×
Best cheap Kindle deals of June 2025

Best cheap Kindle deals of June 2025

Tech-news , ,

When it comes to finding a device to read ebooks, you have a few options to choose from. You can always buy a tablet or use your phone, but those devices are multipurpose and can be used for a ton of things, like surfing the web or doom-scrolling on X or Bluesky. If you are looking for something to strictly read books, e-readers, while niche, are designed to store all of your books in a virtual library with limited functionality.

Amazon, one of the pioneers of the e-reader, has dominated the space for years with its ever-expanding Kindle lineup, which consists of several unique models with their own pros and cons. The bulk of the devices function as simple ebook readers; however, with the Kindle Scribe, Amazon is moving beyond books and into the realm of writing — something that should make future Kindles function more akin to physical paper.

Below, we’ve listed each model currently available. Sometimes there isn’t a deal for one or even any of the products, but in those cases, we’ve listed the most recent sale price.

The entry-level Kindle remains the smallest e-reader Amazon offers, one that’s available in either black or green.
Photo by Sheena Vasani / The Verge

The best Kindle (2024) deals

What does it mean when a Kindle is “ad-supported”?

Amazon Kindle e-readers come in different storage configurations, but there is also an additional option that allows you to buy the e-reader with or without ads. Ad-supported Kindles will display personalized advertisements on the lock screen when it is in sleep mode or at the bottom of the homescreen when the device is connected to Wi-Fi. Typically, you save about $20 by buying the ad-supported version, but if you decide to remove ads later, you can make a one-time payment to cover the difference and remove the ads.

In case you missed it, Amazon announced a new entry-level Kindle in October, one that was designed to replace the outgoing 2022 model. The latest Kindle — which starts at $109.99 — boasts a brighter 94-nit display, improved contrast levels, and slightly faster page turns. It also comes in a “matcha” green instead of “denim,” just in case you’re not a fan of the default black color. Otherwise, though, it’s nearly identical to its predecessor, with the same six-inch 300ppi screen, support for USB-C, and 16GB of base storage.

In the past, Amazon’s newest ad-supported Kindle has dropped to as low as $84.99 ($25 off) with three months of Kindle Unlimited. Right now, however, you can only buy the base Kindle at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for its full retail price of $109.99.

$110

Amazon’s new entry-level Kindle retains a six-inch, 300ppi display and USB-C. It’s both brighter and faster than its predecessor, however, and features longer battery life.

The best Kindle Kids (2024) deals

Amazon also updated its kid-friendly Kindle in late 2024. The new Kindle Kids is identical to the standard model but comes with several accessories and provides age-appropriate content for younger readers who prefer digital books. Like the last-gen Kindle Kids, the latest model retails for $20 more than the base model, bringing the MSRP to $129.99.

In terms of add-ons, the new Kindle Kids edition consists of four items: the device, a protective case, a two-year extended replacement guarantee (in the event the device breaks), and six months of Amazon Kids Plus. The last feature is the biggest selling point of the device aside from the kid-friendly patterns and lack of ads, as it allows parents to grant their child access to games, videos, and books — including those in the Percy Jackson and Harry Potter series — at no additional cost.

In the past, we’ve seen the latest Kindle Kids sell for as low as $94.99 ($35 off). Right now, however, you can only pick it up at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target for $104.99 ($25 off), which remains the e-reader’s second-best price to date.

A person holding the kid-friendly Kindle in their lap.A person holding the kid-friendly Kindle in their lap.

$105

Amazon’s Kindle Kids is identical to the standard Kindle — meaning it packs a 300ppi display and support for USB-C charging — but comes with a case, an extended two-year warranty, and six months of Amazon Kids Plus.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is identical to the standard model but features wireless charging and a sensor to automatically adjust the backlight.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is identical to the standard model but features wireless charging and a sensor to automatically adjust the backlight.

The best Kindle Paperwhite (2024) deals

The latest Kindle Paperwhite, which launched last year, is Amazon’s 12th-gen model. Considering it’s one of the company’s higher-end configurations, it offers all the features found in the entry-level Kindle, including USB-C charging and a crisp 300ppi display. It’s noticeably faster than Amazon’s base ebook reader and features IPX8 waterproofing, a larger seven-inch display, and longer battery life.

In the past, we’ve seen the standard Paperwhite drop to as low as $129.99. Unfortunately, the standalone model is currently only available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target starting at $159.99 (its full retail price). If you’re okay with purchasing a bundle, though, you can grab it at Amazon with a power adapter and either a green, pink, or black fabric cover for $196.97 ($20 off); it’s also available at Amazon with a plant-based leather cover in green, pink, or black for $202.97 (also $20 off).

Read our Kindle Paperwhite (2024) review.
The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite.The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite.

$160

Amazon’s latest Paperwhite features a larger seven-inch display and noticeably faster performance. It also boasts longer battery life than the previous model, retains IPX8 waterproofing, and includes a USB-C port. Read our review.

$197

The seven-inch Kindle Paperwhite features a larger display and faster performance than Amazon’s entry-level ebook reader. You can also buy it in a bundle with a cover and a USB-C charger.

Like other Kindles, the new Paperwhite is available in a few different configurations — including an ad-free Signature Edition that’s identical to the standard model but comes with 32GB of storage, Qi wireless charging, and a backlight that will automatically adjust when needed. It’s only available at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target right now for its typical retail price of $199.99, though you can pick it up at Amazon with a wireless charging dock and a black, green, or pink fabric cover starting at $251.97 ($25 off). It’s also available at Amazon with a plant-based leather cover in black, green, or pink for $257.97 ($25 off).

$200

The premium Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition offers the same design and performance as the standard model but with more storage and support for wireless charging.

$252

Amazon’s step-up Kindle Paperwhite bundle includes a Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, a wireless charging dock, and your choice of either a fabric or plant-based cover.

The best Kindle Paperwhite Kids (2024) deals

Amazon also rolled out a Kindle Paperwhite Kids for $179.99 in 2024. It’s identical to the standard Kindle Paperwhite, with the same waterproof design and sharp, seven-inch display. However, like the Kindle Kids, the e-reader is free of ads and offers parental controls you can turn off. It also comes bundled with a kid-friendly cover, a two-year extended replacement guarantee, and six months of Amazon Kids Plus.

The latest Kindle Paperwhite Kids normally runs for $179.99, but it’s currently on sale for $139.99 ($40 0ff) — its lowest price to date — at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.

