Major Cyber Attack Disrupts Canvas Learning Platform for US Universities
Canvas hacked, outage, down, data breach: When will Canvas be back up after ShinyHunters threaten to release stolen data
The Economic TimesImage: The Economic Times
A significant cyber attack by the ShinyHunters group has disrupted the Canvas learning platform, affecting numerous US universities including Harvard and Stanford. The hackers threaten to release stolen data unless institutions negotiate a settlement by May 12, raising concerns over data security and access to educational resources.
- 01ShinyHunters, a known cyber extortion group, has claimed responsibility for the attack on Canvas.
- 02The attack has affected thousands of educational institutions across the United States.
- 03Instructure, Canvas's parent company, reported a nationwide security issue that has led to service outages.
- 04The hackers are threatening to release stolen data, including personal details of students, unless contacted by May 12.
- 05Universities are advised to consult cyber advisory firms for potential negotiations.
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On Thursday, a massive cyber attack by the ShinyHunters group targeted the Canvas learning platform, impacting numerous universities across the United States, including prestigious institutions like Harvard University and Stanford University. The hacking group, known for its cyber extortion activities since at least 2019, blocked access to the platform and claimed that Canvas's parent company, Instructure, had ignored their previous attempts to resolve security issues. In a message displayed to students attempting to log in, ShinyHunters stated that they would release all stolen data unless schools contacted them by May 12 to negotiate a settlement. This stolen data reportedly includes personal information such as names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and private messages. Instructure confirmed that the original breach involved significant personal details and stated that the recent outage was due to a security issue that had been disclosed but was thought to be contained. However, the current situation indicates a broader impact, affecting many educational institutions nationwide.
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This cyber attack raises significant concerns regarding the security of student data and the accessibility of educational resources for affected institutions.
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