Half the internet goes down as Cloudflare blames issues on 'fiber cut'
Dozens of popular websites crashed on Monday, leaving millions without access.
Issues began at 8.35am ET on Monday, affecting a range of services including X, Zoom, Google and Microsoft.
Cloudflare, which provides web security, speed, and routing services for millions of sites, said it is investigating a fiber cut in Eastern North America and believes it is unrelated to the rest of the outages experienced globally.
A company spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Cloudflare is not currently experiencing a global outage.
The only issue we’re aware of is that Zayo, a network provider, is experiencing an outage on some of its network routes.
That may cause some sites using Zayo exclusively to be unreachable, whether they use Cloudflare or not. We are seeing evidence that Zayo’s network is recovering and expect and errors to be short-lived.
At this time, Cloudflare said: 'Traffic engineering efforts have successfully mitigated the majority of congestion and packet drops.
'Services are largely stable, with only minor residual impact remaining. A small number of intermittent errors may still be observed for services with origins in North America as we work to fully clear the remaining load.'
Issues began at 8.35am ET on Monday, affecting a range of services including X, Zoom, Google and Microsoft
A fiber cut occurs when a fiber-optic cable that carries internet traffic is physically damaged, disrupting the flow of data across a network.
Engineers must locate the break, dispatch repair crews and splice the cable back together before normal service can be restored.
While traffic can often be rerouted through backup connections, major fiber cuts can still trigger widespread outages if critical network routes are affected.
As it investigates the disruption, Cloudflare also reported a separate technical issue affecting some customers.
The company said it is investigating an issue preventing users from deploying Managed Rules, a set of built-in security protections designed to help defend websites against cyberattacks and malicious traffic.
Downdetector, a site that monitors online outages, shows users reported widespread problems with Cloudflare's dashboard, while others said they were experiencing API authorization failures.
Other users reported encountering a '404 Error' message when trying to log in.
Cybersecurity experts have issued a warning amid the disruption, telling users to be aware of fake backup links or mirror pages.
Millions of users are unable to access their favorite websites Monday morning
Web3 Antivirus, a software company designed to protect financial assets, said on X: 'When major services like X, Reddit, Discord, Zoom, Canva and others start having issues, users may get trapped via 'alternative' access points, status updates and temporary mirrors.
'A fake backup link or mirror page can look helpful during an outage, but it may lead to phishing pages, fake login forms, wallet drainers or malicious downloads.'
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
