iWorld
Cheekatilo shines in the dark with record debut on Prime Video
A crime thriller steps out of the shadows as Telugu storytelling claims centre stage.
MUMBAI: Sometimes, the darkest stories travel the farthest. Prime Video’s latest Telugu original Cheekatilo has done exactly that, clocking a record-breaking launch week and emerging as the most-streamed south original movie on the platform during its debut period.
Premiering worldwide on January 23, the edge-of-the-seat crime suspense trended at the top through its opening weekend and reached viewers across 89 per cent of India’s pin codes, underlining its rare ability to cut across regions, languages and viewing habits. The performance marks a significant milestone for Prime Video’s south originals slate, reflecting the rising national appetite for tightly written, character-driven narratives.
Beyond the numbers, Cheekatilo’s success highlights a broader shift in audience preferences. The strong engagement around the film points to the growing demand for female-led storytelling, with viewers gravitating towards grounded, intense narratives rooted in real-world settings. The film’s national traction reinforces the idea that language is no longer a barrier when the story holds its nerve.
Prime Video India director and head of originals Nikhil Madhok said the response to Cheekatilo reflects the momentum of South Originals and the increasing resonance of bold, genre-driven stories. He noted that the film’s gripping narrative and performances kept audiences hooked from start to finish, strengthening Prime Video’s positioning as a destination for distinctive storytelling with cultural authenticity.
Directed by Sharan Kopishetty and produced by D. Suresh Babu under the Suresh Productions banner, Cheekatilo is written by Chandra Pemmaraju and Kopishetty. The film stars Sobhita Dhulipala as Sandhya, alongside Viswadev Rachakonda, with Chaitanya Visalakshmi, Esha Chawla, Jhansi, Aamani and Vadlamani Srinivas in pivotal roles.
Set against the urban pulse of Hyderabad, the film adds another strong chapter to Prime Video’s expanding catalogue of south originals. With its launch-week dominance and widespread reach, Cheekatilo proves that when storytelling hits the right note, even the darkest tales can command the brightest spotlight.
iWorld
Meta warns 200 users after fake Whatsapp spyware attack
Italy-targeted campaign used unofficial app to deploy surveillance spyware.
MUMBAI: It looked like a message, but it behaved like a mole. Meta has warned around 200 users most of them in Italy after uncovering a targeted spyware campaign that weaponised a fake version of WhatsApp to infiltrate devices. The attack, first reported by Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata, relied on classic social engineering with a modern twist: persuading users to download an unofficial WhatsApp clone embedded with surveillance software. The malicious application, believed to be developed by Italian firm SIO through its subsidiary ASIGINT, was designed to mimic the real app closely enough to bypass suspicion.
Meta’s security teams identified roughly 200 individuals who may have installed the compromised version, triggering immediate countermeasures. Affected users were logged out of their accounts and issued alerts warning of potential privacy breaches, with the company describing the incident as a “targeted social engineering attempt” aimed at gaining device-level access.
The malicious app was not distributed via official app stores but circulated through third-party channels, where it was presented as a legitimate WhatsApp alternative. Once installed, it reportedly allowed external operators to access sensitive data stored on the device turning a simple download into a potential surveillance gateway.
According to Techcrunch, Meta is now preparing legal action against the spyware developers to curb further misuse. The company, however, has not disclosed details about the specific individuals targeted or the extent of data compromised.
A Whatsapp spokesperson reiterated that user safety remains the top priority, particularly for those misled into installing the fake iOS application. Meanwhile, reports from La Repubblica suggest the spyware may be linked to “Spyrtacus”, a strain previously associated with Android-based attacks that could intercept calls, activate microphones and even access cameras.
The episode underscores a growing reality in the digital age, the threat is no longer just what you download, but where you download it from. As unofficial apps become increasingly convincing, the line between communication tool and covert surveillance is getting harder to spot and far easier to exploit.
