The Internet Archive, a digital library housing millions of books, movies, and web pages, has partially resumed operations following a series of cyberattacks that forced it offline. The organization's popular Wayback Machine, which allows users to view archived versions of websites, is now accessible in a read-only capacity.
On October 9, the Internet Archive fell victim to a data breach and a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, causing a temporary shutdown of its services. The incident also resulted in the theft of a user authentication database containing 31 million unique records, including email addresses, usernames, and hashed passwords.
Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive, announced the partial restoration of services on social media. He stated that while users can now access the 916 billion web pages already archived, the ability to capture new web pages remains unavailable. Kahle cautioned that further maintenance might be necessary, potentially leading to additional temporary suspensions.
The cyberattacks on the Internet Archive began in May 2023 and escalated over time. Speculation surrounds the motives behind these attacks, with some suggesting that publishing companies or other entities with conflicting interests may be responsible. However, no concrete evidence has been presented to support these claims.
A group claiming responsibility for the attack cited protest against U.S. government policies as their motivation. However, this claim has not been independently verified.
The recent breach has raised concerns about the security of digital libraries and the preservation of online information. The Internet Archive plays a critical role in maintaining historical records of the internet, making it a valuable resource for researchers, journalists, and the general public.
As the Internet Archive continues to recover from these attacks, cybersecurity experts emphasize the importance of robust protection measures for organizations that house vast amounts of data. Users of the service are advised to change their passwords and remain vigilant about their online security.
The partial restoration of the Internet Archive's services marks a step towards full recovery. However, the incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by digital preservation efforts in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.