Canvas Learning Platform Disabled After Data Breach Affecting 275 Million Users

The online learning platform Canvas was disabled after a hacking group breached its parent company and said it gained access to data belonging to more than 275 million people across 9,000 schools. The group that claimed responsibility for the attack announced it had obtained the information from the company's systems.

Canvas provides digital tools for course management, assignments and grading to educational institutions. The platform serves schools and universities in multiple countries. The company took the platform offline after discovering the breach. It has not issued a public statement detailing the exact nature of the data accessed or the timeline of the intrusion.

The hacking group posted its claims on a website commonly used to publicize such incidents.

The compromised data covers users at more than 9,000 schools, according to the group's statement. The figure of 275 million people includes students, teachers and administrators whose information was stored in the Canvas systems. The company has not confirmed these numbers.

Educational institutions rely on Canvas for daily operations including remote learning, grade tracking and communication with students. The sudden disabling of the platform disrupted access for users who depend on it for current coursework and administrative functions.

The breach is the latest in a series of attacks targeting education technology providers that hold large volumes of personal and academic records. Schools and universities often face challenges in securing such systems while maintaining accessibility for large numbers of users.