The Internet Archive, known for its popular “Wayback Machine”, has established itself as an indispensable archive for digital memory since its founding. It archives billions of web pages and makes millions of books, videos and software freely available. But in early October 2024, the platform experienced one of the most serious attacks in its history: a hack resulted in the compromise of data from over 31 million users, forcing the Archive.org team to take the site offline. After several days of inaccessibility, the site is now back online, but only in a limited “read-only” mode, while work continues to restore and improve security measures.

What is Archive.org?

The Internet Archive is a non-profit organization founded by Brewster Kahle in 1996. Its main goal is to preserve digital culture and human knowledge for future generations by creating a permanent record of web pages, books, videos, music, and other digital content. Over time, Archive.org has become one of the largest and most comprehensive digital archives in the world, offering users free access to countless resources.

The Internet Archive's mission

The Internet Archive aims to create an “Internet forever”. In an age when websites often disappear or are changed, it offers a solution to make information permanently available. It helps researchers, historians, journalists and the general public to access outdated or deleted content. Archive.org is therefore not only a technical archive, but also an invaluable cultural and scientific resource.

Scope of the archive

The Internet Archive includes:

  • Over 800 billion web pages archived by the Wayback Machine since its inception.

  • 20 million books and texts digitized for research and education.

  • A collection of over 4.5 million videos, audio files, and films.

  • Old and modern software from different eras of computer history, provided in the software archive.

The Wayback Machine: A window into the past

The Wayback Machine is one of the best-known tools of the Internet Archive. It allows users to access previous versions of web pages and track their development over time. This is particularly valuable for recovering deleted content, analyzing website changes, or documenting the history of the Internet.

How the Wayback Machine works

The Wayback Machine works by regularly saving “snapshots” of web pages. These snapshots are stored in a database and can be accessed by users at a later date. This allows researchers, historians and journalists to analyze how websites have changed or to access content that is no longer available online.

  • The Wayback Machine has archived over 800 billion web pages, making it one of the most comprehensive databases on the internet.

  • It archives websites from institutions, governments and even social media, providing a comprehensive overview of digital development.

Use and importance of the Wayback Machine

The Wayback Machine is not only a tool for archiving, but also an important instrument for safeguarding freedom of expression and access to information. In countries with limited press freedom or in cases where content has been subsequently deleted or modified, the Wayback Machine provides uncensored access to the original content. It has become indispensable, particularly in science and journalism, because it preserves and makes accessible historical sources.

Other Internet Archive projects

In addition to the Wayback Machine, the Internet Archive runs a number of other projects that contribute to the preservation and accessibility of digital content.

Digital Library

The Internet Archive's digital library contains a vast collection of over 20 million books and texts that have been digitized. It covers a wide range of topics, including science, history, literature, and art. This digital collection is available to the public free of charge and is an important resource for students, researchers, and educational institutions worldwide.

  • The books come from libraries, archives, and institutions around the world.

  • Users can read many of these works online or download them, making it easier to access information that might not otherwise be accessible.

Software Archive

The Internet Archive's Software Archive is a unique collection of software, old and new, that is accessible for historical and cultural research. It contains thousands of programs and retro video games that can be played directly in the browser. This archive provides valuable insights into the history of technology and serves as a resource for scholars who want to track the development of software and computer games.

  • The collection includes software from the early days of computing through to modern programs.

  • Historical games and programs can be played or used directly on modern devices, making this archive an interactive experience for users.

Open Library

The Open Library is another important project of the Internet Archive. Its goal is to digitize every edition of every book ever published and make it accessible online. Users can register with the Open Library and borrow or read books directly from the platform.

  • The Open Library contains millions of books that are no longer available in stores or are difficult to find.

  • It provides valuable access to information for educational purposes and research.

Significance for education and research

The Internet Archive is a central resource for education and research worldwide. Universities, schools and libraries use the Archive's content to provide learning materials and conduct historical research. Particularly in times when information on the internet is quickly deleted or changed, the Internet Archive provides stable and permanent access to valuable knowledge.

Contribution to science

The archive is a valuable tool for scientists searching for digital sources that would otherwise have been lost. Historical websites, books, software and audiovisual materials are available for research, making the Internet Archive an indispensable companion for scientific work.

The attack: what happened?

In early October 2024, the Internet Archive was the victim of a major cyber attack that threatened both the accessibility of the site and the data of millions of users. The attack was twofold: a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack took down the website, and at the same time, the data of more than 31 million user accounts was compromised. This data included email addresses, usernames, encrypted passwords and other sensitive information.

Details of the attack

On October 9, 2024, the DDoS attack began, with the aim of taking down the Internet Archive website through massive requests. This resulted in the website being temporarily inaccessible. At the same time, the attackers managed to exploit a security vulnerability and gain access to user data. This data breach affected more than 31 million users, whose encrypted passwords and other information were stolen.

