What Is Doxxing? How to Prevent It?
Doxxing refers to the malicious act of mining and exposing a person’s private info on the Internet without their consent.
One of the most infamous anonymous imageboards, 4chan, was attacked on April 14 and was brought down. Screenshots of 4chan’s source code were leaked online, along with user IPs and moderators’ personal information. Despite all the controversy, the 4chan hack sparked panic over information leaks.
Table of Contents
What Happened to 4Chan?
An error notification now shows up to 4chan visitors. The administrator of 4chan has taken the server offline to control the damage, but there are reports that 4chan may be decommissioned as a result. What exactly happened to 4chan?
The anonymous imageboard 4chan was brought down after suffering a major cyberattack on 14 April, 2025. It started as the previously banned board /qa/ appeared again on 4chan, following which the site was defaced with a message saying, “U GOT HACKED XD.”
Who Hacked 4Chan?
Evidences point to a rival imageboard called Soyjak.party, where an online account posted screenshots of 4chan’s backend systems right after the attack. The hacker claimed to have gained access to 4chan’s host server for over a year before launching this full-scale attack.
Why Was 4Chan Hacked?
The vulnerability stems from outdated software and code, such as PHP and Ghostscript. Since 4chan allows uploading PDF files without verifying if it’s a real PDF, it is possible to upload PostScript files containing PostScript drawing commands. These PostScript files are then passed to Ghostscript to generate thumbnails. The version of Ghostscript used by 4chan is from 2012, making it easy to exploit. The hacker then used a malicious suid binary to escalate to global user privileges.
Damages Caused by 4Chan Hack
The 4chan hack resulted in a massive leak of sensitive information, compromising the anonymity of both users and site staff.
1. User IP Addresses: Although 4chan users post anonymously, the site collects IP addresses for moderation purposes. This breach exposed these IP logs, potentially compromising user anonymity and location privacy.
2. Moderator & Admin Information: Email addresses, IP logs, usernames, login credentials, and even internal discussions were leaked. Some of these emails were linked to education (.edu) and government (.gov) domains. This increased the risk of doxxing and targeted harassment.
3. Backend Systems & Admin Tools: Data from 4chan’s backend was leaked. The admin panel, moderation tools, PHP, and the Admin database interface were all posted online. This access allowed the hacker to view site statistics, user ban templates, and admin databases.
4. Source Code & Website Infrastructure: The attackers leaked 4chan’s PHP source code and other internal software components, exposing the platform’s underlying technology and vulnerabilities.
5. Reopened Banned Boards & Site Control: The hackers briefly restored the previously banned board /qa/, demonstrating their control over site functions and further exposing the platform’s internal operations.
6. Leaving “Chicken Jockey” the Final Post: How ironic it is that the Chicken Jockey is the final post on 4chan if the site has gone forever.
“Any last words?”
“…Chicken Jockey.”
Consequences of 4Chan Data Breaches
Though the hacker says it was “just for fun”, with all the data leaked, there are differences between what they do and what they can do. Data breaches pose more risks than you thought.
1. IP Exposure
IPs exposed in the 4chan hack enable cyberattacks such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks or attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in users’ devices or networks, increasing personal security risks.
All the user IP logs are exposed in this breach, linking their posts to real-world identities or locations. Malicious actors or rival communities can engage in targeted harassment and even stalking.
This risk is heightened given 4chan’s history of hosting controversial and extremist content. Leaked IP may expose users to unwanted retaliation and bring real-world harm.
Hide Your IP with X-VPN
2. Identity Theft
The leaked emails, login credentials, and chat logs have given malicious hacker opportunities to steal their identity. All the credential-related accounts, from social media to bank accounts, are under big threats.
3. Financial Loss
With all the chat logs and other credential info exposed, there is are possibility that their bank accounts get hacked. The hidden financial losses are huge.
In addition, all the hacked social media accounts can be used by scammers to defraud people. Scammers can log in to your social media, chat with your family and friends, and trick them into giving money.
4. Illegal Risks
The hacked accounts are often used for fraud, cybercrimes, and illegal activities, posing a potential illegal challenge to your online identity.
