Apple releases 'Blue Screen of Death' ad mocking Windows PCs

Remember the CrowdStrike incident last year? On July 19, 2024, millions of Windows computers around the world suddenly crashed, displaying the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). The cause came from a faulty update by the American cybersecurity company CrowdStrike, leading to one of the biggest IT incidents in history.

The issue only affected Windows computers, leaving Apple's Mac lineup completely unscathed. Exactly one year later, Apple released a new commercial — one that both celebrated the stability of the Mac ecosystem and took a light jab at Windows computers.

The new ad, titled 'BSOD (Blue Screen of Death),' is a direct reference to Microsoft's infamous error screen. It's a sequel to Apple's short film series, The Underdogs , which follows a group of co-workers who use Apple devices to boost their productivity and avoid annoying PC system errors.

The video description reads:

'The Underdogs were preparing for their first exhibition when a PC malfunction caused a Blue Screen of Death that threatened to ruin Container Con. Thanks to the security of Apple products, they were unaffected and enjoyed a resounding success.'

Apple also cleverly emphasizes the security strength of its ecosystem by linking to its Apple Enterprise page , where it promotes that:

'Kernel-level protection technology is designed to prevent data leaks, system disruptions, and unauthorized access.'

The ad ends with the message:

'There's no security like Mac security.'

In fact, Macs are generally considered more secure than Windows PCs — partly because macOS is built on Unix, and partly because Apple tightly controls both hardware and software, which helps minimize potential vulnerabilities.

However, no system is completely immune. Both macOS and Windows can be attacked if users do not take the necessary security measures.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 10 October 2025