Cyberattack on Apple Supplier Tata Electronics Exposes 200,000 Confidential Files

A cyberattack on Tata Electronics, a key Apple supplier in India, has resulted in a massive leak of over 200,000 internal files totaling approximately 630 gigabytes, according to Reuters. The leaked documents reportedly include Apple manufacturing details, quality control standards for iPhone motherboard components, internal communications, system logs, engineering documents, and personal employee data such as passport copies.

Tata Electronics responded by restricting internal access to sensitive systems, hiring an international consulting firm for forensic analysis, and notifying Indian authorities and affected clients, though it has not disclosed the names of those clients. Apple’s security team is also involved in the investigation, working closely with Tata to implement immediate and long-term measures to mitigate damage.

The leak extends beyond Apple, with files attributed to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which produces Apple’s chips, and Qualcomm, whose components are integrated into iPhones. Among the leaked documents is a 2022 file marked "TSMC Secret" detailing component reliability tests, a mapping document linking Apple’s internal part numbers to TSMC’s, and a Qualcomm document containing mechanical information and schematics for a power management component labeled as sensitive commercial data.

It remains unclear whether the leaked information has been exploited beyond the initial breach. The ongoing investigation by Tata and Apple aims to assess the breach’s scope, identify the intrusion source, and prevent further supply chain disruptions.