Verizon Outage 2026: Software Bug, Not Cyberattack

January 30, 2026 Rachel Kim – Technology Editor Technology

Okay, here’s a summary of the provided text:

Main point:

In January 2026, Verizon experienced a widespread wireless outage affecting millions of customers, especially in major cities like Washington D.C. and New York City. Initially, the ⁣cause was unknown, leading to speculation of a cyberattack. Though, Verizon later determined the outage was due to a software issue, not a cyberattack.

Key details:

* impact: Customers saw ‍”SOS” on their phones rather of service.Verizon advised using landlines or other carriers for emergencies.
* Possible Causes (Initially): Equipment failure, technical problems, server issues, infrastructure damage, power outages, and ⁢cyberattacks were all considered.
* Cyberattack⁢ Context: The article notes past cyberattacks on wireless services⁢ (like the Cellcom incident in Wisconsin in 2025) which fueled the initial speculation.
* resolution: Verizon ⁢identified ⁢and fixed a software issue as the root cause.
* Further ⁤Details: The article promises to provide more details about what happened and what⁣ affected customers should do.

Essentially, the text sets up a news story about a notable Verizon outage, dispels the initial fear‍ of a cyberattack, and indicates that more information is‍ forthcoming.