NEW DELHI: Sensitive documents detailing suppliers, component specifications, and images of Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 18 Pro models surfaced on the dark web, subsequent to a ransomware incursion at Tata Electronics, as indicated by materials assessed by Reuters alongside an informed insider.
The compromised files reveal connections between distinct iPhone 18 Pro components and their respective suppliers, encompassing essential elements such as main circuit board chips, battery constituents, and camera mechanisms.
A source cited that Apple regards this data as highly confidential, given its association with unreleased products and the identification of suppliers for specific parts, information that the company typically does not divulge. Neither Apple nor Tata Electronics responded to requests for comment from Reuters.
Exposed Supply Chain Data
Reuters noted that at least six of the leaked documents correlate numerous components of the iPhone 18 Pro with their supplying entities. These records encompass hundreds of parts anticipated for inclusion in the forthcoming devices.
Additional insights were gleaned from the files, showcasing Apple’s procurement strategies—highlighting which components are sourced from multiple suppliers versus those reliant on a limited number. This revelation offers a glimpse into Apple’s intricate supply chain dynamics.
While Reuters has not independently authenticated the authenticity of the disclosed files, the ransomware collective, World Leaks, which claimed responsibility for the breach, has yet to respond to inquiries.
This data breach followed a prior report from Reuters, revealing that over 200,000 files pilfered from Tata Electronics had been made publicly accessible, featuring documents pertinent to older iPhone components, parts for Tesla vehicles, and information from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and Qualcomm.
Images of Testing Apparatus
Among the leaked information are images timestamped early 2026, depicting iPhones undergoing drop testing at a Tata establishment. The visuals showcase a grey device exhibiting three rear-facing cameras alongside the iconic Apple logo.
Although Reuters has not corroborated the model depicted in the images, an informed source asserted that they pertain to iPhone 18 Pro units. Several files bore Apple’s “confidential” watermark along with internal designations associated with the iPhone 18 Pro series.
In preceding reports, it was highlighted that Apple is actively probing the breach in collaboration with Tata Electronics. Tata has since curtailed access to certain internal systems and engaged an external consultant to conduct a forensic examination.
This incident unfolds as Tata amplifies its involvement in Apple’s manufacturing framework in India, where it both supplies components and assembles iPhones.
According to research entity Counterpoint, India’s production share of global iPhones is projected to reach 26% by 2026, a significant increase from 6% just four years prior.
Source link: Humenglish.com.
