4chan has been offline for several hours after an alleged hack exposed its source code

4chan is currently offline following a significant hack that reportedly exposed its source code. The breach was claimed by a user on a rival messaging board on Monday night. The attacker allegedly reinstated the previously discontinued /qa/ board on 4chan. Unverified rumors suggest the leak might have included email addresses of 4chan moderators, although these claims remain unconfirmed.

Speculation points to the breach being a result of 4chan using outdated software, reportedly unpatched since 2016. Jared Holt, a senior researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, reviewed some of the leaked materials and found sensational claims regarding leaked .edu and .gov email addresses to be unsubstantiated. Holt described the leaked data as largely unremarkable.

4chan is notorious for spreading misinformation, a reputation highlighted by its tagline cautioning users against trusting posts as factual. The recent incident has caused widespread confusion and speculation online, as the forum remains down and inaccessible to users.