India Probes Data Breach at Tata Electronics That Leaked Apple iPhone 18 Pro Secrets

The Indian government has launched an investigation into a data breach at Tata Electronics, a supplier for Apple, after confidential documents related to the unreleased iPhone 18 Pro were leaked online, senior officials said on Thursday.

It is the first public confirmation by the government about the incident, which was reported earlier by Reuters. The breach involved a ransomware group that stole data from Tata Electronics, including sensitive lists of components and suppliers, as well as photographs of iPhone 18 Pro models.

“We are investigating,” said S. Krishnan, Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. He added that the matter has been reported to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), the country’s nodal agency for dealing with computer security incidents.

The breach highlights growing cybersecurity challenges for India’s expanding electronics manufacturing sector, which has attracted global tech companies with its production-linked incentive schemes. Tata Electronics, a unit of the Tata Group, is a key supplier for Apple in India.

Officials have not disclosed the identity of the ransomware group or the extent of the data compromised. CERT-In is expected to issue a detailed advisory once its assessment is complete. Apple has not commented on the breach, and Tata Electronics has not released a public statement.

The incident underscores the need for robust cybersecurity frameworks in the supply chains of multinational corporations operating in India. The government is expected to review compliance with data protection norms under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, which mandates safeguards against such breaches.