iWorld
Nearly 90 per cent of sports fans use a second screen while watching live matches
Google says most viewers watch matches on TV but engage with sports on their phones
MUMBAI: The television may show the match, but the real action is often happening in the viewer’s palm.
As India celebrated a nail-biting cricket finale and the trophy’s return home, millions of fans were not just watching the game. They were also scrolling, searching and sharing on their phones. According to Google, nearly 90 per cent of sports fans use a second screen while watching live matches, turning mobile devices into the centre of real-time engagement.
Shubha Pai, head of YouTube sales and solutions at Google India, says the shift reflects a deeper behavioural change among viewers. Live sport remains a “lean back” experience on television, but the smartphone has become the “lean-in” hub where fans dive deeper. They check statistics, watch short-form clips, discuss moments online and even buy merchandise as the match unfolds.
The numbers underline the shift. About 67 per cent of Indian sports viewers now turn to YouTube for sports-related content, putting the platform ahead of both OTT services and social media channels, according to Google.
The audience is also changing. Pai notes that YouTube Shorts has become the top destination for Gen Z viewers and female sports fans, groups increasingly drawn to short, authentic and interactive content rather than traditional broadcasts.
For brands, the shift has commercial implications. Google says advertising returns on YouTube are three times higher than OTT platforms and 2.4 times higher than television, citing a meta-analysis of consumer packaged goods marketing mix modelling studies by Nielsen.
The lesson for marketers is clear. The television may still host the match, but the battle for attention has moved elsewhere. As fans cheer, argue, search and shop all at once, the second screen is no longer just a companion to sport. It is fast becoming the main event.
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.
