iWorld
Bending Spoons acquires streaming tech firm Brightcove
MUMBAI: Streaming technology firm Brightcove today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by an Italian mobile technology company Bending Spoons, in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $233 million. Under the terms of the agreement, Brightcove shareholders will receive $4.45 per share in cash for each share of Brightcove common stock that they own. The per share purchase price represents a 90 per cent premium over Brightcove’s 60-day volume weighted average share price as of the close on 22 November 2024, says a company press release.
The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions and approvals, including approval by Brightcove’s stockholders, and the receipt of required regulatory approvals. Upon the completion of the transaction, Brightcove will become a privately held company and its common stock will no longer be listed on any public stock exchange.
“We are pleased to have entered into this definitive agreement with Bending Spoons, which represents the culmination of a comprehensive strategic review process led by our board of directors and with the support of our management team and advisors,” said Brightcove chairman Diane Hessan. “As the board considered the long-term path for Brightcove, we unanimously determined that this transaction represents the best opportunity to maximize the value of the business and deliver compelling, certain, and immediate cash value to our stockholders.”
Brightcove chief executive officer & director Marc DeBevoise added: “Brightcove is a storied and successful enterprise SaaS leader with 20 years of history, 12 of them as a public company. We have been a pioneer and innovator in the streaming market, from the early days of video player technologies to the leading video-powered engagement platform we are today. Today’s announcement will enable Brightcove to leverage the technology and market expertise of Bending Spoons and best position Brightcove to continue to thrive in the streaming and engagement technology market.”
Bending Spoons CEO & co-founder Luca Ferrari said, “We’re delighted to welcome Brightcove into the Bending Spoons portfolio. Brightcove is a trusted and respected name in the streaming technology space, and we look forward to serving its large global customer base. When Bending Spoons acquires a business, we do so with the intention of owning and operating it indefinitely. With this in mind, we’re excited about building on the strong work of the current team, and ensuring Brightcove thrives for many years to come.”
Bending Spoons already owns products such as Meetup, EverNote, Remini, Splice, StreamYard, Issuu and WeTransfer which it has acquired over the past couple of years. It also has some celebrity investors such as Andre Agassi, Andrew Traggart, Chloe Zhao, Dude Perfect, Eric Shcmidt, Kerry Trainor, Maluma, Gabrielle Union, among many others. It claims to have 200 million monthly active users.
The company is also known to right size companies which it has acquired, according to online tech publication SiliconAngle. Reports are that Evernote laid off 129 of its 400 workforce, relocating the entire workforce to Europe. Bending Spoons also handed pink slips to 75 per cent of WeTransfer’s employees a few months after acquiring it.
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.
