Windows 3.1, launched in 1992, is likely not getting any updates. So, when CrowdStrike pushed the faulty update to all its customers, Southwest wasn’t affected (because it didn’t receive an update to begin with).

Aside from Windows 3.1, Southwest also uses Windows 95 for its staff scheduling system.

One X user suggested that the company switch to Windows XP—it’s also no longer updated, and it can run Windows 3.1 applications via compatibility mode.

    • aeronmelon@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Amish, to the computerized world: “Think you’re really righteous? Think you’re pure of heart? Well, I know I’m a million times as humble as thou art!”

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    4 months ago

    It’s a news article of a tweet that was originally a joke on a year-old article which says some were still on 3.1.

    That’s harder extrapolation than my grade-school essay assignments.

    • BossDj@lemm.ee
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      4 months ago

      I couldn’t find any sources either. In 2022, they had issues that were attributed to aging technology and reluctance to go digital on their processes, but nothing to suggest Windows 3.1

      The was a quote from a union rep that said their programs “looked like they were designed on Windows 95”.

    • Aatube@kbin.melroy.orgOP
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      4 months ago

      The tweet is from the founder of Android Authority and APKMirror, so while it’s indeed filmsy sourcing, the credibility hasn’t completely vanished.

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    4 months ago

    Once upon a time I couldn’t understand why companies and governments still used ancient computer systems running DOS, Win3.1, or 9x, or computers like C64s. “Upgrade! Your new systems will be far more powerful and efficient; and that means they’re better!” -teenage me at some point, probably.

    However, as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that it’s because “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. While Southwest may spend more money than necessary on maintenance due to the ancient systems needing now-specialized skills, those systems are also time-proven to be as functional and dependable as they need them to be. Ironically, they might actually be more secure than most modern systems due to a combination of decades of specialized security/stability patches they’ve probably had and simple security-through-obsolescence.

    Edit: misremembered the phrase, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.

    • PriorityMotif@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      It becomes an issue when hardware is involved. I’ve seen industrial machines with 386 based touchscreens. Things as simple as a PS2 keyboard start getting hard to find and downtime costs a lot.

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          4 months ago

          They exist, but they might not work with all hardware and keyboards. The problem with the industrial space is that nobody really thinks to keep something around like that just in case. Something stops working and then it’s a scramble to get it back up and running again.

    • Psychodelic@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      You just helped me realize all the people that make a big deal out of getting monthly “security” updates for their phones are probably just dumb teenagers!

      I hate mandatory updates with a fiery passion

      • Aatube@kbin.melroy.orgOP
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        4 months ago

        They were talking about major and feature updates. Security updates are actually pretty important.

        • Psychodelic@lemmy.world
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          4 months ago

          Fair enough. I still wish I could just accept the risk and click a button that forfeits my use of Microsoft support or something

      • skuzz@discuss.tchncs.de
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        4 months ago

        To be fair to the kids, they are an entire generation indoctrinated with the religion of mobile devices being replaced annually and constant updates to everything to keep that dopamine hit as high as possible. They’ve been manipulated by big tech for profit.

    • iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works
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      While Southwest may spend more money than necessary on maintenance due to the ancient systems needing now-specialized skills, those systems are also time-proven to be as functional and dependable as they need them to be.

      So they spend more on maintenance, but the system is also dependable? That seems contradictory.

      • Mossy Feathers (She/They)@pawb.social
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        4 months ago

        Not really. A machine that only breaks down every 10 years but is expensive to repair could be considered dependable and expensive to maintain. Similarly, a machine that has expensive parts which rarely fail within their expected lifespan could be considered dependable and expensive to maintain.

        Edit: you’re also ignoring the cost of finding and hiring people who know how to maintain the systems. The systems themselves could be dependable, but the skills required to maintain them are expensive.

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    4 months ago

    Auto mechanics were also not affected, since they’ve been using the same computers since the Carter administration.

  • mlg@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Not sure if because Crowdstrike wasn’t successful in selling a custom solution to Southwest, or Southwest said “nah we don’t need bloated endpoint security because we use old windows”.

    i’m pretty sure falcon only runs on windows 7 and above lol

    • Aatube@kbin.melroy.orgOP
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      To develop a custom solution for an incredibly niche base seems like it’d be a waste of resources to CrowdStrike to me

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    4 months ago

    I’m not sure what is more terrifying - one company screwing up global economy with a single update, or airlines running on windows 3.1

    • Zak@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Anyone using Windows, but not CrowdStrike was also unaffected. CrowdStrike had released crashy updates for Linux before.

    • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      4 months ago

      I don’t get the downvotes other than we were affected fixing windows machines all day…

      • Nougat@fedia.io
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        4 months ago

        People who try to position this as a “Windows is bad” thing fail to realize that CS could just have easily released a bugged update for their Linux agent instead.

        • JanoRis@kbin.run
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          4 months ago

          do people use crowdstrike privately or is it just companies that use it? Cause only people that used crowdstrike with windows were affected. You normally dont have any influence what OS your company environment uses. The IT of the companies are the ones that usually could push for a change to linux.

      • rock_hand@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        Because it’s obvious to the community. It didn’t affect a Linux or windows patch in this instance. It doesn’t mean it couldn’t have.

        I’m not some windows fanboy or whatever the term is these days. It just seems the op is pointing out the obvious.

        • Rai@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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          4 months ago

          I wonder if also people were like “IT ACTUALLY IS AFFECTED NOT EFFECTED”

          I use windows, Linux, and OSX and have no strong feelings either way (Linux feels more ‘mine’ so maybe I do)

      • Psychodelic@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        I thought you were gonna make a joke about linux users having to fix some random issue that popped up on linux

        Idk… it’s been a while since I used it and I always had issues that took hours to troubleshoot. lol

        • BeardedGingerWonder@feddit.uk
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          4 months ago

          I always find you spend the time up front with Linux, mostly. All the issues come at the start but once they’re settled it’s generally stable.

          • Psychodelic@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            I could totally get on board with that.

            I’ll definitely do it once I work up the energy… or more likely Microsoft forces me to move. lol