iWorld
Cosmos-Maya names Rajaram Sundaresan the director of operations, international
Mumbai: Animation major Cosmos-Maya on Thursday announced the appointment of Rajaram Sundaresan as the director of operations for international business.
In his new role, Sundaresan will look to take responsibilities ranging from project management and client relations to revenue maximisation for the division. He has been brought aboard to set a higher standard for the creative team at Cosmos-Maya by targeting to produce content for the largest international broadcasters, the company said in a statement.
The paradigm shift in the Indian kids entertainment segment that was initiated with successful shows like Motu Patlu in the domestic market and Eena Meena Deeka internationally, will now be helmed by Sundaresan and the company expects to see much more growth in this space in FY22 and beyond, it added.
“We extend a warm welcome to Rajaram,” Cosmos-Maya CEO Anish Mehta said. “Cosmos-Maya hopes to significantly benefit from his expertise in scaling businesses and deepening their position while maintaining a strong governance and risk mitigation structure. We have a growing presence globally with multiple international co-production projects in nearly every continent, and with Rajaram coming on board we are gearing to see much more along this road.”
Rajaram brings more than 30 years of experience in the animation industry, having previously handled production for ventures like Prime Focus, Delux Entertainment, and DQ Entertainment.
“I am excited to be joining the team of creative technology enthusiasts who have relentlessly worked for a decade to create a highly fertile ecosystem and a huge corporate entity with immense brand value in its sector. With the entertainment industry witnessing rapid growth, Cosmos-Maya will look to increase market share with consistent quality production in the animation space commensurate with global benchmarks of kids animated content,” Sundaresan said on his new role.
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.
