Mysterious Data Wipe Strikes Prominent UFO Archive Amidst Government Transparency Push
A significant public repository of declassified US government documents, The Black Vault, experienced a perplexing data loss event just one day after President Trump issued a directive for the comprehensive release of all UFO-related files. The incident, which occurred on February 20th, saw the main server of The Black Vault reportedly wiped clean, resulting in the deletion of hundreds of gigabytes of crucial information. This extensive archive contained a vast array of files pertaining to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), declassified Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) projects, and historically significant conspiracies, including details surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
John Greenewald Jr., the researcher and ufologist behind The Black Vault, shared the alarming news online. He explained that certain server directories experienced unexplained changes to their permissions – the security settings that control access and editing capabilities – and file ownership logs. This lack of clarity surrounding the alterations fuelled speculation about the cause.
For three decades, The Black Vault has served as an indispensable resource for individuals seeking to access and scrutinise information that the US government has gradually made public over the past 80 years. Greenewald has dedicated his career to meticulously organising data on clandestine government programs and lesser-known incidents. His work suggests a long-standing, top-secret US effort to recover and potentially leverage advanced, possibly extraterrestrial, technology.
The trove of declassified files available on The Black Vault offers the public unfettered access to a wealth of information. These documents include detailed military base reports, compelling witness testimonies, and even directives from the CIA, some dating back to the 1940s and 50s. These historical records have been unsealed and made available without significant public fanfare. Furthermore, Greenewald has been diligent in documenting every instance where Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests submitted to agencies like the CIA and FBI yielded little to no substantive response.
The timing of this potential data sabotage is particularly striking. It occurred mere hours after President Trump issued a landmark order directing the Pentagon to disclose any and all information pertaining to alien and extraterrestrial life, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), and UFOs.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Greenewald indicated that while he did not “fully suspect foul play,” he could not entirely dismiss the possibility, especially given the “suspicious information” he received from the website’s hosting provider. He elaborated that the provider was unable to explain the incident, describing it as a “deletion, not corruption.”
In essence, the situation suggests that an intentional act resulted in the complete removal of every file from The Black Vault’s server, erasing all declassified records from the CIA and other government bodies. Crucially, the server itself was not entirely shut down, which might have triggered immediate alarms.
Historically, the US government has consistently denied the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrial beings, maintaining for decades that no concrete evidence of non-human entities landing on Earth had ever been recovered. However, President Trump’s February 19th directive followed his public criticism of former President Barack Obama. Obama had alluded to the reality of aliens in an interview, a statement Trump characterised as the revelation of “classified information.”
Greenewald’s personal efforts have been extensive, with over 11,000 FOIA requests filed with the US government. These requests have aimed to procure documents, including declassified reports connected to the alleged UFO crash landing in Roswell in 1947. His research has unearthed official records that detail the formation of secret task forces by previous administrations and intelligence agencies. These task forces, comprised of high-ranking military and scientific personnel, were allegedly established to investigate UFO incidents.
One such group, the alleged Majestic 12 (MJ-12), is believed to have been formed in the aftermath of the Roswell crash. This group reportedly operated for over two decades, focusing on the investigation of alien spacecraft sightings, the study of non-human technology, and attempts at extraterrestrial contact.
Fortunately for The Black Vault and its users, Greenewald had implemented robust backup procedures. All of the more than 3.8 million files were securely backed up in multiple locations, allowing the website to be restored shortly after the mysterious data wipe.
Greenewald shared a vital takeaway from the incident on X: “It is a stark reminder to us all, me included. Keep backups. Keep them in multiple places. And never be intimidated by anything that comes our way, no matter what we expect may have happened.”
The Daily Mail had reached out to Greenewald for further comment on the incident, which he described as an “oddly timed server maintenance.” He reiterated his belief that the issue likely stemmed from a server maintenance procedure by the hosting provider that “went awry.” He noted the provider’s inability to take responsibility or definitively prove the cause, leaving the possibility of foul play, though not definitively confirmed, on the table.
Data wipes of this nature can occur through various mechanisms, not all of which involve malicious intent. However, intentional deletion by bad actors remains a distinct possibility.
Common causes include routine updates or data cleanups performed by hosting companies. A software glitch, human error, or incompatible system changes could inadvertently lead to file deletion or permission alterations. Hardware malfunctions, such as failing hard drives, software bugs, or even power outages, can also result in data corruption or erasure. In this specific case, however, The Black Vault’s host reportedly ruled out corruption, suggesting a deliberate act of removal.
This leaves the potential for hackers to breach the server. Vulnerabilities such as weak passwords, outdated software, or successful phishing attacks could provide access. Once inside, attackers might delete files to sow chaos, particularly if the website contains sensitive information that certain parties might wish to suppress.
Meanwhile, critics of the Trump administration’s promise to release all UFO-related files have voiced skepticism. They suggest the move might be a political tactic designed to distract the public from other controversies, rather than a genuine effort to uncover new information about extraterrestrial life. This sentiment is echoed by many on social media who have pointed to previous document releases, such as those concerning the JFK assassination and the Jeffrey Epstein files, which were heavily redacted and offered no definitive “smoking gun” revelations.
