The company that operates online learning system Canvas said it struck a deal with hackers to delete the data they pilfered in a cyberattack that created chaos for students, many of them in the middle of finals.

Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, said in an online post that it "reached an agreement with the unauthorised actor involved in this incident".

The company didn't provide any details on the agreement, including whether it involved a payment, and didn't elaborate on who was behind the hack. Instructure temporarily took the system offline while it investigated, locking out students and faculty.