A ransomware group claims it cracked open Tata Electronics’ systems, leaking trade secrets that allegedly belong to two of the world’s biggest brands: Apple and Tesla.
Tata Electronics confirmed Monday that it caught a cybersecurity incident on some of its systems a few weeks back. The company says its operations are running fine and nothing was disrupted. But a hacker group called World Leaks tells a different story, claiming it dumped over 200,000 files, more than 630 gigabytes worth, onto the dark web.
What’s in the leak
Security researchers who combed through the data found files referencing Apple’s “factorydata” and material specs, plus a 52-page document on iPhone circuit board inspection standards. Tesla wasn’t spared either, one folder reportedly covers a chargeport controller tied to an upgraded Model Y, while another marked “trade secret” allegedly shows drawings from Tesla’s Project Highland, the codename behind the redesigned Model 3. Researchers also found employee passport copies and years of internal logs mixed in.
Apple is reportedly investigating and looking into a ransom demand sent to Tata. Neither Apple nor Tesla has commented.
Market reaction
No major stock swings yet, but Apple (AAPL) and Tesla (TSLA) investors will be watching closely if this escalates, especially given Tata’s growing role in Apple’s supply chain outside China.
Why it matters for traders:
Tata makes up roughly a third of Apple’s iPhone production in India. Any real disruption here could ripple through Apple’s hardware roadmap and rattle confidence in India’s manufacturing push – a key piece of Modi’s industrial strategy. Tata was also hit by a cyberattack on Jaguar Land Rover last year that froze production for six weeks, so this isn’t its first brush with this kind of risk.
What to watch:
Whether Apple or Tesla confirms the leaked files are genuine, and whether Tata’s stock or supply chain partners feel any pressure in the days ahead.
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Source: Reuters
