Hackney Council has been targeted in a cyber-attack within the past 48 hours, prompting it to raise its cybersecurity threat level to 'critical'. The attack follows a 2020 breach where criminals encrypted 440,000 files, affecting 280,000+ residents and staff. Current reports indicate potential disruption to systems and services, with urgent internal memos warning staff about phishing risks and emphasizing the need to protect residents' data. The council has activated emergency response protocols, including business continuity measures, while collaborating with cyber specialists to restore services and mitigate damage. Previous failures in security (as reprimanded by the Information Commissioner’s Office) suggest vulnerabilities may persist. The attack aligns with a broader wave targeting multiple London councils, raising concerns over data integrity, service outages, and resident trust. While the full scope remains under investigation, the incident echoes past breaches with high-risk implications for municipal operations and personal data exposure.