Comprehensive guide on what the internet outage impacts and everything you need to know so far
A significant internet outage has affected numerous websites, apps, and banks, primarily linked to Amazon Web Services (AWS). This disruption began early on Monday and quickly escalated into a widespread issue.
Details of the Internet Outage
As of 5 PM UK time, Downdetector reported over 9,300 incidents related to the AWS outage. Initially, AWS indicated that they had identified and addressed the root cause, but a backlog of issues still needed resolution.
What Services Were Affected?
- Banks: Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, and Halifax.
- Government Services: UK Government Gateway services, including HMRC and universal credit.
- Online Platforms: Zoom, Canva, and various gaming platforms like Fortnite and Clash of Clans.
- Amazon Products: Prime Video, Alexa, Amazon Music, and the main Amazon website.
Response and Recovery
Government officials acknowledged the outage’s impact on their services and were in contact with AWS to expedite recovery. Lloyds Bank also expressed their apologies to customers and confirmed that services were gradually coming back online.
Amazon Web Services Insights
AWS revealed that the outage resulted from increased error rates and latencies across its services, caused by connectivity problems at their data centers in northern Virginia. The company emphasized that their engineers were promptly addressing the situation.
Advice for Affected Users
For those still experiencing difficulties, experts suggest checking automated processes hosted via AWS. It may be beneficial to pause any critical workflows until full service is restored. Users should also remain vigilant for potential scams during this disruption.
Historical Context
This incident is reminiscent of a major internet disruption in July 2022, caused by a software update from cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. That outage affected 8.5 million devices and disrupted various essential services, demonstrating the far-reaching impact that such outages can have.
Conclusion
As recovery efforts continue, both individuals and businesses are encouraged to monitor the situation. Understanding the implications of the AWS outage and how to navigate it will be crucial in the coming days.
