4chan down days after hackers breach internal systems: Here's what happened to the notorious internet messageboard

The notorious internet messageboard 4chan remains unavailable nearly a week after a hack. News agency Reuters reported last week that the breach revealed the company’s internal system. Posts circulating on social media then said that a hacker has got into the system, identifying details of the site's moderators to the public. The hack, as per the report (via Wired Magazine), came into light when a defunct section of the site sprang back to life with the words "U GOT HACKED".


Reuters report then quoted Alon Gal, co-founder of Israeli cybercrime monitoring company Hudson Rock. He said the claim of a hack "looks legit".


Tech news site TechCrunch also quoted a person in its report, alleging that they help moderate 4chan, further claiming that they had no reason to doubt that the leaked screenshots were real.


One of the people who were reportedly exposed in the hack replied using a 4chan email address, saying the site had put out a "video statement."


What is 4chan

4chan is an anonymous English-language imageboard website launched in October 2003 by Christopher "moot" Poole. Initially created as an English counterpart to the Japanese imageboard Futaba Channel, 4chan hosts boards dedicated to a wide variety of topics, including video games, television, literature, cooking, weapons, music, history, technology, anime, physical fitness, politics, and sports. Users typically post anonymously, and registration is not available except for staff.


Over the years, it has grown to be the starting point for many viral internet memes and online communities. Groups like the hacker collective Anonymous and some far-right and misogynistic groups have allegedly used 4chan to organize or spread content.