Current Situation:
- The Logbook of the World (LOTW), a critical online database used by amateur radio operators (also known as “ham radio operators”) to record and verify their contacts with other stations, is currently unavailable due to an IT system or network failure at the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) headquarters.
- This outage is also impacting the ability to register new callsigns, such as the recently assigned 9M1Z, and updates to the DXCC (Diploma of Confirmation Countries) program within the ARRL system.
Source of Information:
- Mickey Baker (N4MB), the ARRL Southeast Division Director, has confirmed the widespread IT system/network failure at ARRL HQ.
Alternative Explanation:
- While the exact cause remains under investigation, reports from bleepingcomputer.com suggest that ARRL may have been the target of a recent cyberattack. This attack could be responsible for the disruption to the ARRL’s IT systems, including LOTW, the Learning Center, and potentially other online services.