UK’s National Cyber Security Centre Warns of Significant Cyber Threats Including from China

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued a warning about China posing a highly sophisticated and capable cyber threat targeting various sectors globally, including the UK. The latest NCSC report shows a 50% increase in significant cyberattacks over the past year, affecting government, essential services, and major businesses like Jaguar Land Rover, M&S, Co-op, and Harrods. Such attacks have caused severe operational disruptions and financial losses, including a £206 million loss for Co-op. The report also highlights ongoing threats from Russia, Iran, and North Korea, noting that both state-backed and criminal actors increasingly use cyberattacks supported by artificial intelligence. The NCSC urges all businesses to prepare and build resilience against these growing cyber threats, emphasizing the necessity to have contingency plans in place. This warning follows political pressure after a collapse of a UK espionage trial related to China due to a lack of government evidence labeling China a national security threat at the time of the alleged offenses from 2021 to 2023. The report covers threats assessed up to August 2025, underscoring the persistent and rising cyber threat environment faced by the UK.