Report: Romanian hackers arrested for downing DC cameras before Trump inauguration

Two Romanian hackers stand accused of hacking more than 100 outdoor police security cameras in the D.C. area during the days leading up to President Trump’s inauguration, according to a court document obtained by CNN.

According to an affidavit from Secret Service agent James Graham, Mihai Alexandru Isvanca and Eveline Cismaru are accused of hacking and disabling 123 out of 187 of the city’s cameras between Jan. 12 and Jan. 15. Trump’s inauguration took place on Jan. 20. 

The court case is listed as under seal on the D.C. federal court database, and cannot be independently confirmed by The Hill. {mosads}

The Secret Service and Washington, D.C., police alerted the public of the camera hack in late January, although the perpetrators were not revealed until CNN obtained the court documents. 

The affidavit is dated Dec. 11. 

Isvanca and Cismaru are also accused in the affidavit of spreading ransomware.

While authorities recently announced the arrest of five people in Romania for spreading ransomware, it is unclear if these arrests are connected.

The affidavit mentions Isvanca and Cismaru using Cerber and Dharma varietals of ransomware, while the five in the arrest were announced as using Cerber and CTB Locker, primarily using the latter.