  • The hacker group BlackMeta claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that they carried it out to draw attention to political grievances. They also threatened further attacks.

  • Troy Hunt, founder of the “Have I Been Pwned” service, confirmed that the stolen data had turned up in a 6.4 GB data set and had been integrated into their database so that affected users could check whether their data had been compromised.

Impact on Archive.org

The immediate impact of the attack was significant: Archive.org was offline for several days, and millions of users were concerned that their data could be compromised. Although the passwords were encrypted, there is a risk that attackers with sufficient computing power could crack this Encryption. Users were therefore urged to change their passwords and enable additional security measures such as two-factor authentication.

In addition to the technical difficulties, the website was altered by a defacement attack that inserted malicious scripts that issued warnings to visitors. These pop-ups contained references to the data loss and alerted users that their information might have been compromised.

Security and measures

After the attack, the Archive.org team quickly responded by taking the affected systems offline and began cleaning the servers. The website was switched to read-only mode to ensure that no further content could be uploaded or modified while the security issues were being addressed. At the same time, the systems were strengthened and additional security protocols were implemented to ward off future attacks.

The team behind the Internet Archive has publicly emphasized that their top priority is to preserve the integrity of the archive and to restore the content safely. However, it may take some time before normal operations can be fully restored.

The current status: read-only mode and what it means

After the massive attack that affected Archive.org, the platform's operators took strict measures to ensure the security of the archived content. Although the site is accessible again after a few days offline, it is currently running in provisional read-only mode. This means that while most content can still be accessed, no new content may be uploaded or modified.

What is read-only mode?

The read-only mode allows users to view the content already stored on the Internet Archive without making any changes to the platform. This not only applies to adding new websites to the Wayback Machine, but also to uploading new books, videos or software. The aim of this measure is to prevent further security breaches while the operators work to restore and secure the systems.

  • All existing content remains accessible, which is particularly important to ensure the public availability of the collected cultural and scientific works.

  • Uploads and changes are blocked to minimize the risk of another attack and to gradually fix the technical problems.

Why was this mode chosen?

The read-only mode strikes a balance between protecting the platform and maintaining access to the content already archived. The operators stated that this is a temporary measure that became necessary to protect the integrity of the collected data. Internet Archive security experts are currently working hard to review and update systems to prevent future attacks.

  • Protecting against further attacks: Since the attacker threatened to carry out further attacks, the read-only mode is a security measure that allows the team to fix critical vulnerabilities without endangering the platform's content.

  • Securing data: The top priority is to protect the vast amounts of data that the Internet Archive has collected over decades and to ensure its long-term availability.

How long will this mode last?

The exact period of time that Archive.org will remain in read-only mode is currently unclear. The operators have announced that the restoration of the platform will take place in several phases. The focus here is on improving the security infrastructure and thoroughly checking all affected systems before the site is made fully functional again. It is expected that the process could take several weeks, with the security of users and the integrity of the data being the main focus.

What this means for users

For the millions of Internet Archive users, especially researchers, journalists, and educational institutions, the read-only mode is a temporary inconvenience. Since no new content can be uploaded, projects based on current web snapshots or new materials will have to wait until the platform is fully operational again.

  • No new content: Researchers and scientists who wanted to store new web pages or data will have to be patient until Archive.org is fully operational again.

  • Existing content remains safe: For the majority of users, however, access to existing materials and web pages remains unaffected, which is particularly reassuring in research circles.

Why is this incident so significant?

The attack on Archive.org has far-reaching implications, not only for the platform itself, but also for the entire online community that relies on the provision and protection of information on the internet. Archive.org is not just a collection of data, but a digital cultural heritage that is used by millions of people worldwide. The attack has shown how vulnerable even well-protected, non-profit platforms can be to cyber attacks, and it has raised important questions about the protection of information and digital security.

Significance for digital infrastructure

Archive.org plays a central role in preserving the internet and digital history. With billions of web pages stored and a vast amount of books, movies, software and audio files all available to the public, it is one of the most important digital libraries in the world. The fact that this platform was so compromised by an attack shows that even the largest digital institutions are not immune to modern cyber threats.

  • 31 million affected users: The exposure of data such as email addresses, usernames and encrypted passwords affects a significant number of people. This serves as a reminder of the importance of trusting platforms that handle personal information and the consequences of that data being compromised.

  • Threat to the availability of information: Had the attack caused more significant damage, millions of archived web pages and other digital content could have been at risk. This would have had a serious impact on researchers, historians, journalists, and the general public who rely on the Internet Archive as a primary source of information.

Impact on free access to information

The Internet Archive is synonymous with free and uncensored access to information. In times when governments or other institutions delete or modify content on the internet, Archive.org offers an important way to access the original information. The attack on this platform illustrates the importance of protecting such resources in order to maintain freedom of information in the digital age.

  • Political and social significance: In many cases, the Internet Archive has helped to preserve content that would otherwise have been deleted, whether for political, legal or social reasons. A successful attack that would have left the platform severely damaged could compromise this key role in preserving freedom of expression.

