# Wayback Machine Resumes Operations in Read-Only Mode After DDoS Incident, May Need Additional Maintenance
The Internet Archive’s **Wayback Machine**, an essential element of digital preservation, has resumed functionality in a restricted, read-only state after experiencing multiple **distributed denial of service (DDoS)** attacks that rendered the site unavailable. These attacks, which took place last week, also coincided with a **data breach** impacting millions of users, complicating the recovery efforts. Currently, the Wayback Machine is up and running, but other services provided by the Internet Archive remain offline, and further maintenance could be necessary.
## The Wayback Machine’s Brief Reinstatement
In a recent [post](https://x.com/brewster_kahle/status/1845688309085065571) on X (formerly Twitter), **Brewster Kahle**, the founder of the Internet Archive, indicated that the Wayback Machine is back in operation “in a temporary, read-only format.” While users can once again explore the extensive archive of web pages, the **”Save Page Now”** feature, which enables users to manually archive pages, is currently not functioning. Moreover, the **Open Library**, another significant service of the Internet Archive focused on preserving books, is still offline.
Established in 1996, the Internet Archive is a nonprofit organization vital for maintaining the web’s history. It has preserved over **916 billion web pages** and offers access to a diverse selection of digital materials, including videos, audio recordings, and texts. Nevertheless, the organization has encountered recent hurdles, including a legal dispute that led to the removal of **500,000 books** from its collection after a copyright verdict.
## DDoS Incidents and Data Breach
The recent interruption of the Wayback Machine resulted from a series of **DDoS attacks**. These attacks inundate a website’s servers with overwhelming traffic, making it inaccessible to genuine users. In addition to these incidents, the Internet Archive faced a **data breach** in September that compromised the information of **31 million users**.
The breach became publicly apparent when hackers altered the Internet Archive’s website, posting a message that stated, “Have you ever felt like the Internet Archive runs on sticks and is constantly on the verge of suffering a catastrophic security breach? It just happened. See 31 million of you on HIBP!” The mention of **HIBP** refers to the site [Have I Been Pwned](https://haveibeenpwned.com/), a service that alerts users if their personal data has been involved in a breach.
According to [BleepingComputer](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/internet-archive-hacked-data-breach-impacts-31-million-users/), the compromised data includes **email addresses, screen names, timestamps of password changes, Bcrypt-hashed passwords**, and additional internal information. This data was forwarded to Have I Been Pwned, enabling impacted users to check if their information was compromised.
## Continuing Security Efforts
In the wake of the attacks and data exposure, the Internet Archive has been actively enhancing its security measures. Brewster Kahle has been sharing frequent updates regarding the situation through X. On **October 9**, he shared that the organization successfully thwarted a DDoS attack and was dedicated to upgrading its security framework. However, just a day later, Kahle noted that the attackers had returned, taking the site offline once more.
Kahle stressed that the Internet Archive is emphasizing **data security** over service availability, ensuring rigorous measures to protect its extensive digital archives. “Services are offline as we investigate and improve them,” Kahle remarked, indicating that the estimated timeline for the complete restoration of services would be “days, not weeks.”
Despite the difficulties, Kahle maintained a lighthearted tone, expressing gratitude to supporters for their offers of pizza to aid the recovery efforts but assuring them that the team had that aspect covered.
## The Significance of the Wayback Machine
The Wayback Machine serves as an invaluable resource for historians, researchers, journalists, and everyday individuals looking to access previous iterations of websites. It enables users to see snapshots of web pages from various times, preserving the digital narrative of the internet. This function is particularly crucial in an age where websites can be removed, modified, or censored, potentially creating voids in the public record.
The Internet Archive’s mission extends beyond mere web page preservation. It aspires to provide **universal access to all knowledge**, granting free access to an expansive range of digital content, including books, music, and videos. However, the organization has faced legal and financial obstacles, particularly regarding copyright regulations. The recent court decision that necessitated the removal of **500,000 books** from its inventory was a significant setback to its efforts.
