Hacking in Wisconsin spiked near 2016 elections

MADISON - Alerts of hackers targeting state government systems in Wisconsin spiked near the April and November presidential elections last year, according to records obtained by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

Cybersecurity experts called the timing of the spikes suspicious, in light of hackers targeting election systems in other states last year. But state officials said election systems weren't specifically targeted or compromised.

Gov. Scott Walker’s administration, which handles security for state technology, said there is no evidence of hackers being successful and downplayed the spikes in alerts.

“It is not a surprise to you that the threats are always present and from multiple sources. While the numbers vary from day to day, what we experience is typical for an organization with the number of (networks and devices) that we manage and protect,” said Steve Michels, a spokesman for Walker's Department of Administration.

The integrity of Wisconsin's elections systems became a focal point of global scrutiny after GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump won Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin by slim margins in November. Just 78,000 voters in the states proved key to Trump's victory.

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http://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/investigations/2017/03/28/hacking-wisconsin-spiked-near-2016-elections/99537426/