Cloud-based learning management system (LMS) Canvas, a popular software developed by Instruct and widely used by universities across the United States, was crippled by an alleged hacker attack. Many users of the platform reported on social media that the system was down, with messages from the black hat hacking group “ShinyHunters” appearing on their screens.
On Down Detector, nearly 10,000 people reported Canvas malfunctions. Locally, universities like Harvard University Duke University reported large and widespread power outages. It was reported that as many as 9,000 universities using Canvas experienced service outages.
Duke University’s Office of Information Technology first confirmed they were affected by the cyberattack. Shortly after Duke, Harvard’s student newspaper, the Harvard Crimson, reported that Harvard was also affected.
The New University, the newspaper of the University of California, Irvine, also confirmed that they were affected by the cyber attack.
“Today, May 7, at approximately 1:05 p.m., UCI students received a pop-up message on Canvas.” The report reads. “According to initial messages from the ShinyHunter hacking group on all Canvas sites, Canvas is currently unavailable to Anteaters and the page is currently down for maintenance.”
“Pennsylvania Daily” reported that Pennsylvania State University also experienced power failure. However, as of now, the school has not issued a statement on the matter.
This story is being updated.
