Infamous anonymous forum 4chan has returned online after a near fortnight of downtime caused by a severe database attack that exposed source code, user data, and moderator details, the site’s administrators said in a post titled “Still Standing.”
According to 4chan’s status page, the homepage and boards are once again accessible, but core features—posting, image uploads and certain file formats—remain disabled as the team works to harden its servers.
On April 14, 4chan’s moderators took the site offline after detecting a “catastrophic” breach of its primary database. Hackers not only vandalized the imageboard but also obtained confidential source code and leaked personal information belonging to staff and community members.
In a candid admission, 4chan’s blog blamed the prolonged outage on outdated infrastructure and a shortage of “skilled man-hours.” The post highlighted the site’s long-standing funding crisis, noting that most advertisers and payment providers refuse to partner with 4chan or quickly sever ties under activist pressure. “Putting together the money for new equipment took nearly a decade,” the blog read.
As part of its cautious comeback, 4chan has permanently shuttered the /f/ board due to unresolved exploits in the older .swf format. The platform has also disabled PDF uploads—a temporary measure 4chan promises to reverse soon. To bolster its lean moderation team, the site is enlisting volunteers to help rebuild and protect its infrastructure.
“No matter how hard it is, we are not giving up,” the statement declared, underscoring the team’s determination to keep the veteran imageboard alive despite its vulnerabilities.
Security experts warn that unless 4chan secures sustainable investment in both hardware and cybersecurity talent, it may face similar shutdowns and hacks in the future. For now, the site’s return offers a temporary reprieve for its millions of users—but the long-term stability of the 4chan community remains in question.
