Two-thirds of police internet-connected CCTV cameras in Washington DC were forced offline in January ahead of the presidential inauguration after a ransomware attack Attack.Ransom . Officials told the Washington Post that 123 out of a network of 187 cameras were affected . The devices are apparently used run by the police to monitor public spaces . The attack targeted 70 % of the storage systems on which camera data is recorded , leaving them out of action from 12 to 15 January , the report claimed . However , the issue was resolved by removing each device ’ s software and reinstalling at each site . There are said to have been at least two forms of ransomware on the system , although local officials have played down the seriousness of the attack . The ransomware was isolated to the CCTV network and didn ’ t affect police investigations or put public safety in jeopardy , according to the report . In related news , police in Texas have lost nearly eight years ’ worth of digital evidence after refusing to pay a ransomware fine Attack.Ransom . The Cockerell Hill Police Department in south Dallas decided after speaking to the FBI not to pay Attack.Ransom the near $ 4000 ransom Attack.Ransom after discovering the malware in mid-December . The ransomware was introduced to the network via a spam email spoofed to imitate Attack.Phishing a department-issued address . A statement published by WFAA last week has the following : “ This virus affected all Microsoft Office Suite documents , such as Word documents and Excel files . In addition , all body camera video , some in-car video , some in-house surveillance video , and some photographs that were stored on the server were corrupted Attack.Databreach and were lost . No information contained in any of those documents , videos , or photographs was extracted or transmitted outside of the Police Department ” . The files affected date all the way back to 2009 , although the police tried to play down the impact on investigations , claiming that hard copies of all documents and “ the vast majority ” of videos and photographs are still kept on CD/DVD . “ It is unknown at this time how many total digital copies of documents were lost , as it is also unknown how many videos or photographs that could have assisted newer cases will not be available , although the number of affected prosecutions should remain relatively small , ” it noted