iWorld
Amazon Fire TV: Autism channel now available free
MUMBAI: The Autism Channel’s streaming video content is now available on Amazon Fire Stick, Fire TV and select Seiki, Westinghouse and Element televisions with Fire TV technology. Amazon’s Fire TV stick and Fire TV set top box have joined Roku and Panasonic Viera devices where viewers can watch The Autism Channel’s programming free on demand.
The Autism Channel streams nearly 100 hours of digital video content featuring individuals on the autism spectrum and professionals in the field of autism spectrum treatment and research. The channel began streaming on Roku in 2012 and added the Panasonic Viera TV platform two years later.
Users of Amazon Fire TV technology can now access the channel without charge by adding it to their channel list from the On-Demand Movie Streaming category of the Apps & Games section at amazon.com. Roku users can find the channel in the educational section of the Roku channel store.
Panasonic Viera owners can find the channel in the channel store on most Viera television devices.
The Autism Channel features programming designed for those who are parents or caregivers of people on the spectrum, professionals in the field, and those on the spectrum themselves. It offers a wide range of programming from movie reviews, mini-documentaries about autism and interview shows, to “Time Out” features designed to be calming and relaxing.
This rollout is the first of many which will add several smart television set types, set top box and streaming stick platforms and phone and tablet devices to widen the availability of the channel. The Autism Channel is a privately owned media content developer and supplier based in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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.
