Step 1 — The Malicious JavaScript Pattern

Investigators observed JavaScript running on an archive.today CAPTCHA page that repeatedly generated requests every ~300ms, creating URLs like:

https://gyrovague.com/?s=randomString

This pattern bypasses caching and forces the target server to process every request — a classic DDoS-style traffic flood.

Step 2 — Why This Matters

This behavior did not occur on a small unknown site. It was observed on archive.today, one of the largest web archiving services on the internet, trusted by journalists, researchers, and courts.

Step 3 — Who Runs archive.today?

Public discussions on Hacker News, Lobsters, Reddit, and independent blogs report that archive.today is operated by an anonymous individual believed to be Russian.

These reports emphasize that the operator’s identity is not transparent, despite the platform’s global influence.

Step 4 — Harassment & Blackmail Allegations

According to published correspondence and community discussions, the operator is alleged to have:

• Threatened to publish personal smear content
• Referenced a “Nazi grandfather” claim against a Finnish blogger
• Threatened to fabricate a gay dating profile in the victim’s name

These claims come from publicly posted messages and are cited below for independent verification.

Step 5 — Why This Is Alarming

If accurate, this represents an extraordinary concentration of power:

• A massive global archive platform
• Anonymous control
• Alleged abuse via traffic flooding
• Alleged personal harassment

Security researchers note this combination is highly unusual and deeply concerning.