8.5 million Windows devices faced a $5.4 billion profit loss due to a cyber threat, exposing Western vulnerability.

8.5 million Microsoft Windows devices experienced a widespread internet outage, costing at least $5.4 billion in profit losses. Caused by cybersecurity firm Crowdstrike uploading bugged code, the incident demonstrates Western nations' vulnerability to cyber threats and highlights the reliance on a functioning internet across various sectors, including finance, travel, and retail. Consequences of future disruptions could be catastrophic, with supply chain failures, empty store shelves, and potential authoritarianism.