The anonymous web forum 4chan has partially resumed its work after a large-scale hacker attack, due to which it remained inaccessible for almost two weeks. The incident led to a leak of a database with the personal data of moderators and their assistants, as well as the theft of part of the source code of the resource. The administration stated the grave consequences of the attack and a long-term lack of funding.
Image source: 4chan.org
On April 14, 2025, 4chan suffered a cyberattack in which an attacker with a UK IP address gained access to one of the site’s servers. The infiltration was done via a fake PDF file, through which the attacker uploaded malicious code. As a result, the database, a significant portion of the platform’s source code, and other forum data were stolen. After problems with the platform, moderators discovered the cyberattack and shut down the servers to prevent further damage.
Last Friday, the site resumed its work. According to official information, the main page and boards were launched, but the functions of posting messages, uploading images and displaying thumbnails remained unavailable. The administration stated that the hacked server was replaced, and some functions were limited: the ability to upload PDF files and the section for publishing flash animations were temporarily disabled. The team explained that at the moment there is no way to prevent similar attacks via SWF files.
In the official 4chan blog, the administration pointed to the systemic reasons for the incident. The problem, according to them, is the chronic shortage of qualified specialists to update the platform code and its infrastructure. Financial difficulties are due to the fact that advertisers, payment platforms and service providers, under external pressure, have massively stopped cooperating with the site. At the same time, it is emphasized that the few companies that agree to work with 4chan are soon also forced to terminate contracts under the same pressure.