iWorld
Fancode kicks off exclusive five-year Laliga partnership in India
MUMBAI: FanCode, India’s go-to sports platform, has clinched a five-year exclusive deal with Laliga, bringing Spanish football’s top-tier action to Indian screens. Starting with this weekend’s high-stakes ElClásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, FanCode will stream all Laliga EA Sports and Laliga Hypermotion matches — live and in HD.
The partnership promises wall-to-wall coverage of 380 top-flight Laliga games each season, alongside Laliga Hypermotion fixtures. Fans can catch every match on FanCode’s mobile app, TV app (Android TV, Fire TV, Jio STB, Samsung, LG), and website — all without a hitch.
Laliga’s star power — featuring football greats like Jude Bellingham, Robert Lewandowski, Vinicius Jr, and Antoine Griezmann — has made it a fan favourite in India. With its clubs already boasting massive followings, from Real Madrid to FC Barcelona, FanCode is poised to expand that popularity with a 360-degree marketing blitz. Expect community events, marquee screenings, social media takeovers, and even player visits to India.
Laliga president Javier Tebas said: “We are delighted to have FanCode partner with us for the Indian market. At Laliga, we always look for best-in-class partners to deliver Spanish football to fans everywhere. FanCode brings strong local expertise and shares our passion for growing the league’s reach. We look forward to working together over the next five years to bring the best of Spanish football to fans in India.”
FanCode cofounder Yannick Colaco added: “We’ve seen first-hand the incredible fan following that Laliga commands in India. With top-tier clubs and world-class players on display, fans can expect high-quality football week in, week out. Our 360-degree approach will ensure a seamless experience across all touchpoints — be it live streaming, engaging with fans to build a strong community or taking the league to new fans. We’re excited to work closely with Laliga to grow the league’s popularity in India.”
FanCode, which reaches over 160 million sports fans and has logged 50 million app downloads, is already a dominant player in Indian sports streaming, with partnerships across ICC, Formula 1, MotoGP, and more. This new deal with Laliga is set to score big with football fans nationwide.
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.
