Canvas cybersecurity breach disrupts Triad schools as final exams near
Canvas cybersecurity breach disrupts Triad schools as final exams near
https://abc45.com/news/local/canvas-cybersecurity-breach-disrupts-triad-schools-as-final-exams-near
Publish Date: 2026-05-09 11:35:00
Source Domain: abc45.com
TRIAD, N.C. — As tens of thousands of students across the Triad are putting the finishing touches on end-of-year assignments and preparing to take final examinations, a cybersecurity breach of a popular, widely used online learning system has left several school districts statewide having to restrict access—leaving students unable to complete online-based instruction and teachers scrambling for alternative options regarding the submission of final grade books.
“I still need to check my grades to make sure I’m still even eligible to keep my job as an R.A., so I won’t even be able to do that since Canvas is down,” Bryan said.
Malachi Bryan, a senior graphic design major at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), describes the mass hysteria in his classrooms and the pressure classmates faced after attempting to sign in to the platform to no avail—especially during a pivotal time with important deadlines and last-minute studying.
“Every single aspect about class is on Canvas. As a matter of fact, I’ve been using Canvas since elementary [and] middle school,” Bryan said. “This impact is not just for college students; it’s a nationwide thing. I’m a graphic design major, so my whole scheme is doing art online.”
The Canvas platform—used across the country by approximately 8,000 schools and universities—provides a digital course dashboard for both instructors and students. Teachers primarily use this online learning system to upload course material, assign/receive assignments, communicate with students, update grade books, and—in some instances—post final examinations.
From student perspectives, the digital application is the heartbeat of their classrooms and course instruction. This dashboard allows students to view and/or download necessary course materials, upload homework assignments, and access their grades across all courses throughout each semester.
A hacking group known as ShinyHunters is claiming responsibility for breaching…
