Uk · The Register
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State-sponsored cyberattacks from Chinese intelligence and military agencies display "an eye-watering level of sophistication," UK National Cyber Security Centre CEO Richard Horne is expected to say in a less-than-cheery opening speech to kick off its annual conference.
Key facts
- State-sponsored cyberattacks from Chinese intelligence and military agencies display "an eye-watering level of sophistication," UK National Cyber Security Centre CEO Richard Horne is expected to say
- The NCSC has in previous years labelled the threat posed by China in cyberspace as " epoch-defining," although Horne re-jiggered this description in his opening plenary at CYBERUK 2026
- In October, the UK cyber agency warned that it had handled an average of four nationally significant cyberattacks a week over the previous year, with state-linked threats from China, Russia, Iran
- The NCSC, alongside its partners like the National Protective Security Authority, says Russia is continuing to launch hybrid attacks against Britain and EU countries it considers hostile, all
Summary
The NCSC has in previous years labelled the threat posed by China in cyberspace as " epoch-defining," although Horne re-jiggered this description in his opening plenary at CYBERUK 2026. According to a transcript of his speech shared with The Register ahead of time, Horne will tell delegates attending the Glasgow conference on Wednesday that China is no longer a capable cyber threat, but thanks to its whole-of-state approach, it now represents "a peer competitor in cyberspace. In October, the UK cyber agency warned that it had handled an average of four nationally significant cyberattacks a week over the previous year, with state-linked threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea remaining among its chief concerns.