Alleged iPhone 18 Pro files surface after supplier breach
Reuters reported that images and parts lists tied to Apple’s next Pro iPhone appeared on the dark web after a breach at Tata Electronics.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
2 min read
Images and parts information said to relate to Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro have appeared on the dark web after a cyberattack on a major Apple supplier, according to Reuters. The report matters because the material may expose details about an unreleased Apple device and its supply chain.
Reuters reported that the files followed a breach at Tata Electronics, an India-based manufacturer that makes iPhone components and assembles devices. TechCrunch reported last week that Tata Electronics confirmed it had suffered a data breach.
The images viewed by Reuters showed a drop test involving a device that one of the news agency’s sources identified as the iPhone 18 Pro. Reuters said the device shown in the images had an Apple logo and a three-camera arrangement.
Files reportedly included parts and supplier details
Reuters reported that at least six files described hundreds of components used in the device and listed suppliers connected to those parts. That kind of information can be sensitive for Apple, which tightly controls details about unreleased hardware and supplier relationships.
Security researchers previously told Reuters that the ransomware group World Leaks had published more than 200,000 files tied to the Tata Electronics breach on the dark web. Reuters reported that the exposed material included documents linked to some Tata clients, including Apple and Tesla.
AppleInsider reported last week that leaked documents appeared to include board layouts for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. AppleInsider also said the material seemed to contain data sheets for the rumored A20 Pro chip.
Apple reported to be concerned
Reuters reported that Apple is concerned about the documents being shared on the dark web. The Verge reported that it asked Apple for comment and did not receive an immediate response.
Tata Electronics has become an important part of Apple’s manufacturing network, according to reports cited by Reuters and TechCrunch. The company’s confirmed breach now raises questions about how much unreleased product information may have been exposed and how far the files have spread.
Reuters did not report a public statement from Apple confirming the authenticity of the alleged iPhone 18 Pro images or documents. The reported files remain tied to claims from Reuters, security researchers and AppleInsider about what was found in the breach material.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.