UK cyber chief warns of major attacks by Russia, Iran, China

UK National Cyber Security Centre CEO Richard Horne is set to announce at CYBERUK 2026 that China now represents a 'peer competitor in cyberspace' rather than merely a capable threat. According to his prepared remarks, state-sponsored Chinese attacks display 'eye-watering sophistication,' and the NCSC handled an average of four nationally significant cyberattacks weekly over the past year, with state threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea leading concerns. Horne will warn that nation-state actors seek infrastructure and leverage, not ransoms—damage that cannot be reversed with payment. He calls for organizations to end reliance on lowest-bid contractors for cyber defense and embed security as a strategic investment, not a cost center.