Canvas put into maintenance mode after reported ShinyHunters hack disrupted access at U.S. schools

Canvas, an education platform used by U.S. schools and universities for grades and class materials, was hacked on Thursday, disrupting student access, according to reports from multiple college student newspapers.

The Harvard Crimson reported that students were unable to access Canvas beginning Thursday asourcesernoon, and said the hacking group ShinyHunters claimed Harvard was among “thousands of schools” affected by a breach involving Instructure, Canvas’ parent company. The paper said Canvas redirected users to a message from ShinyHunters that claimed responsibility and listed schools the group said were breached.

Other student newspapers, including The Daily Pennsylvanian at the University of Pennsylvania, reported that ShinyHunters had previously posted a message on Penn’s Canvas page saying universities that did not want data released should contact the group before May 12.

Student outlets at Duke University, UCLA, the University of Nebraska and other institutions also reported disruptions. Duke’s student newspaper, The Chronicle, said the incident affected over 9,000 schools.

Instructure acknowledged login problems affecting Student ePortfolios and said Canvas and related sites had been placed in “maintenance mode” while it investigated. The company said it expected services to be restored soon.

ShinyHunters has previously claimed responsibility for hacks of major companies. In April, the group said it had stolen nearly 80 million business records from video game developer Rockstar Games.