but that hurts the analogy I’m trying to go for here so just bear with me.

I worked with Luke at Agrian. He’s super smart and kind and I love this story. Luke, if you read this, I hope you wrote that entire story yourself? It’s awesome.

Jess Weatherbed • The Verge

Despite Apple’s claims that most consumers will only consider purchasing vehicles that support CarPlay, Rivian says it still doesn’t have any plans to adopt the iPhone mirroring system. Talking to The Verge EIC Nilay Patel in today’s episode of Decoder, Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe likened Rivian adopting CarPlay to Apple choosing to use Microsoft’s Windows operating systems instead of developing its own in-house iOS and macOS alternatives.

I like this take and comparison. Apple has a desire to be the primary control center for the car and that seems wrong. They also want the car company to make sure Apple is called out as the provider of the in car system by not changing things like fonts on the in dash system. That would mean the cars branding wouldn’t match the companies. That’s not good.

Wouldn’t it be cool to work on an embedded in dash system? I think it would.

The Futon Critic

“HOMICIDE: LIFE ON THE STREET” ARRIVES ON PEACOCK AUG. 19

YES! I loved me some Homocide: Life on the Streets and I’m glad it’ll be available for streaming. Too bad I don’t have a Peacock subscription. Might have to convince the boss we need it for a while? 🤔

M.G. Siegler • Spyglass

Apple Should Buy HBO

I like this idea, especially if Apple would commit to funding HBO original content so we may get the next Sopranos, The Wire, or Game of Thrones.

Isabel van Brugen • Newsweek

Valentina Bondarenko, a top Russian economist, has died at the age of 82 after falling out of her apartment window in Moscow, Russian state-run media reported on Tuesday.

It’s so strange how many folks fall out of windows in Russia. It’s a downright epidemic.

I suspect if Orange Man wins the Presidency we’ll see this strange affliction migrate to America.

Jowi Morales • Tom’s Hardware

Windows 3.1 saves the day during CrowdStrike outage — Southwest Airlines scrapes by with archaic OS

I find this extremely difficult to believe. I actually liked Windows 3.1 and it’s the OS Visio was originally written on, so it’s pretty near and dear to my heart. Thing is, it’s a 16-bit OS, but it was quite capable. I’d love to know more about this setup and how in the world do they keep it secure? The network support in Windows 3.1 was mediocre at best. Did it even support HTTP? I don’t have the slightest clue.

Gil Duran • The New Republic

Where J.D. Vance Gets His Weird, Terrifying Techno-Authoritarian Ideas

I’ve never heard of Curtis Yarvin but he sounds like a real piece of work. This dudes thoughts are as bad as Nazi Germany’s “useless eaters” program. Pathetic and disgusting.

He’s the one that needs to go away with thinking like that. 🤬

Elizabeth Lopatto • The Verge

The moral bankruptcy of Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz

All the billionaire bros in the Silicon Valley need to get their act together. They’re ready to throw democracy away so they can become richer? How much money do you need? The answer must be all of it!

Again. Pathetic and selfish to allow an entire nation to be destroyed because you want to make a buck. Don’t be surprised if someone shows up at your place looking to beat your ass. No, that’s not a threat, but I can imagine someone feeling that strongly about it. I mean, hell, someone has already tried to take out the Orange Man. I don’t suspect it’ll be the last.

Stu Sjouwerman • KnowBe4

TLDR: KnowBe4 needed a software engineer for our internal IT AI team. We posted the job, received resumes, conducted interviews, performed background checks, verified references, and hired the person. We sent them their Mac workstation, and the moment it was received, it immediately started to load malware.

This story is fascinating. At WillowTree we’ve had a couple candidates try to get through by hiring someone to do the technical parts of the test for them. They’ve been caught and I’m not aware of any getting through. I suspect in our case they just wanted a job they didn’t have the skill for. In the end they’d have failed and been let go so I’m not sure why they went through the trouble.

Steven Vaughan-Nichols • ZDNet

Several European countries are betting on open-source software for their technology. In the United States, eh, not so much. In the latest news from across the Atlantic, Switzerland has taken a major step forward with its “Federal Law on the Use of Electronic Means for the Fulfillment of Governmental Tasks” (EMBAG). This groundbreaking legislation mandates using open-source software (OSS) in the public sector.

Here’s the thing about this. If someone finds an exploit in Linux they’re gonna leverage it until they’re caught. Something like the CrowdStrike disaster could happen just as easily in open source software. Companies just don’t have to pay to use it, don’t have to contribute their changes back to the community, or support the maintainers of the software.

It’s a good deal for corporations.

[springdayautumnmoon]

I can't help but think about how if the Crowdstrike incident were done by a Chinese or Indian company, you'd see politicians, media outlets, and influencers all over the world going on conspiracy rants about how us filthy Asians did this as a terrorist attack or some shit. But because it was a Texan company, all we get is a response of "oopsie made a poopsie" by the world at large. I can so vividly see all the racist charicatures plastered on every magazine and newspaper in this alternate Asian Crowdstrike timeline, but here? We don't get a single guy going around screaming about how the inbred cowboys are hellbent on world domination.

[feedyourmind1031]

Impact of the Global Tech Outage on the Financial Markets

Last week's global tech outage had a profound impact on businesses and financial markets, highlighting the vulnerabilities and interconnectedness of our digital world. This incident, caused by a security update from Crowdstrike, led to widespread system crashes and significant disruptions across various sectors.

The Incident

The tech outage was triggered by a security update from Crowdstrike, which caused Windows systems to crash and resulted in the infamous blue screen of death. This incident had far-reaching effects, including:

Airlines: Over a thousand flight cancellations in the U.S. as airline systems went offline.

