Introduction to 4chan’s Revival

4chan, the notorious online forum infamous for its anonymous user base and unconventional content, has made a comeback. A recent post on the website’s official blog, titled "Still Standing," provides a detailed account of the events that led to the website’s shutdown earlier this month. According to the site’s status checker, while the boards and front page are operational, posting and image uploading capabilities are still unavailable.

The Reason Behind the Shutdown

The blog post explains that moderators were forced to shut down the servers on April 14 to prevent further damage after a severe database attack. This attack, described as "catastrophic," allowed hackers to gain access to the site’s source code, breaching multiple databases and the main server. The hack also resulted in the vandalism of the website and the exposure of personal information of the moderation team and numerous users.

Challenges Faced by 4chan

The blog post attributes the hack to the site’s inability to update its code and infrastructure due to a lack of skilled personnel and financial resources. 4chan’s struggle to find willing financial backers has been an ongoing issue, as advertisers and payment providers are often pressured by activists to cancel their services. This has resulted in a decade-long process of accumulating funds for new equipment.

Changes and Future Plans

Now that the website is back online, several changes will be implemented. The /f/ board will remain closed, as the 4chan team is unable to prevent exploits related to the .swf file format. Additionally, PDF uploads will be disabled for the time being but are expected to be reintroduced in the near future. To address the workload of rebuilding the website, 4chan is recruiting volunteers. The moderation team has expressed its determination to keep the website alive, stating "no matter how hard it is, we are not giving up." However, it remains uncertain whether 4chan can avoid similar problems in the future, given its ongoing struggle to secure funding for server updates.