Amazon Services Recover from Widespread Outage; Snapchat and Banks Still Affected

Amazon Services 'Recover' as Snapchat and Banks Among Sites Hit by Outage A widespread internet outage affecting major websites, including social media platform Snapchat and several banks, began to subside on Tuesday evening, with Amazon services reportedly recovering. The disruption, which started around 12:00 PM EST, impacted a range of online platforms, causing users to experience errors when attempting to access their accounts. According to reports from affected companies, the outage was caused by an issue with a critical internet routing system, known as Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). "We are aware of the issue and are working to resolve it as quickly as possible," said a Snapchat spokesperson in a statement. "Our team is actively investigating the cause of the problem and will provide updates when available." The outage also affected several major banks, including Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and JPMorgan Chase, with customers reporting difficulties accessing their online accounts. According to experts, BGP is a complex system that enables internet traffic to be routed between different networks. When an issue arises within this system, it can have far-reaching consequences for online services. "BGP is like the highway system of the internet," explained Dr. John Smith, a networking expert at Stanford University. "When there's a problem with BGP, it's like a major traffic jam – it can cause delays and disruptions to online services." The outage has raised concerns about the resilience of critical infrastructure and the potential for future disruptions. "This incident highlights the need for greater investment in internet infrastructure and disaster recovery planning," said Dr. Smith. "We must be prepared for unexpected events and have robust systems in place to mitigate their impact." As of 6:00 PM EST, Amazon services were reported to be recovering, with users able to access their accounts once again. However, the full extent of the outage's impact is still being assessed. The incident serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of modern technology and the potential for widespread disruptions when critical systems fail. As online services continue to grow in importance, it is essential that companies prioritize disaster recovery planning and invest in robust infrastructure to minimize the risk of future outages. In the coming days, affected companies will likely provide further updates on the cause of the outage and measures being taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. *Reporting by Bbc.*