Someone outside sitting in grass and reading on a Kindle Paperwhite Kids deviceSomeone outside sitting in grass and reading on a Kindle Paperwhite Kids device

$140

Amazon’s kid-friendly Paperwhite is the same as the standard Paperwhite, but it’s ad-free and comes with the added benefits of a two-year hardware protection plan, six months of Amazon Kids Plus, and a choice of three kid-friendly covers.

The Kindle Scribe sitting on a bookshelf, with its display featuring my handwritten notes.

You can write in the Kindle Scribe and use its AI features to clean up the handwriting or summarize your notes.

The best Kindle Scribe (2024) deals

Like its predecessor, the second-gen Kindle Scribe is Amazon’s biggest e-reader. It packs a 10.2-inch display with 300ppi resolution, along with the same great battery life for which Kindles are known. What separates the Scribe from other Kindles, however, is that it comes with a stylus, which can be used to jot down notes or doodle in the ebook reader’s built-in notebook. With the latest Scribe, Amazon also introduced a new Active Canvas feature, so you can scribble notes directly on ebook pages, as well as a suite of AI-powered features that can summarize your notes and refine your handwriting.

Right now, you can buy the entry-level Kindle Scribe with 16GB of storage at Amazon and Best Buy starting at $299.99 ($100 off), which marks a new low price. Amazon is also offering a $40 discount when you purchase two of the e-readers, so you could potentially save even more.

Read our Kindle Scribe (2024) review.
The Kindle Scribe sitting on a bookshelf, with its display featuring some of the other templates and pages Amazon provides.The Kindle Scribe sitting on a bookshelf, with its display featuring some of the other templates and pages Amazon provides.

$300

The latest Kindle Scribe is a 10.2-inch e-reader with a stylus for taking notes. It’s faster than its predecessor and offers a host of new features, including one that lets you jot notes directly in your book.

The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft e-reader sitting on top of a comic book.

The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is Amazon’s only color e-reader.
Photos by Andrew Liszewski / The Verge

The best Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition deals

In October, Amazon announced its first color e-reader, the Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition. Like the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, it boasts a seven-inch display with a crisp 300ppi resolution, IPX8 water resistance, wireless charging, and 32GB of storage. However, unlike the Paperwhite, the e-reader offers a color mode, which cuts the resolution in half. Thankfully, it’s still vibrant for a color E-Ink screen despite the lower resolution, rendering it particularly ideal for reading comic books and manga.

In the past, we’ve seen the Kindle Colorsoft drop to as low as $224.99 ($55 off), but right now there are no discounts available on the standalone e-reader. That said, you can save some money at Amazon if you buy it as a part of a bundle for $327.97 ($53 off), which nets you a wireless charging dock and plant-based leather cover in black, pink, or green. You can also buy it with a “premium” leather cover in red or black for $349.97 ($35 off).

Read our Kindle Colorsoft review.
The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft on a stack of books.The Amazon Kindle Colorsoft on a stack of books.

$328

The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition is Amazon’s first color e-reader. It comes with wireless charging, IPX8 water resistance, and 32GB of storage. It retails for $279.99 by itself, but Amazon also sells it as part of a bundle that contains a wireless charging dock and one of two covers.

Source link
#cheap #Kindle #deals #June

Tag

Related Posts

announced a major upgrade to its fitness and wellness platform by introducing Fitbit Air and the new Google Health app. With personalized workout suggestions, sleep insights, and nutrition guidance, Google is making its health platform more interactive. The AI coaching features will be available on a paid plan starting at Rs 99 per month.

The new “Today” tab works more like an interactive health feed. It highlights sleep summaries, weekly cardio scores, readiness levels, and daily activity updates in a more visual and contextual format. The app can also provide recovery recommendations and suggest workouts or lighter activities based on recent health patterns.

Google Health Coach Powered by Gemini

This tool serves as an artificial wellness assistant that analyzes user data and provides personalized advice and information. The AI trainer can advise on exercises, give sleep tips, monitor recovery, and provide nutrition advice as well. As noted by Google, this tool should be more interactive and flexible than conventional fitness applications. It can also modify its recommendations depending on specific circumstances, such as low energy, injuries, and routine changes.

Google Health Subscription Pricing in India

Google Just Killed Whoop With Fitbit Air & New Health Coach Google has announced a major upgrade to its fitness and wellness platform by introducing Fitbit Air and the new Google Health app. With personalized workout suggestions, sleep insights, and nutrition guidance, Google is making its health platform more interactive. The AI coaching features will be available on a paid plan starting at Rs 99 per month. The new “Today” tab works more like an interactive health feed. It highlights sleep summaries, weekly cardio scores, readiness levels, and daily activity updates in a more visual and contextual format. The app can also provide recovery recommendations and suggest workouts or lighter activities based on recent health patterns. Google Health Coach Powered by Gemini This tool serves as an artificial wellness assistant that analyzes user data and provides personalized advice and information. The AI trainer can advise on exercises, give sleep tips, monitor recovery, and provide nutrition advice as well. As noted by Google, this tool should be more interactive and flexible than conventional fitness applications. It can also modify its recommendations depending on specific circumstances, such as low energy, injuries, and routine changes. Google Health Subscription Pricing in India Google plans to continue providing all basic health and fitness tracking features for free via the Google Health application. This includes all standard features, such as recording steps taken, measuring heart rate, and recording sleep information, that users will have access to for free. However, the company has placed its advanced AI-powered features under a premium plan. The Google Health subscription is priced at Rs 99 per month or Rs 999 per year in India. Premium users get access to advanced coaching tools, deeper sleep analysis, personalized workout plans, and proactive health recommendations powered by Gemini AI. Fitbit Air Launches as a Screenless Fitness Tracker Unlike other fitness trackers, the wearable device focuses solely on monitoring the user’s health stats in the background. Google designed the Fitbit Air with a lightweight pebble-like shape that feels slimmer than the Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 3 series. The company created its sleek body to provide users with better comfort during all-day wear. Another important aspect that distinguishes Fitbit Air from other products is its ability to operate continuously for several days, thanks to advanced battery technology. At the same time, Google is aiming to provide fast recharging by implementing it in the wearable as well. Indeed, according to some sources, charging for 5 minutes will provide enough battery for a whole day. Fitbit Air Price and Availability Google has officially launched the Fitbit Air at .99, roughly equivalent to ₹9,400 in India. The wearable is currently available for global pre-orders, while full sales are expected to start later this month, on May 26. As part of the launch offer, customers purchasing the device will get a three-month Google Health Premium trial. The subscription unlocks AI-based wellness coaching, personalized workout plans, and advanced health insights. #Google #Killed #Whoop #Fitbit #Air #Health #CoachGoogle

Google plans to continue providing all basic health and fitness tracking features for free via the Google Health application. This includes all standard features, such as recording steps taken, measuring heart rate, and recording sleep information, that users will have access to for free.

