iWorld
Amazon Prime Video unveils trailer of its latest unscripted original series One Mic Stand
MUMBAI: Amazon Prime Video today unveiled the trailer of its latest unscripted Amazon Original Series One Mic Stand. Created and hosted by ace comedian Sapan Verma in collaboration with Only Much Louder (OML), One Mic Stand is a unique concept, where renowned faces from varied walks of life try their hand at Stand-Up Comedy for the very first time. The five-episode Amazon Original Series showcases celebrities such as Youtube Creator Bhuvan Bam, singer & music composer Vishal Dadlani, leading actors Richa Chadda and Taapsee Pannu, and politician Dr. Shashi Tharoor push boundaries and offer a humorous take on a variety of topics, while being mentored by top comedians to perform in front of a live audience.
One Mic Stand has these celebrities stepping out of their usual roles and challenging the status-quo as they get coached by some of India’s wittiest comedians, including the likes of Rohan Joshi, Ashish Shakya, Zakir Khan, Angad Singh Ranyal and Kunal Kamra, in the craft of Stand-Up comedy. The choice of celebrity and comedian pairing is also uniquely special as they have been paired together keeping ideologies and personal backgrounds in mind, which in itself adds additional flavor to the show. Starting 15 November, Prime members across 200 countries and territories can stream all five episodes in a binge format, exclusively on Amazon Prime Video.
“We continue to receive an overwhelming response to Amazon Prime Video’s comedy offering and this appreciation drives us further to bring to our customers newer formats in this genre. One Mic Stand is a unique, fresh concept and we are happy to collaborate with Only Much Louder (OML) to present yet another disruptive take on stand-up comedy. Our customers have an exciting opportunity to see some of their favourite celebrities in a never-seen-before avatar and we are certain that audiences will love this new dimension of Stand-Up comedy,” Amazon Prime Video India content director and head Vijay Subramaniam said.
“We are excited to continue our association with Amazon Prime Video with One Mic Stand, an innovative new comedy show created and hosted by Sapan Verma. The Amazon Original Series shows the intricacies involved in the art of stand-up comedy and challenges people famous in other art forms to try it in front of a live audience. We are hopeful that audiences will both enjoy the show and see a new side of their favorite comedians and celebrities,” Only Much Louder managing partner Dhruv Sheth said.
"The concept of One Mic Stand came to me many years ago and I'm glad that Amazon Prime Video were so supportive in making it happen. I think the idea of seeing your favorite people in a new vulnerable position is always endearing. Basically, I've got famous celebrities so that the show gets the views and top comedians to ensure the show is funny, so that I can just sit back and not do much," comedian and showrunner Sapan Verma commented.
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.
