A ransomware group has posted more than 200,000 confidential files from Apple's Indian manufacturing partner Tata Electronics on the dark web, exposing detailed supplier lists, component designs, and purported photos of the unreleased iPhone 18 Pro.
The breach, attributed to a group calling itself World Leaks, represents one of the most significant supply-chain security incidents in Apple's history. The leaked data includes at least six files mapping iPhone 18 Pro components — including the main circuit board, battery system, and camera modules — to their specific suppliers.
'Apple treats this supplier information as highly sensitive, especially for unreleased products,' a source told Reuters.
Among the leaked materials are photographs taken at a Tata facility in early 2026, showing a grey handset with a triple rear camera setup and the distinctive Apple logo undergoing drop testing. Some files bear Apple's 'confidential' markings and include internal code names.
Documents linked to TSMC and Qualcomm were also part of the 630-gigabyte data dump. World Leaks previously claimed responsibility for a breach involving Nike.
The timing is sensitive: Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max in September 2026. The company recently raised iPad and MacBook prices due to rising memory costs.
India is now expected to produce 26% of global iPhone output in 2026, up from just 6% four years ago, according to Counterpoint Research.
Apple said it is investigating the breach and working with Tata on enhanced security measures. Tata has restricted access to internal systems and hired a global consultancy for a forensic audit.
