WEEKLY WHEATIES #2431
Blue Screens, Streaming, Search, Maps, Travel
In this newsletter:
Post: Decoding Your Computer’s Blue Screen
In Case You Missed It: Disney, Hulu, and Max
In Case You Missed It: SearchGPT
In Case You Missed It: Apple Maps
Pick of the Week: Better Travel
Featured Product: VIOFO Dash Cam
Decoding Your Computer’s Blue Screen
In last week’s newsletter I covered the CrowdStrike update that took down a lot of computers worldwide. Although this was a massive issue, it wasn’t the first-time users and computers have been stuck from an update, and surely not the first time many have been witness to the infamous Blue Screen that has plagued Windows computers for years. But what exactly is this Blue Screen, and what causes it?
Long story short, it can be explained as being similar to a 404-error on websites. If you’ve ever been to a website that gave the message, “404 page not found,” or something similar, you’ve witnessed the web’s version of a Blue Screen. What is happening here is you clicked a link that is no longer working, has been moved, or maybe even has a typo in the URL. Since the website can’t access the page you typed in (or clicked) because it doesn’t exist, you were sent to a predetermined page showing the error code. A polite and simple way to let you, as the user, know the page doesn’t exist - rather than sit there forever waiting for a page to never load.
In order for a Blue Screen to show on a Windows machine, there must be some sort of miscommunication between hardware and software. Meaning, the Windows Operating System has code that allows it to communicate with all the hardware in use. This could be things a user interacts with, like the screen, keyboard, mouse, speakers, etc., but could include other hardware you’re familiar with: a hard drive, RAM, ethernet ports, USB ports, and more. However, it also includes internal components that you’d never consider since they aren’t ever interacted with - mainly components on the motherboard like the Wifi and Bluetooth chips, and many other components that are essentially a part of the motherboard.
Next, in order for these pieces of hardware to talk to Windows, a driver is usually needed. In years past, these were manually installed, but recently are all completed on their own. Many pieces of hardware have the drivers built-in to the component itself so that whenever it’s plugged it, it will automatically install the necessary software behind the scenes. Notice when you plug in any new USB device, it takes a second until you see a bubble in the bottom right corner, letting you know your device is good to go. That’s essentially what’s happening in the background.
The same could be said for any type of software installed. For example, if you want to use Microsoft Office or Adobe Photoshop, it first needs to be installed within the operating system in order to function fully. While some software doesn’t need hardware to function, it still needs some level of access to the rest of the code within the system.
Anytime these drivers or other software have a glitch, that opens up the opportunity for an error. But there’s a kicker. In the case of a typical USB device or Microsoft Office, if the driver or software is bad - it just simply won’t work. It’s not until the hardware’s driver or software’s code needs access to the kernel (sometimes referred to as root) of the system. This gives it a much more elevated access as it lives within the backend of the Operating System and the hardware it is talking to.
While we’re talking mainly about the Blue Screen, which is specific to Windows computers, Apple’s Mac lineup of computers has their own equivalent. You can see the various similar options on Apple’s Support Page. Both are subject to these issues, just at different scales. If anything, this issue shows how many Windows machines are running day-to-day processes across the globe. I can promise you if the roles were reversed, Apple isn’t immune to attacks or update issues. It’s just a matter of time and scale.
Regardless of the system you’re using or the error given, they can all be solved in the same fashion. A first step is to unplug all unneeded devices and boot into Safe Mode to uninstall the last update or software. Safe Mode essentially turns off all non-first-party drivers and software and only boots with the very minimum basics.
Putting everything together, we can start to diagnose what happened with CrowdStrike. When they sent an update to their security software, Falcon, it referenced the wrong items in the kernel, causing an error and, ultimately, a Blue Screen. Come to find out, they did, in fact, test the update before deploying, but it was approved by their validation software - which, come to find out - had a bug in its code. Talk about the perfect storm.
Which brings about another question: shouldn’t these updates have to be approved and validated by Microsoft first? Well, yes and no. Microsoft does and did approve their software - Falcon. But they don’t always approve each and every update. For good reason, too. Ars Technica even reported that Microsoft couldn’t even “lock third-party security companies out of the Windows kernel” if they wanted to due to “pushback from European Commission regulators.”
Remember, CrowdStrike is a software company helping protect against threats. They can’t take the time or effort to have every update approved through Microsoft (at least generally speaking). They are helping block threats as soon as they’re found out, and even proactively patching systems before they can be exploited. Arguably, if there were an update waiting for approval, the threat (or hack, virus, etc) could have caused more harm than what we saw last week. These updates are also sent frequently on a non-normal schedule. Remember, they are trying to keep customers protected.
Lastly, let’s compare this to a third-party mobile app. Apple or Google originally had to approve the app in order to be placed in the App Store. In some cases, they also approve major updates to the app in question. However, Apple and Google do not and cannot approve every single update within the app on an ongoing basis. That’s simply the nature of programming.
As our phones and computers are used more and more, and we’re more reliant on the softwares and apps within them, updates will eventually cause issues. For better or worse, that’s where we are. And it’s hard to completely fault CrowdStrike. Something like this was bound to happen. I said it last week, but the fact that no one outside of IT had ever heard of them before proved how great of a job they’ve done over the years. At least arguably….
ICYMI: Disney, Hulu, and Max
In a bundle we knew was coming for the past few months, Max (formerly HBO Max) can now be purchased with Disney Plus and Hulu. By purchasing the bundle rather than all three separately, you can save upwards of $20 if purchasing non-ad plans. However, I’d like to share two notes of caution. First, this bundle does not include ESPN+ or any form of live TV. Second, based on your mobile phone provider, you may already have access to Max (through ATT) or the Disney/Hulu/ESPN bundle (through Verizon) included in your package - or at least discounted. If you have another provider, check their offerings.
ICYMI: SearchGPT
To keep Google on their toes, OpenAI has announced SearchGPT, their AI-powered search engine. It is still listed as a “prototype,” but you can visit chatgpt.com/search to join the waitlist. However, if you want your search results to crawl Reddit’s site, it looks like you may want to stick with Google for the immediate future. Reddit has blocked all search engines except Google amid AI ‘misuse’.
ICYMI: Apple Maps
In a possible other blow to Google, Apple Maps launches on the web. It is in beta but is open to all at beta.maps.apple.com. Assuming it will be updated in the future, a current downside is you cannot log in to see saved or favorited locations. Time will tell. We’ve come a long way since Apple Maps had a very rough start. Last year, MacRumors shared a report that stated Apple Maps Gradually Winning Over Google Maps Users.
POTW: Better Travel
In a major move to “broaden its appeal and attract more flying from its current and future customers,” Southwest Airlines is getting rid of open seating. Maybe we can convince them to use The Better Boarding Method [Airlines Won't Use]. There’s a few to pick from, so even straying from the normal boarding procedures we’re familiar with will still help keep their uniqueness. While on the plane, I encourage you to leave your window shades up during takeoff and landing for others to see. It could help with flight sickness for some. On the other hand, Thrillist author Jessica Sulima wrote an essay In Defense of Keeping Your Airplane Window Shade Up for the entire flight. I like to sleep sometimes, though - sorry! For your luggage, an Airport Worker Explains Why You Should Never Tie Ribbons To Your Luggage. Spoiler alert: it causes issues with the systems reading the tags.
While we’re at it, check out The Simple Solution to Traffic problems.
Featured Product
While I can’t recommend this personally, this VIOFO Dash Cam comes highly rated from others across the web, not those just on Amazon. Linus Tech Tips had an in-depth video on price-conscious dash cams available on Amazon and explained why this is the top brand you should consider.
