November 2025 Newsletter

Posted By: Mark Thursday 18th December 2025 Tags: AI, Artificial Intelligence, cyber attacks, cyber crime, Cyber Security, Data Breach, Data Leak, Data Privacy, Data Protection, Newsletter, ransomware, technology

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This month: Cloudflare Outage affects millions, spotting seasonal scams, how much can we trust AI assistants, data centre tech waste used to heat homes, plus the latest LaneSystems news.

Cloudflare Outage – When the CDN Breaks, The Internet Stalls

Millions locked out as one in five sites falter worldwide

It was only last month that we were talking about a major cloud outage affecting Amazon Web Services, and the affect it had on global internet functionality. This month it’s a case of deja-vu, as Cloudflare takes centre stage for major disruption.

On the 18th of November, millions of people around the world suddenly found themselves staring at error messages instead of the websites and apps they were trying to use. The culprit was a major outage at Cloudflare, one of the internet’s largest infrastructure providers. For several hours, traffic across the web slowed, stalled, or simply failed to load.

This wasn’t a cyberattack or a hack. Instead, it was a technical glitch deep inside Cloudflare’s systems. A routine update to a database accidentally created oversized files that overwhelmed the company’s network software. When those files were distributed across Cloudflare’s global servers, the system couldn’t handle them, and traffic stopped flowing normally.

After a couple of hours, engineers had rolled back the faulty update and restored service. But the incident highlighted just how dependent the modern internet is on a handful of companies.

Who Was Affected?

Cloudflare sits behind a huge portion of the world’s websites, acting as a kind of “traffic controller” that speeds up connections, blocks malicious attacks, and keeps sites online. When Cloudflare falters, the ripple effects are enormous.

• Global businesses: E-commerce platforms, financial services, and media outlets all rely on Cloudflare to deliver content quickly and securely. During the outage, many of these sites became unreachable or painfully slow.

• UK companies: Retailers, banks, and online services in Britain were hit particularly hard. Customers trying to shop, log into accounts, or access online tools were met with error pages.

• Everyday users: From streaming services to online forms, the outage disrupted daily routines. Even logging into dashboards or authentication systems failed for many, leaving people locked out of critical services.

High profile platforms including X/Twitter, ChatGPT, Canva, Shopify, Coinbase and Dropbox were knocked offline, alongside countless smaller sites. While reports focused on global tech names, UK businesses — from retailers to banks — also saw disruption, reminding us how deeply embedded Cloudflare is in everyday digital services.

What Did People See?

For most users, the outage looked like a wall of error messages. The most common were “HTTP 5xx” errors—technical codes that simply mean “something went wrong on the server.” Others received messages

Here are some of the problems people experienced:

• Websites not loading: Pages either failed to appear or displayed Cloudflare-branded error screens.

• Login failures: Authentication systems broke down, preventing users from signing into accounts.

• Slow responses: Even when sites did load, they were sluggish, with delays caused by overloaded servers.

• Service-specific issues: Cloudflare’s own tools, like its dashboard and bot management system, were unavailable or unreliable during the outage.

For businesses, these errors translated into lost sales, frustrated customers, and reputational damage. For users, it was simply a reminder of how invisible internet infrastructure becomes painfully visible when it fails.

The Bigger Picture: Reliance on a Few Giants

The November outage wasn’t just about Cloudflare. Along with the recent AWS outage, It raised wider concerns about how much of the internet depends on a small number of providers.

There are a “big three” of cloud platforms, who are responsible for a large percentage of all internet traffic. Amazon Web Services (AWS), the largest provider, powers everything from online shops to government systems. Microsoft Azure is widely used by businesses, especially those already tied into Microsoft’s software ecosystem, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP) are strong in data analytics, AI, and powering innovative start ups.

These three handle the bulk of the world’s cloud computing, hosting apps, websites, and data for millions of organisations. If they have issues, so does a significant portion of the web.

Cloudflare, by contrast, plays a different but equally critical role. It isn’t a hyperscale cloud provider like AWS, Azure, or GCP, but, a content delivery and security company — speeding up websites, blocking cyberattacks, and managing internet traffic. When Cloudflare stumbles, the impact is still global because so many businesses rely on it to keep their sites fast and safe. Reportedly, 15-20% of all websites rely on Cloudflare services, with a reported 33% of the top million visited sites relying on their servers.

Why Concentration Is Risky

• Single points of failure: If one of the big providers or Cloudflare goes down, millions of services can be disrupted at once.

• Economic impact: Outages can cost businesses millions in lost sales and productivity.

• Resilience concerns: With so much traffic funnelled through a handful of networks, the internet becomes less diverse and more vulnerable.

• Trust issues: Users expect the web to “just work.” When it doesn’t, confidence in digital services takes a hit.

The November Cloudflare outage was the company’s worst since 2019. Though resolved within hours, it disrupted businesses and users worldwide, especially in the UK. More importantly, it underscored the fragility of an internet ecosystem dominated by a few providers.

