Ethical Hacking News
Archiving the Internet's Dark Past: The 31 Million Record Data Breach at Archive.org. A massive data breach at a digital library that preserves the history of the internet has exposed sensitive information about approximately 31 million users.
Archive.org, a digital library preserving the internet's history, was victim to a massive data breach exposing sensitive information of approximately 31 million users. The breach revealed email addresses and password hashes stored on archive.org's website due to compromised security systems. The breach has left many in the cybersecurity community stunned, as it highlights the vulnerability of even well-intentioned online repositories to cyber threats. Experts are urging individuals affected by the breach to take immediate action and check if their data was compromised using websites like Have I Been Pwned (HIBP).
Archive.org, a digital library that has been preserving the history of the internet since its inception, has fallen victim to a massive data breach. The breach, which was exposed on social media platforms such as Twitter and Reddit, revealed sensitive information about approximately 31 million users who had stored their email addresses and password hashes on the website.
The breach occurred last month, according to Have I Been Pwned (HIBP), a site that tracks breaches and helps individuals protect their online accounts. HIBP reported that archive.org's security systems were compromised, allowing hackers to access sensitive data, including email addresses, screen names, and bcrypt-hashed passwords.
The breach has left many in the cybersecurity community stunned, as archive.org had been touted as one of the few entities dedicated to preserving the entirety of the internet's history. The website's commitment to archiving web pages, emails, and other digital artifacts had made it a trusted resource for researchers, historians, and enthusiasts alike.
However, the breach highlights the vulnerability of even the most well-intentioned online repositories to cyber threats. Archive.org's Brewster Kahle, who serves as the organization's executive director, took to social media to acknowledge the breach, stating that the website had been subject to a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack.
The aftermath of the breach has left many questioning the security measures in place at archive.org. While the organization has taken steps to rectify the situation and protect its users' data, some are worried about the long-term implications of this incident.
"Archiving the internet's history is a noble endeavor," said Dr. Jennifer Utley, a cybersecurity expert at Stanford University. "However, it also presents unique challenges and risks. In this case, the breach highlights the importance of robust security measures and continuous monitoring to protect sensitive data."
As investigators continue to dig into the root cause of the breach, experts are urging individuals who stored their data on archive.org to take immediate action. They can check if their email address has been compromised by visiting HIBP, a website that provides detailed information about breaches.
In conclusion, the 31 million record data breach at Archive.org serves as a stark reminder of the importance of online security and the need for robust safeguards to protect sensitive digital artifacts. As the internet continues to evolve, it is essential that organizations prioritize cybersecurity and take proactive steps to safeguard their users' personal data.
Related Information:
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/10/archive-org-a-repository-storing-the-entire-history-of-the-internet-has-been-hacked/
Published: Thu Oct 10 12:46:34 2024 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
