Cynthia Kaiser

Instructure reached an agreement with data theft and extortion crew ShinyHunters after a breach of Canvas user data, but experts doubt that stolen data was deleted. The incident affects nearly 9,000 universities and K-12 schools, and around 275 million students, teachers, and staff. Experts expect further phishing attacks using leaked information.

Foxconn, a major tech manufacturer, has confirmed a cyberattack hit its North American factories, with ransomware group Nitrogen claiming responsibility and stealing 8 terabytes of data. The attack disrupted production, but affected factories are resuming normal operations. Foxconn is a key supplier to major tech vendors, including Apple, Intel, and Google.

Cybercriminals are threatening to leak sensitive data from Canvas, a widely used education tech platform, after a prolonged cyberattack. The company behind Canvas, Instructure, has taken the platform offline following malicious activity. A decentralized crew of cybercriminals, ShinyHunters, is attempting to extort the company for an unknown ransom amount.

Lawmakers are considering designating ransomware attacks on hospitals as terrorism and pursuing homicide charges in cases where attacks result in deaths. The proposals follow a surge in healthcare sector attacks, with incidents doubling in 2025, and include references to past U.S. and German investigations. Cynthia Kaiser, a former FBI cyber official, advocated for stricter penalties, citing potential sanctions and legal clarity.

Ex-FBI cyber chief Cynthia Kaiser warns that amateur criminals (wannabes) are more dangerous than professional cyber threats. She highlights ransomware as the biggest threat today, despite her earlier focus on state-sponsored threats from China and Russia.