A small bug in AWS's system, caused by two automated processes trying to update the same DNS record simultaneously, led to a massive outage affecting major global services like Netflix and United Airlines, highlighting the importance of quick response and system improvements after such incidents.
Amazon Web Services apologized after a major outage in its North Virginia data center caused widespread disruptions to over 1,000 websites and services, including Snapchat, Reddit, and Lloyds Bank, due to a faulty automation process that affected DNS management and highlighted the tech industry's reliance on AWS.
The suspect in a Montana bar shooting, a mentally ill veteran denied mental health services, remains at large; his niece blames systemic failures for the tragedy, which killed four people, and highlights the need for better mental health support for veterans.
Google's Android Earthquake Alerts system partially failed during the 2023 Turkey earthquake, sending limited high-level alerts to only a small fraction of affected users due to limitations in detection algorithms, despite the system generally working well on aftershocks and later events.
McDonald's experienced a global technology outage, leading to the closure of some restaurants for hours in several countries, including Australia, Japan, and the UK. The fast food giant ruled out cybersecurity issues as the cause and stated that the "technology outage" affected operations worldwide. Customers from various countries reported issues with ordering, and outage tracking website Downdetector noted a spike in problems with the McDonald's app. This incident follows similar recent technical issues faced by Meta-owned Facebook and Instagram.
Sri Lanka is currently facing a nationwide power outage caused by a system failure, according to a government official. The Ceylon Electricity Board is actively working to restore power across the country.
A recent fire in South Africa serves as a powerful symbol of a larger systemic failure, highlighting the deep-rooted issues and crises faced by the country.
Toyota has suspended operations at 12 of its 14 domestic plants in Japan after a system malfunction prevented the company from ordering components. The glitch is not believed to be a cyberattack. Toyota shares fell by 0.64 percent following the news. The carmaker, which was the world's top-selling automaker in 2022, has set a production target of 10.6 million vehicles for 2023.
Toyota Motor Corp has suspended operations at most of its assembly plants in Japan due to a malfunction in its production system, likely bringing domestic output to a halt. The cause of the problem is being investigated, but it is believed to not be a cyberattack. The company has been unable to order components as a result of the malfunction. Toyota's 14 plants in Japan account for about a third of its global production. It is unclear when operations can be resumed. This is not the first time Toyota has faced production disruptions, as a cyberattack on one of its suppliers caused an output loss of around 13,000 cars last year.
James Cameron shared a terrifying story about his failed solo dive to the New Britain Trench, where things started to fail at around 26,000 feet deep due to a single line of code that he had asked to be written. He lost control of the lighting systems, propulsion, and more, preventing him from reaching the bottom. However, a decision he made a year prior ultimately saved his life. He insisted on a dedicated circuit for the ballast system, which allowed him to come back to the surface.