The Internet Archive, accessible at archive.org, has resumed operations following a recent hacker attack but is currently functioning in read-only mode. This measure comes after the digital library and the Wayback Machine fell victim to a large-scale DDoS attack. Hackers also managed to steal a database containing 31 million unique user records, including email addresses, usernames, and hashed passwords.
Current Status and Temporary Read-Only Mode
In read-only mode, users can still view archived web pages, though adding new content to the archive is temporarily disabled. Brewster Kahle, founder of the Internet Archive, mentioned: “The service is back online, but there may be further interruptions for additional maintenance.” This temporary state enables the team to address vulnerabilities revealed during the attack.
We’ll keep you updated on the progress as the team works on restoring full services. In addition to resuming core functionality, the Internet Archive has restored employee email systems and reactivated crawlers that collaborate with national libraries.
Wayback Machine’s Role and Growing Importance
The Wayback Machine, one of the Internet Archive’s most crucial tools, offers access to more than 916 billion cached web pages, serving as an essential resource for researching the internet’s history, notes NIX Solutions. Its significance has increased since Google removed links to its own cached pages from search results, now directing users to the Wayback Machine for old versions of sites and archived pages.
The Internet Archive continues to focus on improving security and restoring full functionality. Further updates will follow as new developments emerge.