Parents using Seesaw’s messaging function to communicate with teachers got an unpleasant and X-rated surprise Wednesday. Accounts on the widely used learning management system’s messaging app were hacked, and families and teachers around the country received a link to an “inappropriate image,” the company announced.
It was brought to our attention that a link to an inappropriate image was being shared via the Seesaw Messages feature. It appears that specific accounts were compromised by an outside actor.
We will be sharing regular updates at https://t.co/LsfSoJorcM. pic.twitter.com/Akzx4whAuR
— Seesaw (@Seesaw) September 14, 2022
Seesaw disabled its messaging tool as it began investigating the cyberattack early Wednesday morning. By midday, it had removed the message, reset passwords for all affected accounts and relaunched the message feature. The company also told users to refresh their browsers and apps to delete any cached versions of the image, which, according to NBC News, was “an infamous meme photo of a man engaged in an explicit act.”
Before service was restored, the Schodack Central School District in New York was among many systems that warned families not to open any Seesaw messages from teachers or other users. Keeneyville Elementary School District 20 urged families on Facebook not to open any Bit.ly shortened links sent in a Seesaw message.
Districts in Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin were also among those hit by the cyberattack, according to media reports.
More from DA: School administrators attribute rape threats to students dressing inappropriately
