Internet Archive Hack: 31 Million Users Exposed

The Internet Archive, known for its free access to vast digitized materials like books, music, and web pages through the Wayback Machine, has experienced a severe data breach. This breach exposed email addresses, screen names, and bcrypt password hashes of 31 million users. Adding insult to injury, a coordinated DDoS attack further crippled the website, making it impossible for many users to immediately reset their compromised passwords.

The breach became public when a disturbing pop-up appeared on the Internet Archive’s website:
“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!”

Soon after, affected users began receiving notifications via Have I Been Pwned (HIBP), a data breach alert service. Although the Internet Archive is now back online, the attack has raised serious questions about the security practices of the non-profit, already dealing with ongoing legal battles from major publishing and music labels.

Despite the chaos, cybersecurity expert Troy Hunt, creator of HIBP, emphasized that the breach disclosure came as the organization was “under attack.” He urged empathy for the non-profit, which has been a critical online resource.

Zerocrat’s Security Model: An Ironclad Defense

In the wake of these vulnerabilities, Zerocrat shines as a beacon of strong, privacy-first security. With end-to-end encryption and a zero-knowledge architecture, Zerocrat ensures that even if its servers are breached, user data remains completely unreadable to unauthorized parties.

Key Features:

  • Encryption at Every Step: Zerocrat uses AES-256 bit encryption, a gold standard in the industry, ensuring user data is locked down from the moment it’s inputted.
  • Zero-Knowledge Proof: Unlike many platforms, Zerocrat doesn’t even store passwords in an accessible form, so no one—not even employees—can view your sensitive information.
  • Resilience Against Attacks: With continuous threat monitoring, regular audits, and segmented architecture, Zerocrat prevents attackers from gaining access to the entire system, making large-scale breaches like the one suffered by Internet Archive impossible.

In today’s digital age, where high-profile breaches and attacks are all too common, Zerocrat’s robust security model demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding its users’ data above all else.

The lesson from the Internet Archive’s breach? Choose platforms like Zerocrat that prioritize user security, especially in an age of increasing cyber threats.