SHOWERS. SO I’VE GOT THAT WITH YOUR SEVEN DAY FORECAST ON DECK. WELL, RIGHT NOW AT NINE, A PLATFORM USED BY UNIVERSITIES AND SCHOOL SYSTEMS ACROSS THE NATION IMPACTED BY A CYBER ATTACK. THIS IS IMPACTING COLLEGES IN FLORIDA AS FINALS ARE UNDERWAY. NIKITA RAMOS HAS MORE WITH THE IMPACT THIS IS HAVING FOR STUDENTS IN OUR AREA. AND THIS IS AFFECTING THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA. NOW, IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT CANVAS IS, IT’S ESSENTIALLY THIS DIGITAL BACKBONE TO THESE COLLEGE COURSES. AND HERE IN FLORIDA, WE KNOW SEVERAL MAJOR UNIVERSITIES ARE AFFECTED. THIS INCLUDES INDIAN RIVER, STATE COLLEGE, U FUSFFIU, AND UCF. THE ONLINE LEARNING PLATFORM IS WHERE STUDENTS CAN TURN IN ASSIGNMENTS. THEY CAN CHECK THEIR GRADES, WATCH LECTURES, AND EVEN TAKE TESTS. AND IT’S USED BY MILLIONS OF STUDENTS AT THOUSANDS OF SCHOOLS. BUT NOW A MASSIVE CYBER ATTACK HAS TAKEN THAT SYSTEM DOWN. HACKERS CLAIMED RESPONSIBILITY AND EVEN POSTED RANSOM MESSAGES, AND IT’S LEAVING STUDENTS LOCKED OUT OF STUDY MATERIALS AND EXAMS AT A TIME THAT COULD NOT BE WORSE BECAUSE THEY ARE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF FINALS WEEK. SO AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IT IS SPARKING A LOT OF PANIC ONLINE WITH SOME UNIVERSITIES EVEN FORCING TO DELAY THESE TESTS OR SCRAMBLE FOR BACKUP PLANS. THE COMPANY BEHIND CANVAS SAYS THAT THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THIS RIGHT NOW, BUT WITH THE DEADLINES LOOMING, A LOT OF THESE STUDENTS ARE LEFT IN LIMBO. WE’LL CONTINUE TO MONITO
Cyberattack disrupts Canvas platform, affecting Florida universities during finals
Updated: 10:15 AM EDT May 8, 2026
A cyberattack has taken down Canvas, an online learning platform used by universities and school systems nationwide, impacting thousands of students, including those at major Florida universities, during finals week. The attack is affecting several major universities in Florida, including Indian River State College, the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, Florida International University, and the University of Central Florida. Canvas serves as the digital backbone of college classes, allowing students to turn in assignments, check grades, watch lectures, and take tests. Hackers have claimed responsibility for the attack and posted ransom messages, leaving students locked out of study materials and exams at a critical time. The disruption has sparked panic online, with some universities forced to delay tests or scramble for backup plans. The company behind Canvas said they are investigating the incident, but with deadlines looming, students remain in limbo.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
A cyberattack has taken down Canvas, an online learning platform used by universities and school systems nationwide, impacting thousands of students, including those at major Florida universities, during finals week.
The attack is affecting several major universities in Florida, including Indian River State College, the University of Florida, the University of South Florida, Florida International University, and the University of Central Florida. Canvas serves as the digital backbone of college classes, allowing students to turn in assignments, check grades, watch lectures, and take tests.
Hackers have claimed responsibility for the attack and posted ransom messages, leaving students locked out of study materials and exams at a critical time.
The disruption has sparked panic online, with some universities forced to delay tests or scramble for backup plans.
The company behind Canvas said they are investigating the incident, but with deadlines looming, students remain in limbo.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.