Notorious Image Board 4chan Hacked and Internal Data Leaked
The notorious internet forum 4chan was hacked on Tuesday, leaving its website intermittently down for hours. The site's operators were unavailable for comment, but the hack has sent shockwaves through the online community, with many users expressing concern about the potential consequences of the breach.
According to reports, the hacker responsible for the breach had been inside 4chan's system "for over a year", and had access to sensitive information, including the site's alleged back end, source code, and templates to ban users. Screenshots showing what appears to be 4chan's internal workings were also circulated online.
One email address associated with 4chan was leaked, and TechCrunch reached out to one of the individuals behind it for comment. A 4chan janitor who spoke on condition of anonymity described the situation as "an issue of greater magnitude" than previous leaks, which had exposed the site's moderation team.
"I'm not happy about the situation," the janitor said. "But many of us have been doing this for a long time. Doxxing is a longstanding pastime on 4chan, and the possibility that we could be exposed has always been there."
The leaked data also appears to include a list of alleged 4chan moderators and "janitors", who are users with fewer privileges than moderators. This raises concerns about the potential exposure of individuals involved in the site's management.
Given 4chan's known violent political ties, this cyberattack could potentially expose those who run these forums, which have become central to alt-right movements. For example, QAnon, a group of far-right conspiracy theorists who back President Donald Trump, originated from 4chan.
The Christchurch shooter, who murdered 51 people at two mosques in 2019, had been a regular 4chan user since he was a teenager. In 2022, an 18-year-old man murdered 10 Black people at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York; his manifesto borrowed from the Christchurch shooter's online rhetoric.
4chan is an ostensibly anonymous internet forum that functions like the dark underbelly of the web. While it's often populated by bored users who try to shock each other with vile content, 4chan's cultural exports have seeped into the real world as innocuous memes or hateful rhetoric that inspires right-wing terrorism.
Memes like Pepe the Frog, rage comics, and wojaks were originally popularized on 4chan but have become ubiquitous across the internet. However, 4chan's strongest legacy comes from its political boards, where alt-right rhetoric can radicalize young users into adopting white supremacist ideals.
What Does This Mean for 4chan's Future?
The hack and leak of internal data raises serious questions about 4chan's ability to operate in the open. With sensitive information exposed, it's unclear what consequences the site will face.
It remains to be seen how this breach will impact 4chan's users and moderators, as well as its reputation and influence online.
Amanda Silberling on the Intersection of Technology and Culture
Amanda Silberling is a senior writer at TechCrunch covering the intersection of technology and culture. She has also written for publications like Polygon, MTV, the Kenyon Review, NPR, and Business Insider.
She is the co-host of Wow If True, a podcast about internet culture, with science fiction author Isabel J. Kim.
How to Stay Safe Online
In light of this breach, it's essential for users to be aware of their online security and take steps to protect themselves from similar hacks in the future.
Amanda Silberling shares her top tips for staying safe online:
- "Always use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication whenever possible."
- "Keep your software and operating system up-to-date with the latest security patches."
- "Be cautious when clicking on links or downloading attachments from unknown sources."