iWorld
Canela Media expands Brightcove partnership for Hispanic streaming services
MUMBAI: Multicultural media firm Canela Media has deepened its partnership with video technology provider Brightcove to turbocharge its streaming platforms aimed at US Hispanic audiences.
The expanded deal will see Brightcove’s Emmy Award-winning technology deployed to enhance Canela’s streaming capabilities, scale services and drive deeper audience engagement across its platforms that currently reach more than 60 million unique viewers.
Canela Media, which has built a substantial content library of over 35,000 hours, has established itself as a significant player in delivering culturally relevant content to Hispanic viewers through its advertising-supported video-on-demand platform Canela.TV.
“Brightcove is a leader in the space so expanding our relationship was a natural choice,” said Canela Media CTO Peter Gonzalez. “Their modular, API-driven architecture allows for scalable integrations that can quickly be brought to market as we expand our content offerings.”
The media company is already leveraging Brightcove’s server-side ad insertion, video transcoding, and content distribution capabilities to widen its reach. Gonzalez highlighted that “speed to market is essential” and praised Brightcove’s “scalable and proven capabilities” for helping Canela add new features to its direct-to-consumer applications.
Industry observers note that the Hispanic streaming market represents one of the fastest-growing segments in US media consumption, with advertising revenue expected to surge past $5 billion by 2026.
Brightcove’s technology is engineered to help media customers engage audiences through reliable solutions that build subscriber loyalty and drive content monetisation. The company operates in more than 60 countries, providing intelligent video platforms that enable businesses to stream and monetise content more effectively.
Canela Media’s ecosystem includes free streaming platform Canela.TV, which offers on-demand content and Live Channels featuring originals, music, children’s programming, sports, news, and an extensive library of telenovelas and classic Mexican films.
The company also operates Canela Audience Solutions, a proprietary data solution that takes an OTT-first approach to identify Hispanic audiences across both English and Spanish-language streaming platforms.
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.
