Hackers block access to platform used by thousands of US schools

Source: The Straits Times
Published on: 2026-05-07 23:37

WASHINGTON - US universities including Harvard, Stanford and thousands of other institutions were hit by a massive cyber hack on May 7, following an earlier data breach. The attack, claimed by ShinyHunters, a well-known cyber extortion group active since at least 2019, saw access to the Canvas learning platform blocked. According to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper and posts on social media, students attempting to access the system on May 7 saw a message from the hacking group saying servers belonging to Canvas's parent company Instructure had "again" been breached. "Instead of contacting us to resolve it they ignored us and did some 'security patches,'" the hackers said. "If any of the schools in the affected list are interested in preventing the release of their data, please consult with a cyber advisory firm and contact us privately...to negotiate a settlement." The group wa...

(Please login to view full article)

Third-Party Content Disclaimer

Content displayed on this platform may include news articles, reports, and other materials aggregated from publicly available third-party sources through automated tools. Such content is not created, written, commissioned, or edited by Straits Interactive Pte Ltd or the Data Protection Excellence (DPEX) Network.

While we take reasonable steps to ensure responsible publication, we do not independently verify all third-party information and make no representations as to its accuracy, completeness, or reliability.

The views, findings, and statements expressed in third-party content belong solely to the original source and do not reflect the views of Straits Interactive Pte Ltd or the DPEX Network.

If you believe any content is inaccurate, infringing, or should be removed, please contact us at legal@straitsinteractive.com. We will review the matter and, where appropriate, take action in accordance with our internal policies.

Unlock these benefits
globe

Get access to news, enforcement cases, events, and actionable tips and guides

email

Get regular email updates and offers

job

Job opportunities, mentorship and career guidance

discuss

Exclusive access to Data Protection community - ask questions, network and share knowledge with peers and experts via WhatsApp and Linkedin