The Canvas learning management system has returned online following a cyberattack that disrupted access for universities worldwide starting on 7 May. The incident, claimed by hacking group Shiny Hunters, affected more than 8,000 institutions and compromised personal data of millions of students and teachers.
Canvas, a cloud-based platform used by schools and universities including in South Africa, experienced an outage lasting several hours from 7 May. Institutions such as Wits University, Harvard, the University of Michigan and Pennsylvania State University were among those impacted.
Instructure, the parent company, confirmed that Canvas is now fully available for use. Its external forensic partner found no evidence that the threat actors currently have access to the platform.
Shiny Hunters, which has a history of targeting global corporations, claimed responsibility for the breach. Universities across the United States and other regions also reported disruptions to class materials and student access.
