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Windows 3.1 saves the day during CrowdStrike outage — Southwest Airlines scrapes by with archaic OS (www.tomshardware.com)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Southwest Airlines, the fourth largest airline in the US, is seemingly unaffected by the problematic CrowdStrike update that caused millions of computers to BSoD (Blue Screen of Death) because it used Windows 3.1. The CrowdStrike issue disrupted operations globally after a faulty update caused newer computers to freeze and stop working, with many prominent institutions, including airports and almost all US airlines, including United, Delta, and American Airlines, needing to stop flights.

Windows 3.1, launched in 1992, is likely not getting any updates. So, when CrowdStrike pushed the faulty update to all its customers, Southwest wasn’t affected (because it didn’t receive an update to begin with).

The airlines affected by the CrowdStrike update had to ground their fleets because many of their background systems refused to operate. These systems could include pilot and fleet scheduling, maintenance records, ticketing, etc. Thankfully, the lousy update did not affect aircraft systems, ensuring that everything airborne remained safe and were always in control of their pilots.

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[–] [email protected] 59 points 5 months ago (1 children)

My Linux servers weren't affected either. I think it's because of Windows 3.1

[–] [email protected] 34 points 5 months ago (2 children)

My wife shared this with me yesterday, but I didn’t see it:

A joke tweet with an attached image of a smart refrigerator. The refrigerator displays a blue screen of death. The tweet reads “I can’t even open my fridge.” Another tweet is replying to it, taking it seriously and indicating they do not embrace smart technology.

Somebunny is gonna learn those things aren’t windows-based today!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

My old thermostat was basically two teaspoons of mercury that would expand and contract with the temperature to short out two leads. They didn't let me keep it when I got a new one, but I got the dumbest one they had.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

I got a new HVAC and smart thermostat about a week ago. After researching, I decided to hook thermostat to wifi and download app. Mostly all the app does is duplicate the same functionality that the thermostat controls have. I find it handy to have a remote control for the thermostat.

OTOH I decided not to hook up a new washing machine to wifi and use app. It duplicated the functionality of the appliance controls also, but there was no point in having remove controls for a washing machine.

The critical thing is that an appliance needs to be fully functional without needing to use wifi and certainly not a phone app.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago (2 children)

Just yesterday I had that exact "Tech enthusiast vs tech worker" meme play out. I wanted a timer to control the electrical outlet for an aquarium bubbler. Saleswoman really wanted to sell me this "smart" controller with an app that can program the outlet.

Me:"What happens when the app stops working?"

(saleswoman is frantically flipping the box over for answers)

Her:"...maybe...it keeps the existing timer?"

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago (1 children)

For only way more time and money, you can buy a zigbee smart plug and a vendor agnostic zigbee hub flashed with FOSS, or you can buy a esp-based board, wire it up with a relay, and flash it with something like esphome.

Sure, it’s way more money and hours of work (cumulatively), but it won’t lose support!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I just bought a bunch of TP Link equipment I knew was compatible and loaded up Home Assistant onto a Raspberry Pi. Best of both worlds

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I bought some TP link Kasa plugs and a couple of years later when I wanted some more the Kasa brand was discontinued and replaced by Tapo in Sweden. Tapo and Kasa only work with their own separate app so I would have had to have two separate apps even though both were TP link. Never bought any more smart plugs.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Aw man, that's a shame! Kasa is still around in the US, I only got mine a couple months ago. They do seem to offer both, so I wonder if Kasa is on the way out here too

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I've got about six smart plugs that all stopped working because of lack of support. I am no longer interested in smart plugs.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

Shelly makes devices that are compatible with ESPHome and Tasmota, solving this problem.