However, the company has placed its advanced AI-powered features under a premium plan. The Google Health subscription is priced at Rs 99 per month or Rs 999 per year in India. Premium users get access to advanced coaching tools, deeper sleep analysis, personalized workout plans, and proactive health recommendations powered by Gemini AI.

Fitbit Air Launches as a Screenless Fitness Tracker

Unlike other fitness trackers, the wearable device focuses solely on monitoring the user’s health stats in the background. Google designed the Fitbit Air with a lightweight pebble-like shape that feels slimmer than the Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 3 series. The company created its sleek body to provide users with better comfort during all-day wear.

Another important aspect that distinguishes Fitbit Air from other products is its ability to operate continuously for several days, thanks to advanced battery technology. At the same time, Google is aiming to provide fast recharging by implementing it in the wearable as well. Indeed, according to some sources, charging for 5 minutes will provide enough battery for a whole day.

Fitbit Air Price and Availability

Google has officially launched the Fitbit Air at $99.99, roughly equivalent to ₹9,400 in India. The wearable is currently available for global pre-orders, while full sales are expected to start later this month, on May 26.

As part of the launch offer, customers purchasing the device will get a three-month Google Health Premium trial. The subscription unlocks AI-based wellness coaching, personalized workout plans, and advanced health insights.

#Google #Killed #Whoop #Fitbit #Air #Health #CoachGoogle">Google Just Killed Whoop With Fitbit Air & New Health Coach Google has announced a major upgrade to its fitness and wellness platform by introducing Fitbit Air and the new Google Health app. With personalized workout suggestions, sleep insights, and nutrition guidance, Google is making its health platform more interactive. The AI coaching features will be available on a paid plan starting at Rs 99 per month. The new “Today” tab works more like an interactive health feed. It highlights sleep summaries, weekly cardio scores, readiness levels, and daily activity updates in a more visual and contextual format. The app can also provide recovery recommendations and suggest workouts or lighter activities based on recent health patterns. Google Health Coach Powered by Gemini This tool serves as an artificial wellness assistant that analyzes user data and provides personalized advice and information. The AI trainer can advise on exercises, give sleep tips, monitor recovery, and provide nutrition advice as well. As noted by Google, this tool should be more interactive and flexible than conventional fitness applications. It can also modify its recommendations depending on specific circumstances, such as low energy, injuries, and routine changes. Google Health Subscription Pricing in India Google plans to continue providing all basic health and fitness tracking features for free via the Google Health application. This includes all standard features, such as recording steps taken, measuring heart rate, and recording sleep information, that users will have access to for free. However, the company has placed its advanced AI-powered features under a premium plan. The Google Health subscription is priced at Rs 99 per month or Rs 999 per year in India. Premium users get access to advanced coaching tools, deeper sleep analysis, personalized workout plans, and proactive health recommendations powered by Gemini AI. Fitbit Air Launches as a Screenless Fitness Tracker Unlike other fitness trackers, the wearable device focuses solely on monitoring the user’s health stats in the background. Google designed the Fitbit Air with a lightweight pebble-like shape that feels slimmer than the Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 3 series. The company created its sleek body to provide users with better comfort during all-day wear. Another important aspect that distinguishes Fitbit Air from other products is its ability to operate continuously for several days, thanks to advanced battery technology. At the same time, Google is aiming to provide fast recharging by implementing it in the wearable as well. Indeed, according to some sources, charging for 5 minutes will provide enough battery for a whole day. Fitbit Air Price and Availability Google has officially launched the Fitbit Air at .99, roughly equivalent to ₹9,400 in India. The wearable is currently available for global pre-orders, while full sales are expected to start later this month, on May 26. As part of the launch offer, customers purchasing the device will get a three-month Google Health Premium trial. The subscription unlocks AI-based wellness coaching, personalized workout plans, and advanced health insights. #Google #Killed #Whoop #Fitbit #Air #Health #CoachGoogle

a major upgrade to its fitness and wellness platform by introducing Fitbit Air and the new Google Health app. With personalized workout suggestions, sleep insights, and nutrition guidance, Google is making its health platform more interactive. The AI coaching features will be available on a paid plan starting at Rs 99 per month.

The new “Today” tab works more like an interactive health feed. It highlights sleep summaries, weekly cardio scores, readiness levels, and daily activity updates in a more visual and contextual format. The app can also provide recovery recommendations and suggest workouts or lighter activities based on recent health patterns.

Google Health Coach Powered by Gemini

This tool serves as an artificial wellness assistant that analyzes user data and provides personalized advice and information. The AI trainer can advise on exercises, give sleep tips, monitor recovery, and provide nutrition advice as well. As noted by Google, this tool should be more interactive and flexible than conventional fitness applications. It can also modify its recommendations depending on specific circumstances, such as low energy, injuries, and routine changes.

Google Health Subscription Pricing in India

Google Just Killed Whoop With Fitbit Air & New Health Coach Google has announced a major upgrade to its fitness and wellness platform by introducing Fitbit Air and the new Google Health app. With personalized workout suggestions, sleep insights, and nutrition guidance, Google is making its health platform more interactive. The AI coaching features will be available on a paid plan starting at Rs 99 per month. The new “Today” tab works more like an interactive health feed. It highlights sleep summaries, weekly cardio scores, readiness levels, and daily activity updates in a more visual and contextual format. The app can also provide recovery recommendations and suggest workouts or lighter activities based on recent health patterns. Google Health Coach Powered by Gemini This tool serves as an artificial wellness assistant that analyzes user data and provides personalized advice and information. The AI trainer can advise on exercises, give sleep tips, monitor recovery, and provide nutrition advice as well. As noted by Google, this tool should be more interactive and flexible than conventional fitness applications. It can also modify its recommendations depending on specific circumstances, such as low energy, injuries, and routine changes. Google Health Subscription Pricing in India Google plans to continue providing all basic health and fitness tracking features for free via the Google Health application. This includes all standard features, such as recording steps taken, measuring heart rate, and recording sleep information, that users will have access to for free. However, the company has placed its advanced AI-powered features under a premium plan. The Google Health subscription is priced at Rs 99 per month or Rs 999 per year in India. Premium users get access to advanced coaching tools, deeper sleep analysis, personalized workout plans, and proactive health recommendations powered by Gemini AI. Fitbit Air Launches as a Screenless Fitness Tracker Unlike other fitness trackers, the wearable device focuses solely on monitoring the user’s health stats in the background. Google designed the Fitbit Air with a lightweight pebble-like shape that feels slimmer than the Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 3 series. The company created its sleek body to provide users with better comfort during all-day wear. Another important aspect that distinguishes Fitbit Air from other products is its ability to operate continuously for several days, thanks to advanced battery technology. At the same time, Google is aiming to provide fast recharging by implementing it in the wearable as well. Indeed, according to some sources, charging for 5 minutes will provide enough battery for a whole day. Fitbit Air Price and Availability Google has officially launched the Fitbit Air at .99, roughly equivalent to ₹9,400 in India. The wearable is currently available for global pre-orders, while full sales are expected to start later this month, on May 26. As part of the launch offer, customers purchasing the device will get a three-month Google Health Premium trial. The subscription unlocks AI-based wellness coaching, personalized workout plans, and advanced health insights. #Google #Killed #Whoop #Fitbit #Air #Health #CoachGoogle

