McGraw Hill Data Breach - 13.5 Million Accounts Exposed

🟠 High 📅 April 16, 2026 ⚡ Data leaked

Executive Summary

Edtech giant McGraw Hill has suffered a massive data breach affecting 13.5 million user accounts. The ShinyHunters extortion group leaked stolen data after breaching the company’s Salesforce environment earlier this month.

Attack Details

Timeline

  • Initial Breach: Early April 2026
  • Discovery: April 16, 2026
  • Data Leak: Ongoing

Attack Vector

  • Entry Point: Salesforce environment compromise
  • Method: Likely credential theft or API exploitation
  • Data Exfiltration: Gradual over several days

Compromised Data

  • Usernames and email addresses
  • Encrypted passwords (algorithm unknown)
  • Personal information (names, locations)
  • Educational records and course data
  • Institutional affiliations

Impact Assessment

Affected Population

  • Students: Estimated 8-9 million
  • Educators: Estimated 2-3 million
  • Institutions: K-12 and higher education
  • Geographic Scope: Primarily United States

Risk Level

  • Identity Theft: High (personal info + education records)
  • Credential Stuffing: High (if passwords cracked)
  • Phishing: Critical ( attackers have institutional relationships)
  • Academic Fraud: Medium (transcript/grade manipulation potential)

Attribution

Actor: ShinyHunters Extortion Group

  • Known for targeting educational institutions
  • Previous victims include universities and edtech companies
  • Modus operandi: Breach → Extort → Leak if unpaid

References

  • BleepingComputer Report
  • McGraw Hill Official Statement
  • HaveIBeenPwned Database Entry

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