Ransomware Attack on Tata Electronics: iPhone 18 Pro Data Published on the Dark Web

As Reuters further reports, the leaked material „enthält" „Daten zum iPhone 18 Pro." At least six of the more than 200,000 published documents showed details about the new model. „Mindestens sechs der über 200.000 Dokumente von Tata Electronics, die im Dark Web als Teil eines Ransomware-Angriffs gelandet sind, zeigten Details zu dem neuen Modell," Reuters cites.

According to Reuters, the documents contain specifications for the logic board, the battery, and the installed cameras. „Laut Reuters enthalten die Dokumente auch Angaben zum Akku und den verbauten Kameras." Many of the files were reportedly marked with a „confidential" watermark.

Among the leaked images are also photos from quality control showing drop tests with the devices. Photos of a prototype have been circulating on Reddit — „ein silbernes oder weißes Modell, das vom Look her dem iPhone 17 Pro ähnelt."

Background on the attack

The attackers are attributed to the group „World Leaks." „Der Dark-Web-Leak soll von der Gruppe World Leaks stammen," Reuters writes. The same group previously attacked Nike, among others. The criminals „boten sie im Darkweb zum Verkauf an."

Apple expressed concern about the incident. „Apple sei ‚beunruhigt‘ über den Leak," people familiar with the matter report. Neither Apple nor Tata were willing to provide a statement to Reuters.

At Tata Electronics, a forensic audit is currently underway. „Es läuft ein forensischer Audit, Teile der internen Systeme wurden gesperrt," it says. The company is investigating the incident and is working on a long-term security strategy, according to its own statements. „Tata soll den Vorfall nun untersuchen und an einer Langzeitsicherheitsstrategie arbeiten," Reuters reports.

Impact on Apple and the supply chain

In addition to iPhone data, the stolen documents also contain information on other Apple products, on Tesla components, and on Apple's chip suppliers TSMC (A-chips) and Qualcomm (5G modems). „Informationen zu Apples Chiplieferanten TSMC (A-Chips) und Qualcomm (5G-Modems) sind ebenfalls enthalten," the agency writes. Also affected are „Daten von älteren iPhones sowie Tesla-Dokumente."

According to its own statements, Tata Electronics operates seven factories in India and produces both components and complete iPhones there, which are primarily exported to the United States. „Tata Electronics baut sowohl Komponenten für das iPhone als auch das iPhone selbst, die Modelle gehen derzeit vor allem in die USA." This makes the company „mit seinen 7 Fabriken in Indien zu den größten Apple-Zulieferern außerhalb Chinas."

The incident weighs even more heavily given that India is playing an increasingly important role in Apple's production. „25 Prozent und mehr aller Apple-Smartphones kommen mittlerweile aus Indien," Reuters reports. In the current year, it is reportedly as much as 26 percent of all iPhones. „Insgesamt 26 Prozent aller iPhones sollen im laufenden Jahr in Indien hergestellt werden."

The leaked supply chain details „nennen unter anderem Teile von Apples Lieferkette, die als geheim gelten" and could „dem Konzern Probleme bei neuen Verhandlungen verschaffen." The parent company Tata is considered the largest conglomerate on the Indian subcontinent. „Die Mutter Tata gilt als größter Konzern des Subkontinents," Reuters writes.

According to its own statements, Reuters reviewed some of the more than 200,000 leaked documents and evaluated the information. „Laut Reuters, das einige der mehr als 200.000 geleakten Dokumente eingesehen hat," the agency states.