Govt probes Tata Electronics data breach linked to Apple's iPhone 18 Pro

The government has launched an investigation into the recent cyberattack on Tata Electronics that allegedly exposed confidential documents related to Apple's yet-to-be-launched iPhone 18 Pro, Reuters reported.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Electronics and Information Technology Secretary S Krishnan said the matter is under investigation and has been reported to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), the country's nodal agency for handling cybersecurity incidents.

"We are investigating," Krishnan said, adding that CERT-In has been informed about the breach, according to Reuters.

The cyberattack has raised concerns over the security of Apple's global manufacturing supply chain. Tata Electronics is one of Apple's key manufacturing partners in India and plays an important role in the production of iPhones.

According to earlier reports, a ransomware group uploaded sensitive data stolen from Tata Electronics onto the dark web. The leaked material reportedly includes photographs of Apple's unreleased iPhone 18 Pro models, along with confidential documents detailing component lists and supplier information.

Reports say that the leaked files identify several companies manufacturing specific parts for the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple does not publicly disclose such product-specific supplier information in its supplier database, making the breach particularly significant.

Apple is widely expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September.

The breach is also said to have exposed documents linked to other major technology companies, including Tesla, Qualcomm and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). 

Tata Electronics has appointed an international consulting firm to carry out a forensic investigation into the incident.

The incident comes as India continues to strengthen its position as a major electronics manufacturing hub, with Apple expanding iPhone production in the country through partners such as Tata Electronics and Foxconn. The breach is likely to intensify scrutiny of cybersecurity practices across the electronics manufacturing ecosystem.

Tata Electronics has rapidly emerged as one of Apple's largest manufacturing partners in India after acquiring the Indian operations of Wistron in 2023 and taking over the India business of Pegatron in 2024. The company now assembles iPhones and manufactures key components for Apple as part of the tech giant's strategy to diversify its global supply chain beyond China.