New Zealand Identifies China as Top State-Backed Cyber Threat

• •China is identified as New Zealand's most persistent state-backed cyber threat.
• •86 of 369 cyber incidents in the past year linked to state actors.
• •Geopolitical competition is increasingly reflected in cyber activities in the South Pacific.

New Zealand's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has identified China as the most persistent state-backed cyber threat to the country. The agency's annual Cyber Threat Report revealed that 86 out of 369 significant cyber incidents from the past year had suspected links to state actors, particularly targeting government, health, education, and IT sectors. The report indicates that geopolitical tensions are increasingly manifesting in cyber activities in the South Pacific. New Zealand's security agency previously noted that China was the only nation detected conducting espionage at scale. The report emphasizes the challenges of detecting long-term cyber espionage efforts, which can compromise sensitive data and operational technology. The NCSC warns that such activities may impact citizens, businesses, and public services across New Zealand.