Google plans to continue providing all basic health and fitness tracking features for free via the Google Health application. This includes all standard features, such as recording steps taken, measuring heart rate, and recording sleep information, that users will have access to for free.

However, the company has placed its advanced AI-powered features under a premium plan. The Google Health subscription is priced at Rs 99 per month or Rs 999 per year in India. Premium users get access to advanced coaching tools, deeper sleep analysis, personalized workout plans, and proactive health recommendations powered by Gemini AI.

Fitbit Air Launches as a Screenless Fitness Tracker

Unlike other fitness trackers, the wearable device focuses solely on monitoring the user’s health stats in the background. Google designed the Fitbit Air with a lightweight pebble-like shape that feels slimmer than the Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 3 series. The company created its sleek body to provide users with better comfort during all-day wear.

Another important aspect that distinguishes Fitbit Air from other products is its ability to operate continuously for several days, thanks to advanced battery technology. At the same time, Google is aiming to provide fast recharging by implementing it in the wearable as well. Indeed, according to some sources, charging for 5 minutes will provide enough battery for a whole day.

Fitbit Air Price and Availability

Google has officially launched the Fitbit Air at $99.99, roughly equivalent to ₹9,400 in India. The wearable is currently available for global pre-orders, while full sales are expected to start later this month, on May 26.

As part of the launch offer, customers purchasing the device will get a three-month Google Health Premium trial. The subscription unlocks AI-based wellness coaching, personalized workout plans, and advanced health insights.

#Google #Killed #Whoop #Fitbit #Air #Health #CoachGoogle">Google Just Killed Whoop With Fitbit Air & New Health Coach

Google has announced a major upgrade to its fitness and wellness platform by introducing Fitbit Air and the new Google Health app. With personalized workout suggestions, sleep insights, and nutrition guidance, Google is making its health platform more interactive. The AI coaching features will be available on a paid plan starting at Rs 99 per month.

The new “Today” tab works more like an interactive health feed. It highlights sleep summaries, weekly cardio scores, readiness levels, and daily activity updates in a more visual and contextual format. The app can also provide recovery recommendations and suggest workouts or lighter activities based on recent health patterns.

Google Health Coach Powered by Gemini

This tool serves as an artificial wellness assistant that analyzes user data and provides personalized advice and information. The AI trainer can advise on exercises, give sleep tips, monitor recovery, and provide nutrition advice as well. As noted by Google, this tool should be more interactive and flexible than conventional fitness applications. It can also modify its recommendations depending on specific circumstances, such as low energy, injuries, and routine changes.

Google Health Subscription Pricing in India

Google Just Killed Whoop With Fitbit Air & New Health Coach Google has announced a major upgrade to its fitness and wellness platform by introducing Fitbit Air and the new Google Health app. With personalized workout suggestions, sleep insights, and nutrition guidance, Google is making its health platform more interactive. The AI coaching features will be available on a paid plan starting at Rs 99 per month. The new “Today” tab works more like an interactive health feed. It highlights sleep summaries, weekly cardio scores, readiness levels, and daily activity updates in a more visual and contextual format. The app can also provide recovery recommendations and suggest workouts or lighter activities based on recent health patterns. Google Health Coach Powered by Gemini This tool serves as an artificial wellness assistant that analyzes user data and provides personalized advice and information. The AI trainer can advise on exercises, give sleep tips, monitor recovery, and provide nutrition advice as well. As noted by Google, this tool should be more interactive and flexible than conventional fitness applications. It can also modify its recommendations depending on specific circumstances, such as low energy, injuries, and routine changes. Google Health Subscription Pricing in India Google plans to continue providing all basic health and fitness tracking features for free via the Google Health application. This includes all standard features, such as recording steps taken, measuring heart rate, and recording sleep information, that users will have access to for free. However, the company has placed its advanced AI-powered features under a premium plan. The Google Health subscription is priced at Rs 99 per month or Rs 999 per year in India. Premium users get access to advanced coaching tools, deeper sleep analysis, personalized workout plans, and proactive health recommendations powered by Gemini AI. Fitbit Air Launches as a Screenless Fitness Tracker Unlike other fitness trackers, the wearable device focuses solely on monitoring the user’s health stats in the background. Google designed the Fitbit Air with a lightweight pebble-like shape that feels slimmer than the Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 3 series. The company created its sleek body to provide users with better comfort during all-day wear. Another important aspect that distinguishes Fitbit Air from other products is its ability to operate continuously for several days, thanks to advanced battery technology. At the same time, Google is aiming to provide fast recharging by implementing it in the wearable as well. Indeed, according to some sources, charging for 5 minutes will provide enough battery for a whole day. Fitbit Air Price and Availability Google has officially launched the Fitbit Air at .99, roughly equivalent to ₹9,400 in India. The wearable is currently available for global pre-orders, while full sales are expected to start later this month, on May 26. As part of the launch offer, customers purchasing the device will get a three-month Google Health Premium trial. The subscription unlocks AI-based wellness coaching, personalized workout plans, and advanced health insights. #Google #Killed #Whoop #Fitbit #Air #Health #CoachGoogle

Google plans to continue providing all basic health and fitness tracking features for free via the Google Health application. This includes all standard features, such as recording steps taken, measuring heart rate, and recording sleep information, that users will have access to for free.

