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Time for technology upgrade in state’s computer system

The state of Michigan’s unemployment computer system, embattled recently for pointing the finger of guilt — erroneously, as it turned out — at some 20,000 residents, accusing them of unemployment fraud, has apparently been hacked.

State officials last week confirmed that personal information, including Social Security numbers and, perhaps, other data, may have been compromised for more than 3 months last year. While there clearly was a breach in security, less clear is exactly what was lost. State investigators are trying to determine who had access to what and when.

It’s estimated as many as 1.87 million workers from Michigan may have been involved. Put another way, that’s just under half of the state’s 4.4 million workers on payroll.

As computers and computer systems go, the Michigan Data Automated System isn’t new. It was installed and placed on line in 2012 as part of a broad state technology upgrade. It may be time to get the checkbook out again.

We dislike recommending that the state dig into its pocket any more than it absolutely has to. Michigan continues to struggle through the post-Great Recession recovery and unemployment remains high.

Those things said, safeguarding the personal information of people in the state system — for unemployment benefits and otherwise — is an absolute must. We hope decision makers in Lansing take positive forward steps once the investigation into the hack is complete.

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