4chan Down Since Monday Night Amid Allegations of "Pretty Comprehensive Own" Hack

4chan, the notorious imageboard website known for its anonymous posting and lax moderation, has been offline since Monday night. The platform's sudden disappearance has raised concerns about a possible cyber attack, with rival imageboard Soyjack Party claiming responsibility and sharing screenshots that suggest deep access to 4chan's databases and admin tools.

According to security researcher Kevin Beaumont, the hack was described as "a pretty comprehensive own" that included "SQL databases, source, and shell access." This means that the attackers gained control over 4chan's internal systems, including its database and administrative tools, allowing them to potentially exploit sensitive user data.

Ars Technica reports that 4chan's website utilized an outdated version of PHP, a programming language commonly used in web development. This vulnerability, coupled with the presence of long-deprecated and removed functions like mysql_real_escape_string, created an opportunity for hackers to gain access to the site's systems.

Ars staffers pointed out that the screenshots shared by Soyjack Party appear to show evidence of shell access, which could indicate that the attackers were able to execute system-level commands on 4chan's servers. This level of access raises serious concerns about the security and integrity of user data.

While it is unclear at this time whether the hackers have indeed gained control over all of 4chan's data, including site source code and user information, one thing is certain: the platform's disappearance has sent shockwaves through the online community. As news of the hack spreads, users are left wondering what sensitive information may have been compromised.

The situation remains fluid as authorities and cybersecurity experts work to investigate the extent of the hack and determine the motivations behind it. In the meantime, 4chan's loyal user base waits anxiously for the platform's return, hoping that measures will be taken to address the vulnerabilities exploited by the attackers.