This browser does not support the Video element.
Cavas, the widely used service for school and university assignments, is experiencing a nationwide outage due to a possible cyberattack.
What we know:
Thousands of users have reported noticeable disruptions with the learning management system since around 12:30 p.m. PT, according to DownDetector.
The University of Washington IT confirmed the disruption is due to an "apparent security incident" that has made the platform fully inaccessible to all users.
Many people online are posting a picture of a message that appears when users try to log into Canvas, a warning from the hacking group ShinyHunters threatening a data leak.
"ShinyHunters has breached Instructure (again). Instead of contacting us to resolve it they ignored us and did some 'security patches,'" it read. The message said all data will be leaked by May 12 if a settlement is not reached.
Canvas cyberattack message (via Reddit user @lakerdave)
Canvas, owned by Instructure, provides online courses, assignments, grading, and education tools used by schools and colleges across the country. The outage is leaving thousands of students and educators unable to access its services during a critical period of the school year, as many are finishing finals and midterms.
Instructure had previously resolved a confirmed "cybersecurity incident" on Wednesday, where hackers acquired names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and messages in a breach. The company claimed to have contained the incident at 2:15 p.m., and that no passwords, dates of birth, government IDs, or financial information were leaked.
What we don't know:
Instructure is still investigating the issue and has not confirmed if the outage is a result of a cyberattack. The public can check the current status of Canvas and other services on Instructure's website.
MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Humane Society dog kills family pet at Tacoma Marathon, shelter apologizes
'Arrest me': Seattle man critiques city’s homelessness response
Fin whale found dead on WA's Samish Island
Boater appeared passed out before crashing into rocks in Steilacoom
Spokane, WA woman chases child on sidewalk with car: video
Woman faces long road to recovery after Lime bike crash on Seattle's Aurora Avenue
Covington, WA homicide suspect Kyle Cathcart in custody. Here’s what we know
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
The Source: Information in this story came from DownDetector, Instructure, the University of Washington, and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.