iWorld
discovery+ announces new original ‘Dark Mysteries- Anjaan Kahaniyaan’
Mumbai: Video streaming platform discovery+ is set to premiere its new original “Dark Mysteries – Anjaan Kahaniyaan” on 11 February. The six-part series unravels unexplained mysteries based on first-hand accounts of those who claim to have experienced black magic, reincarnations, curses, hauntings, possessions and other supernatural phenomena.
“Each episode will focus on exploring the phenomena through first-hand experiences, locals’ views, and opinion from relevant experts including psychologists, parapsychologists, historians, psychics and paranormal analysts to explore if there is any plausible ‘truth’ to these often-unnerving stories,” said the platform in a statement.
Some of the stories explored include paranormal experts hunting ghosts at the abandoned Lambi Dehar mines in Uttarakhand, live exorcisms of dangerous spirits at Harshu Dham in Chainpur (Bihar) often known as the temple of the possessed, mystery village of Kuldhara where 1500 residents are said to have left without a trace, and accounts of children who seem to have clear and sharp memories of previous lifetimes.
“Paranormal and supernatural as a genre have been often enjoyed by viewers across the country and our latest original production ‘Dark Mysteries’ supported with expert opinions will give them more insights to understand the context and working of these occurrences,” said Discovery Inc original content head – South Asia Sai Abishek. “The show is an amalgamation of entertainment and science, thereby adding onto our repertoire of compelling and spellbinding stories for the audience.”
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.
