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Apple's closely guarded plans for the iPhone 18 Pro have been exposed after a cyberattack on Tata Electronics, one of its biggest manufacturing partners in India. According to allegations, the ransomware group World Leaks has released over 200,000 private files containing images, supplier documents, technical information, and test results about the phone before its scheduled launch. Such a data breach has raised serious questions about Apple's manufacturing security in India.
As per the reports, the leaked data includes more than 630 GB of classified documents that include internal images, component lists, supplier details, and other documents that belong to iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Some documents have been marked by Apple as classified and include some internal code names of these future iPhones.
The ransomware group has taken responsibility for leaking these files on their dark web portal. However, Apple has not confirmed every leaked document; this incident is considered one of the most severe attacks on Apple’s supply chain.
The leaked engineering documents also reportedly reveal motherboard layouts, battery components, camera modules, and details about Apple's next-generation A20 Pro chip. Several videos briefly appeared on social media before they were removed, although screenshots continue to circulate online.
According to industry experts, the leak of Apple’s supplier map is much more important than the leak itself. Reportedly, the documents disclose the names of manufacturers of hundreds of parts, indicating where Apple uses many suppliers and where its supply chain has few alternatives.
This data can provide competitors, counterfeiters, and cybercriminals with valuable insight into Apple's manufacturing strategy and that of its suppliers. According to some sources, Tata Electronics had limited access to those computer systems, whose confidentiality was compromised. Apple, in turn, works with the supplier to assess the impact of the leak and strengthen its cybersecurity practices in the future.
Also read: CERT-In Warns Apple Users of Cyber Flaws: iPhones, iPads, Macs Face Critical Security Threat
