Internet Archive's Wayback Machine is back up after DDOS attack – BUT with a catch

World's greatest digital library, that is where one should look when trying to know how history behaves on the web, Internet Archive's Wayback Machine recently proved testimony to have confronted one of its major challenges since its birth. Through subsequent cyberattacks which included huge data breaches and DDoS attacks, this platform partially bounced back.

What's going on with the Wayback Machine?

On 9 October 2024, the host of the Wayback Machine, Internet Archive, faced an organized cyberattack. Hackers gave the security of the service a pathway through, extracted a database of 31 million user account details, and then started bombarding the site with DDoS attacks. As a result, the Wayback Machine, hosting more than 916 billion web pages in its vault, was left in a read-only state, drastically limiting its functionality.

The hacktivists claimed responsibility for this attack citing their opposition to the support of the United States government with regards to the United States' interests in Israel. They specifically targeted the nonprofit Internet Archive, which preserves digital knowledge, as a way of demonstrating their opposition to the United States.

The Role of IoT Devices in the Attack

Interestingly, researchers traced the origins of the DDoS attack to a botnet composed of compromised IoT (Internet of Things) devices. The notorious Mirai botnet, which has been active since 2016, appears to have played a significant role in the attack. Infected devices from countries like Korea, China, and Brazil were used to amplify the attack, highlighting the increasing vulnerabilities associated with the proliferation of IoT technology.

A Resilient Comeback – The Catch

While the Internet Archive team is still in recovery mode, the Wayback Machine is back online in a "provisional, read-only manner," according to Brewster Kahle, the founder of the Internet Archive. Users can once again access archived web pages, but new pages cannot yet be added. Kahle’s message emphasized the need for ongoing maintenance and strengthening of their defenses against potential future threats.

Despite these challenges, the restoration of the Wayback Machine is a testament to the resilience and dedication of the Internet Archive's team. Services are being gradually restored, including email accounts and the crawling tools essential for archiving new content.

The Bigger Picture: Cybersecurity and Digital Preservation

The attack on the Internet Archive highlights key cybersecurity issues:

• Vulnerability of Non-Profits: Politically motivated cyberattacks increasingly target organizations serving the public good.
• IoT-Based Attack Risks: The incident highlights the need for tighter IoT security measures.
• Data Breach Impact: Exposure of 31 million user accounts underscores the importance of robust data protection.

The Wayback Machine's partial recovery is a significant step, emphasizing the ongoing mission to preserve digital heritage. As Google integrates archived links into search results, the importance of digital libraries becomes more evident. The Wayback Machine's resilience will play a crucial role in future web content preservation and access.

Are you sure your organisation is safe from such attacks? Don’t hesitate because hackers won’t. Consult a cyber expert at Lumiverse Solutions.

Key Takeaways

• The Wayback Machine faced a data breach and multiple DDoS attacks, temporarily limiting its services to read-only.
• The attack involved compromised IoT devices, emphasizing the need for stronger security in the abundance of interconnected devices.
• The incident has broader implications for cybersecurity, particularly for non-profit digital preservation initiatives.