"it took almost a year after the election to notify states that their elections systems were targeted"

Making stuff up is usually something that happens afterward,  alerting beforehand indicates 'a plan'  - which is something the Russians should have had -  for America was going to elect a 'loser' - either way. 

Just what is 'preliminary activity' or 'a scan of election systems' ?  A Google search? I call 'bolshoi' on this crap.  

Why is the Globe buying into it - need filler?