However, the company has placed its advanced AI-powered features under a premium plan. The Google Health subscription is priced at Rs 99 per month or Rs 999 per year in India. Premium users get access to advanced coaching tools, deeper sleep analysis, personalized workout plans, and proactive health recommendations powered by Gemini AI.

Fitbit Air Launches as a Screenless Fitness Tracker

Unlike other fitness trackers, the wearable device focuses solely on monitoring the user’s health stats in the background. Google designed the Fitbit Air with a lightweight pebble-like shape that feels slimmer than the Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 3 series. The company created its sleek body to provide users with better comfort during all-day wear.

Another important aspect that distinguishes Fitbit Air from other products is its ability to operate continuously for several days, thanks to advanced battery technology. At the same time, Google is aiming to provide fast recharging by implementing it in the wearable as well. Indeed, according to some sources, charging for 5 minutes will provide enough battery for a whole day.

Fitbit Air Price and Availability

Google has officially launched the Fitbit Air at $99.99, roughly equivalent to ₹9,400 in India. The wearable is currently available for global pre-orders, while full sales are expected to start later this month, on May 26.

As part of the launch offer, customers purchasing the device will get a three-month Google Health Premium trial. The subscription unlocks AI-based wellness coaching, personalized workout plans, and advanced health insights.

#Google #Killed #Whoop #Fitbit #Air #Health #CoachGoogle

French prosecutors who are investigating Elon Musk and his social media platform X have summoned the billionaire to France to face preliminary charges. The investigation is now officially a criminal probe, according to French officials.

France opened a probe in 2025 to investigate whether X has violated French law, an investigation that has expanded following incidents last year when Musk’s AI chatbot Grok started denying the Holocaust, praising Hitler, and allegedly generating child sexual abuse material when prompted by users.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino have been asked to travel to France to face preliminary charges. As the Journal explains, after preliminary charges have been filed in France, an investigating magistrate starts a process that can take months and doesn’t necessarily mean a trial will be held. It’s entirely possible that the case could ultimately be dropped.

French authorities are looking into the “complicity” of Musk in creating sexual abuse images of minors and sexually explicit deepfakes, according to the Associated Press. Grok also allegedly spread misinformation in French, including a claim that Auschwitz wasn’t a death camp during the Holocaust but was used for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus.”

Musk purchased Twitter in late 2022 and changed the name to X. The billionaire made many changes to the platform, stripping away safeguards that allowed people to know when an account was verified, and inviting back far-right figures who had previously been banned. Musk welcomed users like white supremacist Nick Fuentes and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, among a host of others.

Musk also tinkered with the site in ways that turned it into a hotbed of far-right extremism and pro-Trump propaganda in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Musk donated over $290 million to Republicans in the 2024 cycle and even ran a program that paid some voters in swing states up to $1 million to sign a “petition,” a move that was just very clearly an attempt at paying people to vote for Trump.

Musk, who is currently worth $803 billion, was rewarded with a job overseeing the dismantling of agencies in the federal government under the auspices of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency. Ultimately, about 300,000 government workers lost their jobs, and USAID was unlawfully dissolved. The cuts to global aid are estimated to lead to 23 million deaths by the year 2030, according to an analysis by The Lancet Global Health.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice told French authorities the U.S. wouldn’t assist in any investigation of Musk and X, something that wasn’t a surprise given the billionaire oligarch’s ties to the Trump regime.

“This investigation seeks to use the criminal legal system in France to regulate a public square for the free expression of ideas and opinions in a manner contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the April letter said, according to the Wall Street Journal.

X didn’t immediately respond to questions emailed Thursday about whether Musk planned on traveling to France. Gizmodo will update this article if we hear back.

#French #Prosecutors #Elon #Musk #Linda #Yaccarino #Face #Preliminary #ChargesElon Musk,Grok">French Prosecutors Want Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino to Face Preliminary Charges French prosecutors who are investigating Elon Musk and his social media platform X have summoned the billionaire to France to face preliminary charges. The investigation is now officially a criminal probe, according to French officials. France opened a probe in 2025 to investigate whether X has violated French law, an investigation that has expanded following incidents last year when Musk’s AI chatbot Grok started denying the Holocaust, praising Hitler, and allegedly generating child sexual abuse material when prompted by users. According to the Wall Street Journal, Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino have been asked to travel to France to face preliminary charges. As the Journal explains, after preliminary charges have been filed in France, an investigating magistrate starts a process that can take months and doesn’t necessarily mean a trial will be held. It’s entirely possible that the case could ultimately be dropped. French authorities are looking into the “complicity” of Musk in creating sexual abuse images of minors and sexually explicit deepfakes, according to the Associated Press. Grok also allegedly spread misinformation in French, including a claim that Auschwitz wasn’t a death camp during the Holocaust but was used for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus.” Musk purchased Twitter in late 2022 and changed the name to X. The billionaire made many changes to the platform, stripping away safeguards that allowed people to know when an account was verified, and inviting back far-right figures who had previously been banned. Musk welcomed users like white supremacist Nick Fuentes and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, among a host of others. Musk also tinkered with the site in ways that turned it into a hotbed of far-right extremism and pro-Trump propaganda in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Musk donated over 0 million to Republicans in the 2024 cycle and even ran a program that paid some voters in swing states up to million to sign a “petition,” a move that was just very clearly an attempt at paying people to vote for Trump. Musk, who is currently worth 3 billion, was rewarded with a job overseeing the dismantling of agencies in the federal government under the auspices of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency. Ultimately, about 300,000 government workers lost their jobs, and USAID was unlawfully dissolved. The cuts to global aid are estimated to lead to 23 million deaths by the year 2030, according to an analysis by The Lancet Global Health. Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice told French authorities the U.S. wouldn’t assist in any investigation of Musk and X, something that wasn’t a surprise given the billionaire oligarch’s ties to the Trump regime. “This investigation seeks to use the criminal legal system in France to regulate a public square for the free expression of ideas and opinions in a manner contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the April letter said, according to the Wall Street Journal. X didn’t immediately respond to questions emailed Thursday about whether Musk planned on traveling to France. Gizmodo will update this article if we hear back. #French #Prosecutors #Elon #Musk #Linda #Yaccarino #Face #Preliminary #ChargesElon Musk,Grok

Wall Street Journal, Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino have been asked to travel to France to face preliminary charges. As the Journal explains, after preliminary charges have been filed in France, an investigating magistrate starts a process that can take months and doesn’t necessarily mean a trial will be held. It’s entirely possible that the case could ultimately be dropped.

