Hackers breach Internet Archive, exposing 31 million users’ data

Hackers breached the Internet Archive, exposing data from over 31 million users in what is being described as a politically motivated attack. The group claiming responsibility cited U.S. support for Israel as the motive behind the cyberattack , which began with a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack and escalated to data theft.

The Internet Archive , best known for its Wayback Machine, hosts billions of web pages and other media to preserve digital history. The hackers, who use account on X known as SN_BlackMeta , claimed that the attack is part of a larger operation started in May 2024.

While user passwords were encrypted, there are concerns about weak password vulnerabilities. The breach comes at a critical time for the Archive, which is already facing legal challenges over its book-lending program , raising questions about its ability to safeguard its users.

Founder of the Internet Archive, Brewster Kahle, took to X to reassure users, stating, "The data is safe." Kahle says the Archive could be back up in a matter of days as staff works on fixing the issues created by the attacks.

The Internet Archive, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with no government affiliation, is widely regarded as a vital digital preservation tool, allowing users to access archived websites, books, and media. The hackers indicated that more attacks could be forthcoming.

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