For casual users, the lesson is simple: when the internet breaks, it’s often because the invisible companies powering it stumble. For businesses, the challenge is bigger. How to build resilience in a world where so much depends on so few.

If you’re a business in the North East of England and unsure how your online presence could be affected by a similar outage, now’s the time to review your setup. Our team is always here to help you build a more resilient, future-proof IT environment. Get in touch today.

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LaneSystems News

Charity News

We are donating 2 x switches, an access point, plus labour – worth £1064 – to Citizens Advice Sunderland. This is to assist with the reopening of their office, that was set on fire and burned down back in August 2024.

Windows 10 End of Support Deadline Passes

As of 14th October 2025, Microsoft has officially ended standard support for Windows 10. Regular updates and technical assistance have ceased. Some security updates are still available through Microsoft’s Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme, but, if your organisation is still running Windows 10, it’s important to understand the limitations and risks. We strongly recommend planning your upgrade to Windows 11 to ensure long-term security and compliance.

For more than a year, we’ve been proactively contacting our clients to help plan a smooth transition to Windows 11. If your business in the North East of England hasn’t yet made the switch—or needs assistance with the upgrade—please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always here to help.

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Seasonal Scam Awareness

As Christmas approaches, millions of us turn to the internet for presents and seasonal deals. Unfortunately, cyber criminals know this too, and the festive shopping period is one of their busiest times. According to Trading Standards and the British Retail Consortium, scams spike around Black Friday and December sales, with fraudsters using increasingly convincing tactics.

This is our annual reminder to be aware of what’s around trying to steal your money and personal information.

Fake Websites

One of the most common threats is fake websites. These often mimic well-known retailers, offering “too good to be true” discounts. While the site may look professional, it’s designed to steal payment details or deliver counterfeit goods. Always check the web address carefully, look for spelling errors, and avoid clicking through from unfamiliar links or adverts.

Social Media Adverts

Another growing risk, fraudsters pay for sponsored posts that promote cheap gadgets, toys, or luxury items. Once you’ve paid, the product either never arrives or is far inferior to what was promised. Stick to trusted retailers and be cautious of deals shared in groups or via targeted ads.

Delivery Scams

With parcels arriving daily, it’s easy to fall for phishing texts or emails claiming a package couldn’t be delivered. These messages often impersonate courier firms like Evri or Royal Mail, asking you to click a link and pay a small fee. In reality, the link harvests your personal and financial information. If you’re unsure, track your parcel directly on the courier’s official site.

Data Harvesting

Beyond stealing money, many scams aim to steal personal data. Quick checkouts, unfamiliar apps, and pop-up competitions can trick shoppers into handing over names, addresses, and card details. This information is then sold or used for identity fraud. Protect yourself by using strong, unique passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and paying with credit cards where possible, as they offer extra protections.

The golden rule is simple: if a deal looks too good to be true, it usually is. Take a moment to verify the source before entering any details. Use official websites, avoid clicking on unsolicited links, and remember that genuine retailers won’t ask you to pay unexpected fees via text or email.

Christmas should be a time of joy, not financial stress. By staying vigilant, questioning suspicious offers, and shopping through trusted channels, you can keep your festive season safe and scam-free.

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Brits Put (Sometimes Too Much) Trust in AI Assistants

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Data Centres Heating Homes: Tech Waste With A Purpose

The BBC reports about an Essex couple becoming the first in the UK to trial a novel heating system that uses a mini data centre in their garden shed to warm their home. The scheme, part of UK Power Networks’ SHIELD project, demonstrates how technology’s by products can be repurposed to benefit communities.

The system, known as the HeatHub, was developed by Thermify. It contains more than 500 Raspberry Pi computers, each processing digital tasks. As these computers run, they generate heat — traditionally considered waste in the tech world. Instead of being discarded, the heat is captured by oil and transferred into the household’s hot water and heating system. The result is a steady supply of warmth powered by computing.

For Terrence and Lesley Bridges, the savings have been dramatic. Their monthly energy bills have dropped from around £375 to as little as £40, even while keeping the heating high to meet health needs. Solar panels and a battery installed alongside the HeatHub have further reduced costs, creating a resilient, low carbon energy setup.

Good for the Environment?

Data centres consume vast amounts of electricity, with cooling alone accounting for up to 30% of their energy use. By harnessing this “waste heat” locally, households can cut reliance on gas boilers and reduce carbon emissions. Thermify envisions a distributed network of HeatHubs, each processing data for clients while simultaneously heating homes — a model that could scale across social housing and community facilities.

This pilot highlights a powerful idea: tech waste can be transformed into community value. By rethinking how we use the by products of digital infrastructure, projects like HeatHub show that innovation doesn’t just mean new gadgets — it can mean turning overlooked resources into affordable, eco friendly solutions for everyday life.

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Need Cyber Security?

If you’re a business in the North East of England and looking for professional and reliable cyber security services, IT consultation, and general IT services to keep your company cyber secure, get in touch. Cybersecurity is a continuous process, and staying proactive is key to safeguarding digital assets.