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Itch.io Faces Domain Accessibility Issues Amid Phishing Claims

Indie game storefront Itch.io is currently experiencing significant accessibility problems due to what it has labeled as a false phishing report. While the servers themselves are operational, users are unable to reach the website as the domain has been redirected to IP addresses not associated with Itch.io.

The platform has pointed fingers at Funko, a company specializing in pop culture collectibles, for these disruptions. In a statement shared on X, Itch.io accused Funko of utilizing a flawed “AI-powered” brand protection system known as Brand Shield. The company asserts that this software generated a misleading phishing report, which subsequently led to complications with their domain registrar.

While the specific page in question has been removed, Itch.io’s domain registrar, iwantmyname, has maintained the domain’s suspension, likely as a result of automated processes. In a follow-up update also posted on X, Itch.io mentioned that they are currently awaiting a response from the registrar to reactivate their domain.

For those who are tech-savvy, a temporary workaround exists. Users can edit their hosts file to map the hostname to the IP address 45.33.107.166. However, they should be prepared to revert this change once the domain is restored. Itch.io expressed optimism that the situation would be rectified swiftly, ideally within hours, to avoid the need for a new domain.

This domain incident follows shortly after Itch.io introduced a feature allowing users to link their account to Bluesky using their Itch.io URL. Users who invested $10 in the platform are afforded the option of utilizing their profile on Bluesky, but the ongoing domain issue has resulted in “invalid handle” errors for those who switched to custom URLs until the primary domain is operational again.

Source
www.theverge.com