AO3 returns after two-week outage with some features disabled
The nonprofit operating the fan fiction website says it cannot rule out a user database compromise following a security incident.
Archive of Our Own (AO3) has reopened after a two-week shutdown linked to a security incident, though some functions remain unavailable. Its operator, the nonprofit Organization for Transformative Works (OTW), said the restrictions allowed it to restore access before the four-week mark.
OTW said it had found no grounds to conclude that the user database had been compromised, but could not exclude that possibility. It recommended that users change their passwords, update linked email addresses and replace passwords on other websites where they reused their AO3 credentials.
Icons and tools for importing external works remain disabled, and downloads are restricted to HTML. OTW said those functions would return and that icons had not been erased. A traffic-management measure may also cause loading delays.
The organization said no site data had been deleted, including users’ works, bookmarks and kudos. Automatic draft deletion was suspended throughout the outage but is scheduled to restart on November 29, when drafts older than 30 days will be subject to deletion.
AO3 went offline at the end of October, with OTW initially estimating two to four weeks of disruption. The organization has not disclosed the cause or details of its security changes. It said a security firm was helping review the incident and examine the website to prevent further incidents.
