Capitec Bank Faces Significant Online Service Disruptions Amid Global IT Outage
Date: July 19, 2024
Capitec Bank is currently grappling with major issues affecting its online services due to a widespread IT outage that occurred on Friday, July 19, 2024.
Reports from Downdetector.co.za indicate that thousands of users experienced difficulties accessing Capitec’s online services starting around 7 AM.
On facebook they posted 3hours ago saying,
The bank confirmed the disruption on their social media platform X, stating,
“We are currently experiencing nationwide service issues, affecting all services. We are working hard to resolve this. Your patience and understanding are greatly appreciated. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.”
The outage is not isolated to Capitec alone. Reuters has reported that the IT disruption is impacting various sectors in Australia, including media, banking, and telecommunications companies.
The issue appears to stem from a problem with global cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike. A spokesman for Australia’s home affairs minister commented,
“I am aware of a large-scale technical outage affecting a number of companies and services across Australia this afternoon.”
Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator, Michelle McGuinness, provided further clarity in a post on X:
“Our current information is this outage relates to a technical issue with a third-party software platform employed by affected companies. There is no information to suggest it is a cybersecurity incident. We continue to engage across key stakeholders.”
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This significant IT outage has had a global impact, primarily affecting Windows computers and causing the infamous blue screen of death (BSOD) errors.
Key Affected Companies and Services Include:
Banks: Capitec, Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac, ANZ, Bendigo Bank, Suncorp Bank, and others in Australia and New Zealand.
Supermarkets: Woolworths in Australia.
Media Organizations: ABC, Sky News, Network 10, and others in Australia.
Airlines: Major US airlines, including those operating in Australia.
Telecommunications: Companies like Foxtel and Telstra in Australia.
Cause and Response: The outage is believed to have been caused by a faulty anti-virus update from CrowdStrike, a US cybersecurity firm.
CrowdStrike has acknowledged the issue and stated that their technical teams are actively addressing the problem.
They advised users not to submit support tickets and promised to provide updates on their website as more information becomes available.
Capitec Bank and other affected entities are working diligently to restore normal service. Customers are encouraged to stay updated via official channels for the latest information on service restoration.
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