BBCC student information not hacked during computer shutdown
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 month, 2 weeks AGO
Big Bend Community College was among the higher learning institutions affected by a hack of the Canvas operating system.
FILE PHOTO
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | May 9, 2026 12:19 PM
MOSES LAKE — Personal information of Big Bend Community College students was not compromised as the result of a cyberattack against a company that provides system management software.
Matt Killebrew, BBCC director of communications, said the college does use the Canvas system, which allows students to access class and financial information, and communicate with instructors, among other things. The company that owns the Canvas system was hacked in early May, according to information on the Wired website.
“We still don’t know who did it, but we do know no important information was accessed,” Killebrew said.
The Canvas system went down at BBCC for a short period.
“A couple days, maybe a day and a half,” Killebrew said.
Access was restored by 11 a.m. Friday, according to a BBCC press release.
The attack affected the Canvas system nationwide. Killebrew said in the press release that BBCC and state higher education officials are working to figure out how it affected Washington students.
“We are working closely with our partners and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges to stay informed and will take any necessary actions to safeguard our campus community,” Killebrew said.
There are some precautions people can take, he said. Students – and anybody using the system – should change passwords regularly and monitor any of their accounts for unusual activity.
Computer users should be cautious of unsolicited emails or messages that request personal information or login credentials. When online, people should avoid clicking on unfamiliar links or attachments.
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