The Evolution of Web Archiving

Web archiving began to preserve digital artifacts, like libraries preserve books. As the internet grew, so did the need to capture and store its history. Today, web archiving is vital for OSINT research, legal evidence, and preserving history.

Comprehensive List of Web Archiving Tools

  1. Internet Archive: Internet Archive captures a broad spectrum of digital content, ensuring history remains accessible.
  2. Archive.today (Archive.ph): Freeze pages in time with Archive.today. It's perfect for capturing web pages before they're altered or removed.
  3. Follow That Page: Stay updated with Follow That Page, which notifies you when tracked web pages change.
  4. CachedViews: Access older versions of web pages from different sources at CachedViews.
  5. Perma.cc: Designed for academic and legal use, Perma.cc prevents link rot by creating permanent records of web pages.
  6. ArchiveBox.io: Archive web pages locally with ArchiveBox.io, managing your personal digital library.
  7. WebCite: WebCite allows users to archive citations of internet publications. To query, simply enter the URL of the page you wish to cite on their submission form, and it generates a permanent archive. (Not working at the time of posting).
  8. Time Travel: Find and compare past versions of web pages across various archives with Time Travel.
  9. Wikipedia list: A list of other archive initiatives on Wikipedia.
  10. GhostArchive: You can archive a website here, or search for archived websites, up to you; visit GhostArchive.
  11. The Old Net: Want to go down memory lane? This is the one for you, visit The Old Net.

These tools equip you to navigate and preserve the web’s ephemeral nature effectively. From navigating old websites that does not exist any longer, to finding hidden or deleted sites; you can also freeze a website in time.

Use it wisely, as these are powerful tools that combined with correlation can greatly aid you during investigations.