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Updated: Fresno State confirmed to be affected by Instructure cybersecurity incident

REUTERS/via SNO Sites/Kacper Pempel

A man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. Capitalizing on spying tools believed to have been developed by the U.S. National Security Agency, hackers staged a cyber assault with a self-spreading malware that has infected tens of thousands of computers in nearly 100 countries. REUTERS/Kacper Pempel/Illustration

By Anahid Valencia, Campus News Editor • May 5, 2026

Story updated May 6 at 3:28 p.m.

Instructure’s status website says the cybersecurity incident has been resolved as of 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday.

“Canvas is fully operational, and we are not seeing any ongoing unauthorized activity,” the website says.

A hacking and extortion gang, ShinyHunters, reportedly claimed responsibility for the breach. According to TechCrunch, ShinyHunters threatened to leak the personal data they found from universities and cloud database companies online if the companies do not pay a ransom.

ShinyHunters released an alleged list of roughly 8,800 schools that were affected by the cybersecurity incident, including Fresno State.

TechCrunch also reported that the hackers say they’ve stolen messages between students and professors, as well as students’ names and email addresses.

Instructure’s website says it will not provide any more updates for this incident on that page.

“We will continue to provide updates as appropriate through other channels and are now communicating directly with impacted customers to provide organization-specific information and support,” Instructure says.

ORIGINAL STORY PUBLISHED MAY 5 AT 5:26 P.M.

Instructure, the company behind the Canvas Learning Management System, confirmed that Fresno State was affected by a cybersecurity incident involving unauthorized access to data.

Bao Johri, vice president for information technology and chief information officer, sent out a campus-wide email Tuesday afternoon detailing the report.

“Based on current information, the data involved may include certain personal information,” Johri said in the email. “However, there is no indication that passwords, dates of birth, government-issued identification numbers, or financial information were involved.”

Johri said this is a vendor-driven national event and is affecting multiple universities. She also said that the university is closely monitoring for updates and any potential impact.

Students can reach the Technology Service Desk for help with Canvas performance issues at 559-278-5000.

The Collegian will continue to update this story as we learn more.

About the Contributor

Anahid Valencia, Campus News Editor

Anahid Valencia is the News Editor at The Collegian and a staff writer for its Armenian ethnic supplement, Hye Sharzhoom. Anahid is a sophomore at Fresno State and began work at The Collegian as a reporter in Spring ‘25, after contributing and attending meetings during her first semester. After college, Anahid wants to become a TV news reporter, though writing and print journalism will always be a part of her life.

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