Is This the End? 4chan Offline After Massive Hack Exposes Source Code & User Data

For over a week, 4chan, the internet’s infamous hub for memes and controversy, has been offline following a devastating cyberattack. The future of the site, known for its influence (and infamy), hangs in the balance.

The disruption began on April 14th, with internal data quickly surfacing online. A rival forum, Soyjak, claimed responsibility, celebrating a victory in a long-standing feud.

The attackers boasted of a year-long infiltration of 4chan’s systems. They allegedly compromised admin accounts, resurrected and defaced a deleted board, and left visitors facing a persistent 503 error. The leaked information paints a grim picture: outdated source code riddled with vulnerabilities, exposed administrator email addresses, and the unmasking of user IP addresses on a platform built on anonymity. Even the personal data of paid subscribers was compromised.

Speaking anonymously to TechCrunch, a former 4chan moderator suggested the damage runs deeper than publicly known. With attackers gaining complete control and no restoration in sight, the likelihood of 4chan’s return appears increasingly slim.

Founded in 2003 by Christopher “moot” Poole as an English-language alternative to Japan’s 2chan, 4chan quickly gained notoriety. In 2015, Poole sold the site to Hiroyuki Nishimura, founder of 2channel.

4chan’s impact on internet culture is undeniable. It popularized trends like Pepe the Frog and rage comics, but also became associated with darker elements, including QAnon, the incel community, and alt-right movements. The site has also been linked to mass shootings and the 2014 celebrity photo leak.

While its influence on 21st-century culture is significant, 4chan’s potential demise may not be mourned by everyone.

A reference to the “Chicken Jockey” meme from the Minecraft movie may be 4chan’s final post.