Internet Archive is back up as read-only after data breach

"Please be gentle."
By Shannon Connellan  on 
A person working on a neon computer keyboard with colorful backlighting.
It's back. But you can't save anything yet. Credit: Uladzimir Zuyeu / iStock / Getty Images Plus

The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine is back up in read-only mode following massive data breaches last week.

Brewster Kahle, founder and digital librarian of the Internet Archive, posted an update on Monday morning on X (formerly Twitter) announcing the site's return in a "provisional manner."

"Safe to resume but might need further maintenance, in which case it will be suspended again," he wrote. "Please be gentle."

Mashable Light Speed
Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories?
Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter.
By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up!

Kahle wrote the site will not yet reinstate its "Save Page Now" feature, which archives the page as it currently appears and generates a permanent URL.

Last week, the Internet Archive came under distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks from hacker groups, who accessed sensitive user data for millions of people. The non-profit site keeps saved versions of websites and other forms of digital media, accessible to anyone through its platform The Wayback Machine.

Mashable's Matt Binder has everything you need to know about the Internet Archive's data breaches and DDoS attacks.

Topics Cybersecurity

A black and white image of a person with a long braid and thick framed glasses.
Shannon Connellan

Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about everything (but not anything) across entertainment, tech, social good, science, and culture.


Recommended For You
Internet Archive data breach: Hacker claims to ‘See 31 million of you' on Have I Been Pwned
Hacker image

Internet Archive hacked again: We know because the hacker responded to our email to the Archive.
Hacker at computer

[Updated] The Wayback Machine and full Internet Archive are back up
Warning message,Computer notification on screen

Over 200,000 Comcast customers affected in data breach: Names, IDs, Social Security numbers exposed
Comcast logo

Fidelity data breach compromises more than 77,000 customers
Fidelity logo

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 15, 2024
A phone displaying the New York Times game 'Connections.'

Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 15
a phone displaying Wordle



NYT Strands hints, answers for December 15
A game being played on a smartphone.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!