4chan’s ‘cesspool of the internet’ is down after apparently being hacked

Reports indicate that 4chan is currently down after a significant hack that purportedly revealed its source code. An individual on a rival messaging platform has taken credit for the breach, claiming to have successfully reopened the site’s /qa/ board.

4chan is well-known for its penchant for misleading outsiders with false information, as evidenced by its longstanding tagline: “Only a fool would take anything posted here as fact.” Originally serving as a platform for the Anonymous movement, the image-sharing forum later became a focal point for far-right ideologies and served as a blueprint for platforms like 8chan.

Various unconfirmed rumors are circulating regarding the purported 4chan leak, with some suggesting that moderator emails may have been compromised. Additionally, there are claims that the forum’s use of outdated software dating back to 2016 may have contributed to the security breach.

Jared Holt, a senior researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, has refuted some of the more sensational claims surrounding the leaked information. Specifically, Holt dismisses allegations of .edu and .gov email addresses being included in the breach as unsubstantiated, cautioning against spreading unfounded rumors.