4chan is back online, says it’s been ‘starved of money’

Tech Crunch - Apr 27th, 2025
Open on Tech Crunch

4chan, the notorious image-sharing site, has partially returned online after a significant hack took it down for nearly two weeks. The attack, which began on April 14, involved the leaking of sensitive data including a list of moderators. The hacker, using a UK IP address, reportedly accessed 4chan's server via a bogus PDF upload, exfiltrating database tables and significant portions of the source code. In response, 4chan's team halted server operations to prevent further damage, which was described as 'catastrophic.' As of now, while some features remain offline, such as PDF uploads and a Flash animation board, the site has made strides towards restoring normal operations.

The extended downtime and the hack have highlighted 4chan’s longstanding issues with funding and technical infrastructure. The site cited insufficient skilled manpower and financial constraints due to external pressure on advertisers and payment providers. Despite these challenges, the 4chan team remains defiant, emphasizing its unique role in internet culture. The incident reflects broader tensions between controversial online platforms and external pressures, as well as the ongoing vulnerabilities in digital security that can affect even the most established sites. 4chan's recovery efforts and the community's resilience underscore its significance and the challenges it faces in maintaining its operations in a hostile digital and financial environment.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.6
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a timely and generally accurate account of the 4chan hack, highlighting its implications for internet culture and cybersecurity. With a focus on recent events, the story captures public interest and engages readers concerned with digital rights and platform accountability. While the article is clear and well-structured, it could benefit from enhanced transparency and source diversity to bolster its credibility. By addressing a controversial topic, the story has the potential to provoke debate and contribute to ongoing discussions about the responsibilities of online platforms. Overall, the article effectively informs readers about a significant event while leaving room for further exploration of its broader implications.

RATING DETAILS

8
Accuracy

The story presents a generally accurate account of the 4chan hack, including the timeline of events and the nature of the breach. It accurately reports that 4chan was offline for nearly two weeks, starting around April 14, and that the hack involved the leakage of sensitive data, including moderator lists. The claim that the hacker used a UK IP address and a bogus PDF upload to gain access aligns with the details provided in the story. However, the story could benefit from more precise source attribution for some claims, such as the financial struggles of 4chan due to external pressures on advertisers and payment providers. While the story is largely accurate, the lack of direct quotes or references to specific sources for these claims slightly diminishes its precision.

7
Balance

The story provides a balanced view of the incident by including perspectives from both the hacker's actions and 4chan's response. It mentions the criticism from Wired about 4chan's role in internet culture and the site's rebuttal, offering a range of viewpoints. However, the article could improve its balance by including more voices, such as cybersecurity experts or industry analysts, to provide a broader context. The focus is primarily on the technical and operational aspects of the hack, with less attention given to the social and cultural implications, which could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.

7
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-structured, providing a coherent narrative of the events surrounding the 4chan hack. The language is straightforward, and the sequence of events is logically presented, making it easy for readers to follow the story. However, some technical details, such as the nature of the PDF exploit, could be explained more clearly for readers who may not be familiar with cybersecurity concepts. Overall, the article maintains a neutral tone and avoids sensationalism, contributing to its clarity and readability.

6
Source quality

The article references TechCrunch and Wired, which are reputable sources in the tech and media industry, adding credibility to the report. However, the story lacks direct quotes or detailed attributions for some claims, particularly those related to the financial difficulties faced by 4chan. Including more diverse sources, such as cybersecurity experts or statements from affected users, would enhance the reliability of the information presented. The reliance on secondary sources without direct access to primary data or interviews limits the depth of the reporting.

5
Transparency

The article provides some context about the hack and its impact on 4chan, but it lacks transparency in terms of its methodology and the sources of certain claims. The story does not clearly explain how the information was verified or the process behind obtaining the details about the hack. Additionally, there is no disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest or biases in the reporting. Greater transparency in how the information was gathered and verified would improve the article's credibility and help readers understand the basis for the claims made.

Sources

  1. https://aardwolfsecurity.com/4chan-hack-the-devastating-2025-data-breach/
  2. https://www.cloaked.com/post/4chan-hack-2025-how-moderator-details-and-backend-systems-were-compromised?c0fc3ff5_page=2&vid=01964631-f019-77c9-98fb-34ba886d8984
  3. https://techcrunch.com/2025/04/15/notorious-image-board-4chan-hacked-and-internal-data-leaked/
  4. https://www.theregister.com/2025/04/15/4chan_breached/
  5. https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/4chan-data-emails-and-contact-info-leaked-alleged-soyjack-party-sharty-hack-leads-to-speculations-101744730795998.html