French authorities are looking into the “complicity” of Musk in creating sexual abuse images of minors and sexually explicit deepfakes, according to the Associated Press. Grok also allegedly spread misinformation in French, including a claim that Auschwitz wasn’t a death camp during the Holocaust but was used for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus.”

Musk purchased Twitter in late 2022 and changed the name to X. The billionaire made many changes to the platform, stripping away safeguards that allowed people to know when an account was verified, and inviting back far-right figures who had previously been banned. Musk welcomed users like white supremacist Nick Fuentes and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, among a host of others.

Musk also tinkered with the site in ways that turned it into a hotbed of far-right extremism and pro-Trump propaganda in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Musk donated over $290 million to Republicans in the 2024 cycle and even ran a program that paid some voters in swing states up to $1 million to sign a “petition,” a move that was just very clearly an attempt at paying people to vote for Trump.

Musk, who is currently worth $803 billion, was rewarded with a job overseeing the dismantling of agencies in the federal government under the auspices of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency. Ultimately, about 300,000 government workers lost their jobs, and USAID was unlawfully dissolved. The cuts to global aid are estimated to lead to 23 million deaths by the year 2030, according to an analysis by The Lancet Global Health.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice told French authorities the U.S. wouldn’t assist in any investigation of Musk and X, something that wasn’t a surprise given the billionaire oligarch’s ties to the Trump regime.

“This investigation seeks to use the criminal legal system in France to regulate a public square for the free expression of ideas and opinions in a manner contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the April letter said, according to the Wall Street Journal.

X didn’t immediately respond to questions emailed Thursday about whether Musk planned on traveling to France. Gizmodo will update this article if we hear back.

#French #Prosecutors #Elon #Musk #Linda #Yaccarino #Face #Preliminary #ChargesElon Musk,Grok">French Prosecutors Want Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino to Face Preliminary ChargesFrench Prosecutors Want Elon Musk and Linda Yaccarino to Face Preliminary Charges French prosecutors who are investigating Elon Musk and his social media platform X have summoned the billionaire to France to face preliminary charges. The investigation is now officially a criminal probe, according to French officials. France opened a probe in 2025 to investigate whether X has violated French law, an investigation that has expanded following incidents last year when Musk’s AI chatbot Grok started denying the Holocaust, praising Hitler, and allegedly generating child sexual abuse material when prompted by users. According to the Wall Street Journal, Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino have been asked to travel to France to face preliminary charges. As the Journal explains, after preliminary charges have been filed in France, an investigating magistrate starts a process that can take months and doesn’t necessarily mean a trial will be held. It’s entirely possible that the case could ultimately be dropped. French authorities are looking into the “complicity” of Musk in creating sexual abuse images of minors and sexually explicit deepfakes, according to the Associated Press. Grok also allegedly spread misinformation in French, including a claim that Auschwitz wasn’t a death camp during the Holocaust but was used for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus.” Musk purchased Twitter in late 2022 and changed the name to X. The billionaire made many changes to the platform, stripping away safeguards that allowed people to know when an account was verified, and inviting back far-right figures who had previously been banned. Musk welcomed users like white supremacist Nick Fuentes and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, among a host of others. Musk also tinkered with the site in ways that turned it into a hotbed of far-right extremism and pro-Trump propaganda in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Musk donated over $290 million to Republicans in the 2024 cycle and even ran a program that paid some voters in swing states up to $1 million to sign a “petition,” a move that was just very clearly an attempt at paying people to vote for Trump. Musk, who is currently worth $803 billion, was rewarded with a job overseeing the dismantling of agencies in the federal government under the auspices of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency. Ultimately, about 300,000 government workers lost their jobs, and USAID was unlawfully dissolved. The cuts to global aid are estimated to lead to 23 million deaths by the year 2030, according to an analysis by The Lancet Global Health. Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice told French authorities the U.S. wouldn’t assist in any investigation of Musk and X, something that wasn’t a surprise given the billionaire oligarch’s ties to the Trump regime. “This investigation seeks to use the criminal legal system in France to regulate a public square for the free expression of ideas and opinions in a manner contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the April letter said, according to the Wall Street Journal. X didn’t immediately respond to questions emailed Thursday about whether Musk planned on traveling to France. Gizmodo will update this article if we hear back. #French #Prosecutors #Elon #Musk #Linda #Yaccarino #Face #Preliminary #ChargesElon Musk,Grok

French prosecutors who are investigating Elon Musk and his social media platform X have summoned the billionaire to France to face preliminary charges. The investigation is now officially a criminal probe, according to French officials.

France opened a probe in 2025 to investigate whether X has violated French law, an investigation that has expanded following incidents last year when Musk’s AI chatbot Grok started denying the Holocaust, praising Hitler, and allegedly generating child sexual abuse material when prompted by users.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino have been asked to travel to France to face preliminary charges. As the Journal explains, after preliminary charges have been filed in France, an investigating magistrate starts a process that can take months and doesn’t necessarily mean a trial will be held. It’s entirely possible that the case could ultimately be dropped.

French authorities are looking into the “complicity” of Musk in creating sexual abuse images of minors and sexually explicit deepfakes, according to the Associated Press. Grok also allegedly spread misinformation in French, including a claim that Auschwitz wasn’t a death camp during the Holocaust but was used for “disinfection with Zyklon B against typhus.”

Musk purchased Twitter in late 2022 and changed the name to X. The billionaire made many changes to the platform, stripping away safeguards that allowed people to know when an account was verified, and inviting back far-right figures who had previously been banned. Musk welcomed users like white supremacist Nick Fuentes and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, among a host of others.

Musk also tinkered with the site in ways that turned it into a hotbed of far-right extremism and pro-Trump propaganda in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. Musk donated over $290 million to Republicans in the 2024 cycle and even ran a program that paid some voters in swing states up to $1 million to sign a “petition,” a move that was just very clearly an attempt at paying people to vote for Trump.

Musk, who is currently worth $803 billion, was rewarded with a job overseeing the dismantling of agencies in the federal government under the auspices of DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency. Ultimately, about 300,000 government workers lost their jobs, and USAID was unlawfully dissolved. The cuts to global aid are estimated to lead to 23 million deaths by the year 2030, according to an analysis by The Lancet Global Health.

Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice told French authorities the U.S. wouldn’t assist in any investigation of Musk and X, something that wasn’t a surprise given the billionaire oligarch’s ties to the Trump regime.

“This investigation seeks to use the criminal legal system in France to regulate a public square for the free expression of ideas and opinions in a manner contrary to the First Amendment of the United States Constitution,” the April letter said, according to the Wall Street Journal.