Security concerns and future challenges

The incident underscores the urgent need for platforms like Archive.org to continue improving their Cybersecurity measures. Protecting user accounts, but also the enormous amounts of data that the archive contains, is essential to its long-term survival as a trusted source. As part of project implementation in this area, involving a cybersecurity company is often a key factor for success.

  • Investing in security: The attack shows that Archive.org, like many other platforms, must invest not only in preserving content but also in constantly improving its security protocols. Future attacks could be even more destructive if effective security measures are not taken.

  • New threats: Cyberattacks are constantly evolving, and platforms like the Internet Archive need to keep pace with these new threats. Hackers groups like BlackMeta, responsible for the current attack, have already threatened further attacks, adding to the urgency of keeping the security infrastructure up to date.

Security measures and the way forward

In the aftermath of the attack on Archive.org, the organization is faced with the urgent task of revising and improving its security infrastructure to prevent future attacks. The severity of the incident has made it clear that even a non-profit organization like Archive.org, which serves the general public and provides freely accessible information, can be a target for hackers. This incident has drawn attention to the need for enhanced security measures in digital archives.

Initial reactions and measures

In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the team behind Archive.org moved quickly to restore the platform's security and prevent further data loss. The website was initially taken completely offline to clean the affected systems and close the security vulnerabilities that allowed the attack.

The measures taken include:

  • Cleaning the affected systems: The team has removed malware and the JavaScript libraries that the hackers inserted into the website. For future projects: Early planning of a JavaScript development company minimizes risks and maximizes results.

  • Improving security protocols: Archive.org has announced that it will strengthen the website's security with additional measures to prevent future DDoS attacks and data breaches.

  • Read-only mode: To prevent further damage, the site has been switched to a restricted mode in which content can still be displayed, but no new content can be added and existing content cannot be modified. This is to ensure security while the reviews are ongoing.

Future security measures

The threat of cyber attacks is constantly evolving, and Archive.org faces the challenge of developing long-term security strategies to better protect itself. These include:

  • Investing in advanced Cybersecurity solutions: To prevent DDoS attacks and other threats, Archive.org could invest in technologies capable of filtering traffic and quickly detecting and fending off malicious activity.

  • Two-factor authentication: One of the recommended measures for users is to enable two-factor authentication to increase the security of their accounts. This additional protection makes it more difficult for hackers to access user accounts, even if they have obtained the passwords in encrypted form.

  • Regular security audits: Future audits and regular reviews of security systems could help to identify vulnerabilities early on and fix them before attackers can exploit them.

Working with cybersecurity experts

Archive.org is working closely with Cybersecurity experts to identify and fix the vulnerabilities exposed by the attack. It is also bringing in security consultants to ensure that its infrastructure is fortified against future attacks. Other nonprofits and businesses can learn from this incident and strengthen their own security protocols to ward off similar threats.

Learning opportunities for the general public

The attack on Archive.org also serves as a wake-up call for the general public. Users should adopt stronger security practices not only for Archive.org, but for all online platforms. This includes:

  • Strong and unique passwords: Using secure passwords that are changed regularly is a simple but effective way to minimize the risk of data theft.

  • Careful use of security services: Websites like “Have I Been Pwned” help users find out if their data has been compromised in an attack and recommend measures for damage control.

Conclusion: A wake-up call for the digital world

The attack on Archive.org in October 2024 targeted one of the central platforms for the preservation of digital information and showed how vulnerable even non-profit and security-conscious organizations are to cyber attacks. This incident goes far beyond the Internet Archive and raises important questions about Cyber Security, freedom of information and the protection of digital resources.

The Internet Archive is one of the few platforms dedicated to the long-term preservation of the internet and digital media. The fact that it has become a target for hackers shows how much the digital space has become affected by criminal threats. The attack on an institution that seeks to preserve knowledge and culture for posterity makes us all reflect on how fragile our access to information can be.

The incident should serve as a wake-up call for all organizations archiving digital content. It is clear that digital archives affecting millions of users and billions of data points will always be in the crosshairs of cybercriminals. Investing in Cybersecurity, regular security audits, and protecting sensitive user data are no longer optional measures – they are essential.

Hopefully, the Internet Archive will emerge from this incident stronger than ever, with new security measures and improved protection for its users and their data. Nevertheless, the lesson remains: in the digital age, both individuals and organizations must be constantly vigilant and regularly improve their security protocols to withstand the ever-evolving threat landscape.

It remains to be seen how the Internet Archive will recover from this attack and how long the provisional read-only mode will remain in place. Users of the platform will have to exercise patience while the operators work to restore the site to full functionality. At the same time, the digital community will hopefully use this opportunity to reflect on the importance of security online and the importance of preserving knowledge.

The attack on Archive.org reminds us all that protecting knowledge is an ongoing task that must never be neglected.