Earlier today, countless Windows users were thrown into chaos as their screens turned blue and their systems came to a grinding halt. The culprit? A glitch caused by a routine update from CrowdStrike, one of the world’s largest cybersecurity firms. Nobody knew to look out for it, nor was the update likely intended in the first place, but when Windows’ blue screen of death abruptly hit airports, banks, and 911 call centers, it became clear just how vulnerable and dependent we have become on technology.
Still, in a world where our lives have become intertwined with our digital tools, I won’t pretend that we can suddenly get rid of it all. But today’s events are a reminder that we need to be prepared for these unexpected disruptions, especially since they can just as easily hit our personal devices. So with that in mind, here are a few tips to ensure that a single tech failure doesn’t bring your entire life to a standstill.