Supermarkets: Checkout systems failed in Australian supermarkets, forcing closures.

Security Checks: Manual operations for security checks at the Paris Olympics, causing significant delays and disruptions.

Crowdstrike assured that this was not a cyberattack but rather a bug that affected only Windows systems. Their other clients using Linux and Mac systems did not experience any issues. However, the incident underscored the fragility of relying heavily on a single operating system for critical operations.

Market Impact

The outage had a negative influence on the stock market, with significant declines in major indices:

DOW: The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped by -0.93%.

S&P 500: The S&P 500 fell by -0.71%.

NASDAQ: The NASDAQ Composite declined by -0.81%.

These declines reflect the market's reaction to the widespread disruptions caused by the outage. Investors were concerned about the potential long-term impacts on affected companies and the broader economy.

Lessons Learned

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerability of our interconnected systems. Businesses realized the importance of having robust backup systems and alternative solutions to prevent a complete halt in operations during such outages. The key lessons from this incident include:

1. Diversification of Systems: Relying on a single operating system for critical operations can be risky. Businesses should consider diversifying their systems by incorporating multiple operating systems to avoid a single point of failure. This approach can enhance resilience and ensure continuity during disruptions.

2. Backup Solutions: Having robust backup solutions in place is crucial. Businesses should invest in redundant systems that can take over operations seamlessly in the event of a failure. This includes cloud-based solutions, secondary servers, and backup power supplies.

3. Incident Response Plans: Effective incident response plans are essential for minimizing the impact of outages. Businesses should regularly test and update their response plans to ensure they are prepared to handle unexpected disruptions. This includes training employees on how to respond and communicating effectively with stakeholders during an incident.

Future Implications

The global tech outage may lead to several significant changes in how businesses approach their IT infrastructure and operations. We may see a shift towards adopting alternative operating systems and creating more robust backup solutions to ensure continuity. Potential future developments include:

1. Adoption of Alternative Operating Systems: Businesses may start adopting alternative operating systems, such as Linux and Mac, for critical operations. This diversification can reduce the risk of a single point of failure and enhance overall system resilience.

2. Investment in Redundant Systems: Companies may invest more in redundant systems to ensure that a failure in one system does not lead to a complete halt in operations. This could include setting up secondary servers, using cloud-based solutions, and implementing backup power supplies.

3. Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures: While the Crowdstrike incident was not a cyberattack, it highlighted the importance of robust cybersecurity measures. Businesses may increase their investment in cybersecurity to protect against potential vulnerabilities and ensure the integrity of their systems.

4. Regulatory Changes: Regulatory bodies may introduce new guidelines and requirements for businesses to enhance their IT resilience. This could include mandatory incident response plans, regular testing of backup systems, and reporting requirements for significant outages.

In conclusion, the global tech outage served as a wake-up call for businesses to enhance their resilience and preparedness for future disruptions. By diversifying their systems, investing in robust backup solutions, and implementing effective incident response plans, companies can mitigate the impact of similar incidents in the future. As our reliance on digital systems continues to grow, ensuring their resilience and security becomes increasingly important.

[francaistoutsimplement]

https ://simplicius76. substack. com/p/extraordinary-events-taking-place

The unelected despot-in-chief seemingly renounced his election campaign via suspicious Twitter note on a lazy Sunday afternoon, after which he hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Many are now pointing out the strange idiosyncrasies surrounding the unprecedented event, including the lack of letterhead or that Biden’s signature appeared to be doctored: Now there are all kinds of rumors about Biden’s health, including that he may have had two ‘secret’ medical episodes recently, which were hidden from the public—and that’s not counting the likely phony ‘Covid’ diagnosis. Most shocking was the fact that even Biden’s closest aides didn’t learn of his announcement of withdrawal until after the fact, and from social media at that. Furthermore, everything in-house has been managed by Jeff Zients:An investigation by Heritage foundation showed that a digital device visiting Crooks’ home multiple times has been geo-located to the vicinity of an FBI office in Washington DC in late June. The regime is being laid bare before our eyes. What are the chances that literally only a week or two after the failed assassination of his chief rival, the “most popular president in history” (80+ million votes!) unceremoniously drops out—and now there’s even talk of an imminent resignation from the presidency. Things are off the Richter scale of uncanniness.

I said before: we’re in uncharted territory. Firstly, it must be said that the ensuing circumstances after the Trump shooting were bizarre and unprecedented: neither the FBI, DOJ, nor DHS even held an official press conference about the shooting. There were no loud bipartisan calls for investigation, or uproar in general; things simply went on as before, quietly settling down before being swept under the rug. The Democrats bided their time and even gradually rolled out conspiracy theories claiming Trump had staged the shooting. The proceedings reeked of massive coverup as the FBI continued to stonewall all inquiries, denying FOIA requests, with Secret Service head Cheatle perjuring herself in front of Congress by refusing to answer key questions, including: how many shell casings were recovered on the roof by the shooter’s body? She said she knows, but can’t say—how convenient, as it would immediately determine the presence of a second shooter, given that we have expert audio analysis of each fired shot. Alternately, it could simply point to incompetence—deliberate or not—as it would confirm the vast amount of shots the shooter was ‘allowed’ to fire off before initiating a response. This included the unprecedented CrowdStrike global ‘system failure’, which was clearly no ‘coincidence’. Most likely, the event was used to wipe FBI servers of complicity in the Trump hit, particularly since CrowdStrike has powerful links to the FBI—the company’s Chief Security Officer and President of Services is retired FBI Executive Assistant Director Shawn Henry: