Rising from the Ashes: How 4chan Rebooted After a Devastating Hack
On April 14, one of 4chan’s servers was attacked through a vulnerability in outdated software. According to the site’s official blog, the attacker—using an IP address from the United Kingdom—uploaded a fake PDF file, which allowed them to access the server, including its databases and admin panel.
The hacker spent several hours on the server, copying database tables and a significant portion of 4chan’s source code. After finishing the downloads, they began vandalizing the site, which caught the attention of moderators. In response, the servers were quickly shut down to prevent further damage.
After an internal review, the development team described the consequences of the attack as catastrophic. While not all servers were compromised, a key one was breached. The company cited delayed operating system and software updates as the main cause, which stemmed from a lack of qualified staff and long-term funding shortages. These financial issues were triggered by advertisers, payment processors, and service companies refusing to work with 4chan due to external pressure campaigns.
Infrastructure Challenges and Upgrades
Work to update the server infrastructure began at the end of 2023. Until then, as 4chan representatives confirmed, the site was running on servers purchased by the project’s former owner, known as moot, shortly before his departure. Due to financial difficulties, it took nearly a decade to raise enough money for new equipment.
By April 2024, the technical specifications for the new servers were finalized, and by June, the purchase was complete. The equipment was put into operation in July, and over the following months, functionality was gradually migrated. However, key services continued to run on outdated servers, which contributed to the success of the attack. The administration admitted that every stage of the upgrade took much longer than planned.
Recovery and Future Plans
During the nearly two-week downtime, the compromised server was replaced, and both the operating system and software were updated to current versions. Temporary restrictions on uploading PDF files were put in place on several boards that supported the format; this feature will be restored later. At the same time, the administration decided to permanently close the /f/ (Flash) board due to the inability to safely handle .swf files.
To accelerate the project’s development, 4chan is bringing in additional volunteer developers. The team of volunteer moderators and janitors continues their work, despite some having their personal privacy violated during the attack.
In conclusion, site representatives emphasized that 4chan will continue to operate and that “no other site can replace this community.”