iWorld
Budget buzz goes viral as Network18 dominates Union Budget Day streams
MUMBAI: When the Budget dropped, so did the competition. As India tuned in for Union Budget Day 2026, Network18’s digital newsrooms turned into the country’s busiest viewing hubs, clocking some of the highest live-stream audiences across business and general news.
Across its platforms CNBC-Awaaz, CNBC-TV18, News18 India and CNN-News18 Network18 featured among the most-watched news streams during the Union Budget presentation, reinforcing its dominance during high-stakes national moments.
The real action unfolded during the peak live window between 11.00 am and 12.40 pm. CNBC-Awaaz surged ahead with a peak digital concurrency of 765.1K viewers, emerging as the clear market leader. News18 India followed with 667.1K, while CNBC-TV18 recorded a strong 581.3K. CNN-News18 added further heft with 362.0K concurrent viewers.
The gap widened sharply when compared with rival broadcasters. Zee Business peaked at 211.5K, Aaj Tak at 153.1K, and NDTV Profit at 137.3K, according to Databeings.
In relative terms, the lead was even more striking. News18 India delivered 4.3 times higher concurrency than Aaj Tak. CNBC-AWAAZ clocked 3.5 times the viewership of Zee Business, while CNBC-TV18 posted 4.24 times the concurrency of NDTV Profit. CNN-News18, meanwhile, drew nearly five times the audience of India Today, underlining its pull during major news events.
The performance reflects Network18’s strength in combining sharp real-time reporting with expert-led analysis and audience-friendly explainers, a formula that continues to resonate when news matters most.
With seamless integration across television, digital and social platforms, Network18 once again proved that on Budget Day, it doesn’t just follow the numbers, it leads them.
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.
