Instructure's Canvas Data Breach Affects Millions of Users Worldwide
In May 2026, Instructure, the company behind the Canvas learning management system, reported a significant data breach. The breach involved the theft of personal information from users at nearly 9,000 educational institutions globally, affecting approximately 275 million individuals. The compromised data includes names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and messages exchanged on the platform. However, sensitive information such as passwords, social security numbers, and financial details were not accessed. The hacker group ShinyHunters has claimed responsibility for the attack. In response, Instructure has engaged forensic experts, revoked compromised credentials, and implemented additional security measures. The Utah State Board of Education, which widely uses Canvas, is working with Instructure to assess the impact and ensure compliance with state notification laws.