The Internet Archive [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9], a nonprofit research library known for its extensive digital collections and historical documents [3], is currently under a sustained distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) cyber-attack [4] [9].
Description
The attack began over the Memorial Day long weekend [4] [5], with tens of thousands of fake information requests flooding the site since May 26. This has led to intermittent service disruptions over the past three days [9], despite efforts to strengthen defenses [3]. Founder Brewster Kahle has described the attacks as targeted [8], mean [1] [8], and potentially aimed at destroying the library entirely. The Internet Archive [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9], based in California [4] [5], has faced technical issues on weekends in the past and is also embroiled in legal battles with major US book publishers and recording industries associations over alleged copyright infringement. In 2023, Sony and Universal Music launched a lawsuit against the Internet Archive over its music archives [5], alleging copyright infringement [3] [4] [5] [7]. The organization assures that all collections are secure and is in communication with the attackers, though their motivation remains unclear [4]. The Internet Archive Wayback Machine [2] [7] [8] [9], which stores the history of over 866 billion web pages [9], has been impacted by the attacks. The archive aims to create a digital library of all knowledge and is synonymous with the Wayback Machine [4], which preserves snapshots of the public web [4]. Updates on the situation will be provided on the Internet Archive’s official account [9].
Conclusion
The ongoing cyber-attack on the Internet Archive has caused network traffic issues and disruptions to user access. Despite efforts to mitigate the attacks, the organization continues to face challenges in maintaining its services. The impact of these attacks on the digital library’s operations and the potential long-term implications remain to be seen. The Internet Archive remains committed to ensuring the security of its collections and providing updates on the situation as it unfolds.
References
[1] https://www.techspot.com/news/103181-multi-day-ddos-attack-targets-internet-archive-wayback.html
[2] https://www.neowin.net/news/internet-archive-is-continuing-to-face-ddos-attacks-after-several-days/
[3] https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/the-internet-archive-is-fighting-a-major-battle-against-ddos-attacks
[4] https://9to5mac.com/2024/05/29/internet-archive-ddos-attack/
[5] https://au.pcmag.com/security/105419/internet-archive-hit-with-ddos-attack
[6] https://blog.archive.org/2024/05/28/internet-archive-and-the-wayback-machine-under-ddos-cyber-attack/
[7] https://readwrite.com/internet-archive-wayback-machine-down-or-just-me-cyber-attack-hackers-ddos/
[8] https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/internet-archive-facing-sustained-cyber-attacks-nonprofit-struggles-with-impactful-targeted-adaptive-ddos-campaign
[9] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/internet-archive-ddos-attack/
