![Company that caused biggest IT outage in history leaves people stunned with apology gift card offer](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blt949ea8e16e463049/blt3f5ac0e1d3646156/66a1391e378d745076d3405b/crowdstrike.jpg)
After an IT update plunged multiple industries into chaos and cost Fortune 500 companies around $5.4 billion, the company responsible have seemingly attempted to make things right... with an Uber Eats gift card.
Now unless you have been living like a caveman the last couple days you will likely have heard about a massive IT incident that happened recently.
On July 19, it almost looked the beginning of a major cyberattack as integral systems seemed to stop working.
Advert
![Blue screens of death were popping up everywhere (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blt949ea8e16e463049/blt3c927e39063702bb/66a14640378d74a302d3407d/GettyImages-2163101952.jpg)
Microsoft users from across the globe reported experiencing major tech issues. Airports were left in chaos, financial services reported issues which in turn meant banks and business were unable to provide their services.
Some local business even reported not being able to use their card readers, making it a massive nightmare... well for everyone who uses money.
The IT outage is thought to have started around 6pm ET July 18 and some experts have suggested it could be days if not weeks before everything is completely resolved.
Advert
According to the Guardian, insurers estimate it'll end up costing US Fortune 500 companies around $5.4 billion.
Eventually it came to light that the company responsible for the issues was CrowdStrike due to a flawed software update.
![The IT issues meant airports around the world were thrown into chaos. (Jack Taylor/Getty Images)](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blt949ea8e16e463049/blte92ef0ba9d77b1d7/66a142b3ab49f00d8352f687/resize_-_2024-07-24T190420.992.webp)
The company - considered a global leader in the world of cybersecurity - reportedly sent an update to businesses using CrowdStrike antivirus software.
Advert
The update was simply meant to better protect customers against hackers and online hijackers but yeah... didn’t exactly do what it said on the tin there as chaos ensued.
As a way to apologize, the company reportedly offered its partners $10 Uber Eats gift card...hardly a fair trade for all the chaos I’d say.
According to a source who spoke to Tech Crunch, CrowdStrike offered the gift cards in an email because the company recognized ‘the additional work that the July 19 incident has caused.’
![The email some Crowdstrike customers claimed they received (X/@pitdesi)](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blt949ea8e16e463049/blt6f69e9d21595e0fe/66a14cd3ad71b32c522a90b8/crowdstrike-2.jpeg)
Advert
The email added: “And for that, we send our heartfelt thanks and apologies for the inconvenience.
“To express our gratitude, your next cup of coffee or late night snack is on us! Access your UberEats credit by using code:..”
Some users even took to Twitter to explain they were less than impressed with the gesture.
This was only made worse when some tried to use the code to only get an error message that said: “We're sorry, this voucher has been cancelled by the issuing party and is no longer valid.”
Advert
![The voucher was reportedly only worth around $10 (X/@CureBore)](https://images.ladbible.com/resize?type=webp&quality=70&width=3840&fit=contain&gravity=auto&url=https://images.ladbiblegroup.com/v3/assets/blt949ea8e16e463049/bltfd59d531bc6e1fad/66a14d03c335074ec183aacf/crowdstrike.jpeg)
Topics: Technology, Microsoft