Americans awoke Friday to a near-nightmare scenario: A massive tech outage took down online banking services, grounded flights, knocked news websites offline, threatened 911 call centers and other emergency services, and otherwise wreaked havoc in a manner that underscored just how reliant on technology today’s 21st-century world truly is.

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike said the issue, which affected Microsoft 365 apps and services across virtually all corners of society and in almost all regions of the world, was not a cyberattack. Instead, the company’s CEO, George Kurtz, said in a social media post that a “defect” in a “single content update for Windows hosts” was to blame.

Average Windows users were confronted Friday morning with the infamous “blue screen of death.” Travelers at airports across the U.S., from Denver to Charlotte, were faced with delays and cancellations. The Federal Aviation Administration said multiple airports asked for help with ground stops Friday — another reminder of how it’s virtually impossible for America’s modern travel industry infrastructure to function in the event of a massive technology outage.

It appears so. In its own social media posts Friday morning, Microsoft 365 offered a solution: Restore your system to a date prior to the defective update.

“We’re aware of an issue with Windows 365 Cloud PCs caused by a recent update to CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor software. This is being communicated under WP821561 in the admin center,” the company said on X. “To fix this, users may restore their Windows 365 Cloud PC to a known good state prior to the release of the update” on Friday.

This is, needless to say, alarming. Routine cyberattacks on American companies and U.S. government infrastructure have already become a way of life. And now we know an error in a single content update can spark a worldwide crisis. And before Friday, Microsoft was already grappling with the fallout from an apparent Russian cyberattack on its systems last year.

The Department of Homeland Security said Friday its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) is working with state and federal partners to assess the situation. CISA itself has also been hacked this year.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for a drone attack on Tel Aviv early Friday that killed one person and injured 10 others, according to Israeli officials. The incident, reportedly near the U.S. Consulate, marks a major escalation by the Iran-backed Houthis, who since late last year have waged a campaign to disrupt global shipping in and around the Red Sea.

The Houthis, who claim they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, have launched drones and missiles toward Israel before. But Friday’s attack was the first time a Houthi attack on Israeli territory reached its target. The Houthis claimed their newest drones can bypass Israel’s aerial defense systems. However, an Israeli military official said that the explosive-laden drone had been identified on Thursday and attributed the hit to “human error.”

We’ll be tracking how Israel responds. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant vowed to settle the score, suggesting that Israel — already nine months into a war with Hamas and on the verge of a full-blown conflict with Lebanon-based Hezbollah — could launch direct strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen as well.

Washington Times Asia Editor Andrew Salmon offers a fascinating story about cognitive warfare in the 21st century and how embracing the role of victim is sometimes the quickest path to victory.

With the Western public acutely sensitive to accusations of neo-imperialism and racism and to news reports of civilian casualties and big-power bullying, playing the victim card can ignite powerful emotions that affect democratic policymaking.

Chinese President Xi Jinping appears to appreciate the tactic. His ruling Communist Party has used the theme of China’s “Century of Humiliation” to bolster Chinese unity and nationalism. Under that rubric, textbooks, museum signage and TV/cinema output illustrate China’s victimhood at the hands of aggressive imperialist powers in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Moscow is cracking down on social media platforms like YouTube and the WhatsApp encrypted messaging service. While Russian authorities say the move is to limit the ability of extremist groups to exchange information, observers note it also will restrict groups opposed to the ongoing war in Ukraine from communicating with each other. Military Correspondent Mike Glenn has all the details.

British officials suggested that the apparent crackdown is meant to squash public criticism of the Russian government, and President Vladimir Putin in particular.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is urging Britain’s new government to help Ukrainian forces attack deeper inside Russia to stop deadly missile strikes on his country. The Biden administration earlier this year reversed course and allowed Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike some targets inside Russia.

• July 16-19 — Aspen Security Forum, Aspen Institute

• July 22 — Deterring an Axis of Aggressors: A Conversation with H.R. McMaster, Hudson Institute

• July 23 — Finland, NATO, and the future of Trans-Atlantic Security: A Conversation with Ambassador Hautala, Brookings Institution

• July 24 — Delivering on a Shared Vision with America’s Indo-Pacific Allies and Partners, American Enterprise Institute