Microsoft Windows systems down: What is the blue screen of death, why is it dreaded?

Microsoft’s IT systems were disrupted worldwide, with Windows PC failures being reported across services including airlines, banks, health services, emergency helplines, news channels, and more.

In the early hours of Friday, July 19, Microsoft published a post on X saying that it was “investigating an issue impacting users ability to access various Microsoft 365 apps and services.”

Soon, several users on X began sharing photos of their Windows desktops and laptops displaying an infamous and dreaded blue screen which typically indicates that the system has crashed and cannot continue to run.