By Raphael Satter

Hack of 4chan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The notorious internet messageboard 4chan has been hacked, according to posts circulating online. Some alleged that a hacker revealed identifying details of the site’s moderators.

The hack first emerged when a defunct section of the site reactivated with the message “U GOT HACKED,” reported by Wired magazine.

Alon Gal, co-founder of cybercrime monitoring company Hudson Rock, commented that the situation “looks legit,” referencing screenshots allegedly showing 4chan’s backend infrastructure.

TechCrunch cited an unnamed 4chan moderator who had no reason to dispute the authenticity of the screenshots. The site reportedly faced intermittent availability on Tuesday.

Reuters has not been able to confirm the details of the hack or who may be responsible.

Messages sent to 4chan’s press email received no response. One of the alleged moderators surfaced with a statement via their 4chan email, claiming the site released a “video statement,” but instead linked to unrelated explicit video montages.

About 4chan
Sparsely designed, aggressively irreverent, and lightly moderated, 4chan has long been an incubator for viral memes and various subcultures. It has been home to the internet vigilante group Anonymous, extreme misogynists known as “incels,” and elements of America’s extreme right. Furthermore, it became notorious for sharing gory videos and recently for hosting AI-generated non-consensual pornography.