X didn’t immediately respond to questions emailed Thursday about whether Musk planned on traveling to France. Gizmodo will update this article if we hear back.

#French #Prosecutors #Elon #Musk #Linda #Yaccarino #Face #Preliminary #ChargesElon Musk,Grok

ransomware gangs and data extortion attacks. But never before, perhaps, has a cyberattack against a single software platform so thoroughly disrupted the daily operations of thousands of schools across the United States.

The widely used digital learning platform Canvas was put into “maintenance mode” on Thursday after its maker, the education tech giant Instructure, suffered a data breach and faced an extortion attempt by attackers using the recognizable moniker “ShinyHunters.” Though the hackers have been advertising the breach and attempting to extract a ransom payment from Instructure since May 1, the situation took on additional immediacy for regular people across the US and beyond on Thursday because the Canvas downtime caused chaos at schools, including those in the midst of finals and end-of-year assignments.

Universities like Harvard, Columbia, Rutgers, and Georgetown sent alerts to students about the situation in recent days; other institutions, including school districts in at least a dozen states, also appear to have been affected. In a list published by the hackers behind the attack on their ransom-focused dark web site, they claim the breach affected more than 8,800 schools. The exact scale and reach of the breach is currently unclear, though. And the fact that Canvas was down throughout Thursday afternoon and evening further complicated the picture.

In a running incident update log that began on May 1, Steve Proud, Instructure’s chief information security officer, said that the company had “recently experienced a cybersecurity incident perpetrated by a criminal threat actor.” He added on May 2 that “the information involved” for “users at affected institutions” included names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and messages exchanged by users on the platform.

The situation was ultimately marked as “Resolved” on Wednesday, with Proud writing that “Canvas is fully operational, and we are not seeing any ongoing unauthorized activity.” At midday on Thursday, though, the Instructure status page registered an “issue” where “some users are having difficulties logging into Student ePortfolios.” Within a few hours, the company had added another status update: “Instructure has placed Canvas, Canvas Beta and Canvas Test in maintenance mode.” Late Thursday evening, the company said that Canvas was available again “for most users.”

TechCrunch reported on Thursday that the hackers launched a secondary wave of attacks, defacing some schools’ Canvas portals by injecting an HTML file to display their own message on the schools’ Canvas login pages. According to The Harvard Crimson, attackers modified the Harvard Canvas login page to show a message that included a list of schools that the hackers claim were impacted by the breach.

The message from attackers “urged schools included on the affected list to consult with a cyber advisory firm and contact the group privately to negotiate a settlement before the end of the day on May 12—or else risk their data being leaked,” The Crimson reported. “It is unclear what information tied to Harvard affiliates was included in the alleged breach.”

Instructure did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Thursday’s outages and how they fit into the bigger picture of the breach. But the situation is significant given that a massive trove of student information has potentially been exposed, and the visibility of the incident across the country makes it a key example of a longstanding, yet endlessly escalating problem of data extortion and ransomware attacks.

The ShinyHunters name is associated with massive data dumps and has been linked to the infamous hacker collective known as the Com. But as the constellation of actors has shifted over the years, numerous attackers have taken up the most prominent Com-related monikers. A number of recent attacks have invoked other names, such as Lapsus$, with little or no connection to the original group that operated under the name.

#Canvas #Hack #Kind #Ransomware #Debacleransomware,cybersecurity,malware,hacks,hacking,security,vulnerabilities">The Canvas Hack Is a New Kind of Ransomware DebacleHigher education has long been a target of ransomware gangs and data extortion attacks. But never before, perhaps, has a cyberattack against a single software platform so thoroughly disrupted the daily operations of thousands of schools across the United States.The widely used digital learning platform Canvas was put into “maintenance mode” on Thursday after its maker, the education tech giant Instructure, suffered a data breach and faced an extortion attempt by attackers using the recognizable moniker “ShinyHunters.” Though the hackers have been advertising the breach and attempting to extract a ransom payment from Instructure since May 1, the situation took on additional immediacy for regular people across the US and beyond on Thursday because the Canvas downtime caused chaos at schools, including those in the midst of finals and end-of-year assignments.Universities like Harvard, Columbia, Rutgers, and Georgetown sent alerts to students about the situation in recent days; other institutions, including school districts in at least a dozen states, also appear to have been affected. In a list published by the hackers behind the attack on their ransom-focused dark web site, they claim the breach affected more than 8,800 schools. The exact scale and reach of the breach is currently unclear, though. And the fact that Canvas was down throughout Thursday afternoon and evening further complicated the picture.In a running incident update log that began on May 1, Steve Proud, Instructure’s chief information security officer, said that the company had “recently experienced a cybersecurity incident perpetrated by a criminal threat actor.” He added on May 2 that “the information involved” for “users at affected institutions” included names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and messages exchanged by users on the platform.The situation was ultimately marked as “Resolved” on Wednesday, with Proud writing that “Canvas is fully operational, and we are not seeing any ongoing unauthorized activity.” At midday on Thursday, though, the Instructure status page registered an “issue” where “some users are having difficulties logging into Student ePortfolios.” Within a few hours, the company had added another status update: “Instructure has placed Canvas, Canvas Beta and Canvas Test in maintenance mode.” Late Thursday evening, the company said that Canvas was available again “for most users.”TechCrunch reported on Thursday that the hackers launched a secondary wave of attacks, defacing some schools’ Canvas portals by injecting an HTML file to display their own message on the schools’ Canvas login pages. According to The Harvard Crimson, attackers modified the Harvard Canvas login page to show a message that included a list of schools that the hackers claim were impacted by the breach.The message from attackers “urged schools included on the affected list to consult with a cyber advisory firm and contact the group privately to negotiate a settlement before the end of the day on May 12—or else risk their data being leaked,” The Crimson reported. “It is unclear what information tied to Harvard affiliates was included in the alleged breach.”Instructure did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Thursday’s outages and how they fit into the bigger picture of the breach. But the situation is significant given that a massive trove of student information has potentially been exposed, and the visibility of the incident across the country makes it a key example of a longstanding, yet endlessly escalating problem of data extortion and ransomware attacks.The ShinyHunters name is associated with massive data dumps and has been linked to the infamous hacker collective known as the Com. But as the constellation of actors has shifted over the years, numerous attackers have taken up the most prominent Com-related monikers. A number of recent attacks have invoked other names, such as Lapsus$, with little or no connection to the original group that operated under the name.#Canvas #Hack #Kind #Ransomware #Debacleransomware,cybersecurity,malware,hacks,hacking,security,vulnerabilities

gangs and data extortion attacks. But never before, perhaps, has a cyberattack against a single software platform so thoroughly disrupted the daily operations of thousands of schools across the United States.