5. Doxxing
With all the data 4chan leaks, cybercriminals can dox your information online and perform malicious acts without your consent. Except for potential harassment, your information could probably be traded on the dark web, posing endless risks.
6. Hard to Recover Operation
Given the fact that the hackers gained shell access to 4chan’s host server, reopened the banned board /qa/, and posted defacement messages, showing hackers full control over site functions. It is hard for 4chan to fully recover its operation.
Despite the speculation that 4chan might never return to its previous state, even though it does, the breach has severely damaged 4chan’s reputation, shaking user confidence in the platform’s security and anonymity promises.
How to Protect Personal Information Online?
Now that 4chan is no longer fit to exist, are you planning to switch to another anonymous imageboard? Never take the word “anonymous” seriously. Once you visit a website, log into an account, or link to an email address, footprints are left.
How to take the lesson and protect your personal information on your next forum trip? Always enable a VPN before accessing it. X-VPN is the best VPN for sites like 4chan, as it hides your IP, encrypts your data, and provides a full suite of identity protection solutions.
How can X-VPN protect your online privacy?
Hides Your IP Address
Strong AES-256 Encryption
Kill Switch for Full-Time Protection
Strict No Log Policy
Real-Time Dark Web Monitoring
Block Trackers & Malicious Sites
3 Steps to Hide Your IP & Encrypt Online Data
Now with X-VPN, you can safely browse any forums or imageboards, whether they claim to be anonymous or not. Follow the 3 easy steps:
Step 1. Download X-VPN for any of your browsing devices.
Step 2. Without payment or login, click the central button to encrypt your traffic.
Step 3. Stay safe and private on any sites like 4chan.
Though free, you can upgrade X-VPN to premium for enhanced protection. Enjoy 8000+ blazing fast servers, 225 server locations worldwide, and an advanced security suite like a kill switch, double VPN, dark web monitoring, etc. Buy X-VPN at only $2.99/month now!
Conclusion
Isn’t it ironic that the site to create “anonymous” was hacked? Living in the increasingly connected digital world, we should take “anonymous” more seriously than ever. Always enable a safe VPN before browsing, chatting, or leaving comments online. One 4chan down, countless chans are waiting for your visit, as well as information.
Browse Privately Online with X-VPN
FAQs
What Is 4Chan?
4chan is an anonymous English-language imageboard website inspired by the Japanese Futaba Channel (2chan). It allows users to post pictures and text across various boards dedicated to topics such as video games, anime, technology, politics, and more.
Why Is 4Chan Controversial?
The controversy of 4chan lies in its light-censored content. Proliferation of offensive, extremist, adult content, and even child pornography can be found there. The site’s lax censorship has made it a breeding ground for cyber attacks, harassment, and extremist views, drawing significant criticism.
Is 4Chan Down Now?
As of 18 April 2025, 4chan Service Unavailable shows frequently. The site was taken offline following a major hack. Although the site has been intermittently accessible, it is loading slowly, and its future availability remains uncertain. You can check the live status of 4chan on Downdetector.
Will 4Chan Gone Forever?
Though no official clarification yet, many experts and community members speculate that 4chan may be gone forever. The hack compromised critical backend systems and exposed sensitive data due to a lack of proper maintenance or updates since 2016, making recovery difficult.
What Is the Previously Banned Board /qa/ on 4Chan?
The previously banned 4chan board /qa/ was originally intended as a “Questions and Answers” board, but evolved into a space where various user factions fought for control of the thread catalog. It was then largely dominated by soyjack posters and was banned after it became completely taken over by far-right extremist users.
Are There Sites Like 4Chan?
Yes, there are many image board alternatives to 4chan, like 8chan, 2chan, Soyjak.party, etc. These sites often share similar anonymous posting formats and sometimes host controversial content.
What Is Soyjak Party?
Soyjak.party is an imageboard website similar to 4chan. Members of soyjak.party claimed responsibility for the recent 4chan hack. Soyjak was also dominated on a 4chan board called /qa/, which was banned after far-right extremists took over.
