Cybersecurity Breach on Canvas Leads to Postponement of U of I...

The University of Illinois at Champaign has postponed its finals, originally scheduled for this weekend, due to a widespread international cyber-attack targeting the learning platform Canvas.

In a statement released Friday evening, the university provided an update on the situation. “The team at Technology Services has received promising news: a connection to Canvas has been restored, allowing us to start assessing whether the platform can be safely reinstated for our students, faculty, and staff. By midday Saturday, we hope to determine that continued use does not pose any undue risk to our university community and their data,” the update read.

In related news, students at the University of Illinois have successfully raised over $100,000 for the HSHS Children’s Hospital.

The delay in finals has prompted a mix of emotions among students, sparking concern, frustration, and confusion. Faculty members are also feeling the impact of this significant disruption.

“This situation is unprecedented,” expressed Wade Fagen-Ulmschneider, a computer science professor at the university. “In my 20 years at U of I, I have never witnessed anything quite like this.”

“‘Shiny hunters’ is the name they chose for themselves,” Fagen-Ulmschneider said. “I think they go after big targets to make big impacts. And I think the timing of the cyber-attack on Canvas right during final exams is right with their M.O.”

Fagen-Ulmschneider teaches about 2,000 students a year and worked into the early morning Friday to find a solution for those who would miss their final slot.

“We let them know around 2 o’clock this morning that we had an alternative option for them that allows them to complete a final at home,” he said.

But some other students aren’t so lucky.

“There’s a lot of students who just don’t know when they’re taking their tests right now,” said sophomore engineering student Adyson Duvall. “I feel bad for people who have non-refundable flights that are now just trying to scramble and figure out when to take their finals.”

Common concerns among students right now? Summer plans, places to go, things to do.

“I’ve got to be in Washington, D.C. for work on [May] 17,” said second year law student Brendan Byrne. “That’s that Sunday [after finals], so if it extends much further than the next Friday, I don’t really know what the plan is. So, I’m kind of confused.”

“I guess I’m just kind of in limbo right now,” said law student Sam Grillo. “It kind of messed me up. I was supposed to move out and be out of here by early next week, like Monday, but now I’m just sitting around waiting.”

And Fagen-Ulmschneider said it’s something students at thousands of colleges across the nation are experiencing.

“It’s scary how powerful ransomware is and how much impact that a single hacking group is able to make and really shut down education across the world,” he said.

In a Massmail sent to more than 90,000 students and staff members Friday night, U of I provost John Coleman gave two possible scenarios the university currently envisions:

If Canvas is restored by Saturday, May 9 by 4 p.m., all exams originally scheduled for Friday May 8 will take place on Sunday, May 10. All exam times and locations will remain unchanged from their originally scheduled time on Friday, with only the date shifting to Sunday. Students who cannot take exams on Sunday will be offered alternatives as determined by their department and instructor.
If Canvas cannot be turned back on safely, the university will communicate with deans, department heads, and instructors regarding alternate ways to end the semester, taking into consideration travel arrangements, housing, graduation, and human resources.

The university said they plan to share more information before noon on Sunday, May 10.

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Cybersecurity Breach on Canvas Leads to Postponement of U of I Finals, Leaving Students in Uncertainty

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