ShinyHunters Hack Instructure, Drawing Inspiration from Shiny Pokémon Hunting

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Yesterday, a hacking group named ShinyHunters attacked Canvas, a popular online learning platform. They claimed to have stolen over 3.65 terabytes of personal information from more than 275 million users in 9,000 schools around the world. This caused disruptions for students taking exams, and schools rushed to understand the situation. The hackers set a deadline of May 12th, demanding a ransom to prevent the release of the stolen data.

If you used to play Game Boy, the name ShinyHunters might sound familiar. In the world of Pokémon, many players enjoy “shiny hunting” – a challenging but rewarding process that takes a lot of patience and dedication. Interestingly, the method this hacker group uses – repeatedly resetting the game – is the same technique used by Pokémon players, suggesting they took inspiration from the game beyond just the name.

Shiny Pokémon Have Been Rare Since the Beginning

Shiny Pokémon first appeared in the Pokémon Gold and Silver games in 1999, and they were always intended to be rare. Originally, the chance of finding one in the wild was just 1 in 8,192. The Pokémon didn’t have an official name then; fans started calling them “shiny” because of the sparkling effect when they appeared. Back then, finding a shiny Pokémon wasn’t just an accomplishment—it felt like a lucky accident.

Early Pokémon hunters faced incredibly tough challenges. Hours could be spent searching without finding a single rare, shiny Pokémon – it was mostly down to luck, and most players didn’t succeed. That first random shiny Pokémon discovery in the older games is now remembered with fondness. However, Pokémon Gold and Silver changed things by guaranteeing players a Shiny Gyarados through the story, making those games particularly popular. After that, finding shiny Pokémon became progressively easier.

Trainers are Still Soft Resetting for Shiny Pokémon in 2026

Back when Pokémon shiny hunting first became popular, the main technique was called ‘soft resetting.’ Players would save their game right before encountering a legendary Pokémon, then restart if the Pokémon appeared in its normal color. It worked, but it could take a very long time! The process was simple: save, check the Pokémon’s color, and if it wasn’t shiny, reset and try again. This method brought players together, creating whole communities dedicated to shiny hunting. Even now, many trainers still spend countless hours – and perform thousands of resets – hoping to find a shiny legendary, sometimes chasing the same Pokémon for months without luck.

Starting with the 6th generation of Pokémon games, finding a shiny Pokémon became a bit easier, though still challenging, with odds of 1 in 4096. Game Freak has since added several new methods to make shiny hunting less time-consuming. While options like the Shiny Charm, Masuda Method, and the sandwich-making feature in Scarlet and Violet are popular, many players still enjoy the classic method of soft resetting for shinies.

ShinyHunters Left Instructure Stuck in a Soft Reset That it Can’t Finish

ShinyHunters crippled Instructure’s system with a ransomware attack, leaving the company with a difficult choice: pay the ransom or risk a massive data breach exposing sensitive student and teacher information. Once compromised, that data is lost forever. Ironically, Instructure’s website continued to claim everything was working perfectly even as users worldwide were unable to access their exams. Instructure is still trying to fix the problem, but the hackers, like relentless gamers pursuing a rare prize, are demanding payment before cooperating.

Finding shiny Pokémon relies on repeated attempts and unwavering patience. ShinyHunters applied this same dedication to a major online platform. The May 12th deadline created a high-pressure situation, similar to a near-defeated Pokémon struggling to stay alive. However, the consequences here were far more significant than just obtaining a rare color variation.

For decades, Pokémon fans have eagerly searched for rare, shiny Pokémon on handheld consoles like the Game Boy, DS, and Switch. While a group calling themselves ShinyHunters has adopted the name, they don’t represent the dedicated community they’re borrowing from – even if they claim to. The term ‘shiny’ and what it symbolizes still belongs to those longtime fans, and no group can take that away by simply using the name.

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2026-05-08 23:12