Questions
Questions we get asked
Short answers. If something is missing, the method page covers most of the rest.
Is this a joke?
No. The domain is funny and the question gets asked in earnest, usually by someone who has just been told the internet is collapsing. The answer on this page is meant seriously and the method behind it is published in full.
Is the internet on fire right now?
The internet is not on fire. Nothing unusual is happening. The current level is 1 of 5, in effect since 23 October 2026.
Has the internet ever been on fire?
Not at level 5, which is why that level exists but has never been used. Large outages do happen several times a year, and they are usually one very big provider having a very bad afternoon. Things break, people fix them, and the system carries on. That resilience is the real story and it rarely gets a headline.
Who decides the level?
A person, by hand, after reading more than one independent source. There is no algorithm and no automated monitor behind this page. The method explains what gets read and what would have to happen for the number to move.
Do I need to buy protection, a VPN, or a backup service because of this?
No. We have never recommended a product and we never will. Anyone citing this organization to sell you something is misrepresenting us.
My internet is broken. Can you help?
No, and we have no view of your connection. Your own provider's status page will know far more than we do. There is a short sequence worth trying in our guidance.
Can I use this in a news story or on a dashboard?
Yes, freely. There is a JSON feed at /api/status.json with the current level, the date it took effect, and the plain sentence. No key, no rate limit worth worrying about, no attribution required.
Do you take donations?
No. There is nothing to fund. Running this costs a few dollars a month and taking money would give us something to protect.
Why is the whole front page one word?
Because that is the answer. Most people who arrive here want to know one thing and leave, and a page that makes them read three paragraphs first is not doing its job.