iWorld
Axis Capital appointed as banker for ALT Digital Media
BENGALURU: The Ekta Kapoor led Balaji Telefilms Limited (BTL) has announced Axis Capital as the banker for investments into its digital business ALTBalaji thru BTL’s wholly owned subsidiary ALT Digital Media Entertainment Limited.
A BTL release filed with the bourses says: ‘In recognition of the continued robust prospects of Balaji Telefilms Limited (BTL) market’s leading television content production business and the strong response and growth potential its newly launched digital OTT platform (ALTBalaji), the Management of BTL has decided to concentrate a significant portion of its bandwidth and the Company’s available resources on these high potential business segments.’
The release claims further that: ‘Several financial and strategic investors have expressed strong interest to partner with ALTBalaji and the Management is actively considering the options available and has appointed Axis Capital as bankers for the Investments.’
BTL claims that ALT Digital Media Entertainment Limited with its stand out original content, has received great response with 2.4 million downloads. making BTL one of the first movers in the fast growing OTT market in India. Given the disruptive nature of the emerging OTT opportunity, ALTBalaji will be a game changer for BTL.
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.
