Part 4/9:
Reflecting on the Y2K crisis of the late 1990s reveals that, despite fears, widespread catastrophe was avoided. Experts and programmers worldwide invested months—sometimes years—of effort to patch and update systems. As a result, the potential for major disruptions was mitigated.
Yet, the 2038 problem differs subtly but significantly. It’s embedded within countless legacy devices and embedded systems, many of which are outdated or forgotten, making their vulnerabilities harder to identify and fix. The problem is also more sneaky—hidden inside devices like elevators, industrial machinery, and even consumer electronics, which are often not routinely updated.