The widely used digital learning platform Canvas was put into “maintenance mode” on Thursday after its maker, the education tech giant Instructure, suffered a data breach and faced an extortion attempt by attackers using the recognizable moniker “ShinyHunters.” Though the hackers have been advertising the breach and attempting to extract a ransom payment from Instructure since May 1, the situation took on additional immediacy for regular people across the US and beyond on Thursday because the Canvas downtime caused chaos at schools, including those in the midst of finals and end-of-year assignments.

Universities like Harvard, Columbia, Rutgers, and Georgetown sent alerts to students about the situation in recent days; other institutions, including school districts in at least a dozen states, also appear to have been affected. In a list published by the hackers behind the attack on their ransom-focused dark web site, they claim the breach affected more than 8,800 schools. The exact scale and reach of the breach is currently unclear, though. And the fact that Canvas was down throughout Thursday afternoon and evening further complicated the picture.

In a running incident update log that began on May 1, Steve Proud, Instructure’s chief information security officer, said that the company had “recently experienced a cybersecurity incident perpetrated by a criminal threat actor.” He added on May 2 that “the information involved” for “users at affected institutions” included names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and messages exchanged by users on the platform.

The situation was ultimately marked as “Resolved” on Wednesday, with Proud writing that “Canvas is fully operational, and we are not seeing any ongoing unauthorized activity.” At midday on Thursday, though, the Instructure status page registered an “issue” where “some users are having difficulties logging into Student ePortfolios.” Within a few hours, the company had added another status update: “Instructure has placed Canvas, Canvas Beta and Canvas Test in maintenance mode.” Late Thursday evening, the company said that Canvas was available again “for most users.”

TechCrunch reported on Thursday that the hackers launched a secondary wave of attacks, defacing some schools’ Canvas portals by injecting an HTML file to display their own message on the schools’ Canvas login pages. According to The Harvard Crimson, attackers modified the Harvard Canvas login page to show a message that included a list of schools that the hackers claim were impacted by the breach.

The message from attackers “urged schools included on the affected list to consult with a cyber advisory firm and contact the group privately to negotiate a settlement before the end of the day on May 12—or else risk their data being leaked,” The Crimson reported. “It is unclear what information tied to Harvard affiliates was included in the alleged breach.”

Instructure did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Thursday’s outages and how they fit into the bigger picture of the breach. But the situation is significant given that a massive trove of student information has potentially been exposed, and the visibility of the incident across the country makes it a key example of a longstanding, yet endlessly escalating problem of data extortion and ransomware attacks.

The ShinyHunters name is associated with massive data dumps and has been linked to the infamous hacker collective known as the Com. But as the constellation of actors has shifted over the years, numerous attackers have taken up the most prominent Com-related monikers. A number of recent attacks have invoked other names, such as Lapsus$, with little or no connection to the original group that operated under the name.

#Canvas #Hack #Kind #Ransomware #Debacleransomware,cybersecurity,malware,hacks,hacking,security,vulnerabilities">The Canvas Hack Is a New Kind of Ransomware Debacle

Higher education has long been a target of ransomware gangs and data extortion attacks. But never before, perhaps, has a cyberattack against a single software platform so thoroughly disrupted the daily operations of thousands of schools across the United States.

The widely used digital learning platform Canvas was put into “maintenance mode” on Thursday after its maker, the education tech giant Instructure, suffered a data breach and faced an extortion attempt by attackers using the recognizable moniker “ShinyHunters.” Though the hackers have been advertising the breach and attempting to extract a ransom payment from Instructure since May 1, the situation took on additional immediacy for regular people across the US and beyond on Thursday because the Canvas downtime caused chaos at schools, including those in the midst of finals and end-of-year assignments.

Universities like Harvard, Columbia, Rutgers, and Georgetown sent alerts to students about the situation in recent days; other institutions, including school districts in at least a dozen states, also appear to have been affected. In a list published by the hackers behind the attack on their ransom-focused dark web site, they claim the breach affected more than 8,800 schools. The exact scale and reach of the breach is currently unclear, though. And the fact that Canvas was down throughout Thursday afternoon and evening further complicated the picture.

In a running incident update log that began on May 1, Steve Proud, Instructure’s chief information security officer, said that the company had “recently experienced a cybersecurity incident perpetrated by a criminal threat actor.” He added on May 2 that “the information involved” for “users at affected institutions” included names, email addresses, student ID numbers, and messages exchanged by users on the platform.

The situation was ultimately marked as “Resolved” on Wednesday, with Proud writing that “Canvas is fully operational, and we are not seeing any ongoing unauthorized activity.” At midday on Thursday, though, the Instructure status page registered an “issue” where “some users are having difficulties logging into Student ePortfolios.” Within a few hours, the company had added another status update: “Instructure has placed Canvas, Canvas Beta and Canvas Test in maintenance mode.” Late Thursday evening, the company said that Canvas was available again “for most users.”

TechCrunch reported on Thursday that the hackers launched a secondary wave of attacks, defacing some schools’ Canvas portals by injecting an HTML file to display their own message on the schools’ Canvas login pages. According to The Harvard Crimson, attackers modified the Harvard Canvas login page to show a message that included a list of schools that the hackers claim were impacted by the breach.

The message from attackers “urged schools included on the affected list to consult with a cyber advisory firm and contact the group privately to negotiate a settlement before the end of the day on May 12—or else risk their data being leaked,” The Crimson reported. “It is unclear what information tied to Harvard affiliates was included in the alleged breach.”

Instructure did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Thursday’s outages and how they fit into the bigger picture of the breach. But the situation is significant given that a massive trove of student information has potentially been exposed, and the visibility of the incident across the country makes it a key example of a longstanding, yet endlessly escalating problem of data extortion and ransomware attacks.

The ShinyHunters name is associated with massive data dumps and has been linked to the infamous hacker collective known as the Com. But as the constellation of actors has shifted over the years, numerous attackers have taken up the most prominent Com-related monikers. A number of recent attacks have invoked other names, such as Lapsus$, with little or no connection to the original group that operated under the name.

#Canvas #Hack #Kind #Ransomware #Debacleransomware,cybersecurity,malware,hacks,hacking,security,vulnerabilities

Post Comment