iWorld
GRB Media Ranch announces license deals at NATPE Global
Mumbai: GRB Media Ranch president, Sophie Ferron announced that Discovery Spain had renewed the license of five seasons of Untold Stories of the E.R., the company’s flagship medical reality series, and purchased an additional license for the most recent season (13) of that program. GRB Studios’ Gary R. Benz created the iconic series, exec-producing 13 seasons in 15 years. Untold Stories of the E.R. has been broadcast in 214 territories. The company has also received renewed interest in formatting the show around the world.
Untold Stories of the E.R. is a dramatic medical docu-series re-enacting intense real-life stories of the emergency room, demonstrating the true nature of medicine practiced under pressure, where every moment can be a turning point. Audiences witness how a doctor’s personal blend of expertise, coolness under fire, and decision-making ability are challenged by unpredictable circumstances – and how character makes the ultimate difference.
Death Walker, another GRB Media Ranch program with four seasons produced, has been purchased by both Discovery UK and France’s Canal Plus. The paranormal investigative series is hosted by series creator, Nick Groff, who theorises and investigates the origin of some of the most notorious hauntings in America, redefining our understanding of the paranormal.
Ferron said: “GRB Media Ranch is thrilled start the year with deals for the iconic Untold Stories of the E.R. which is ripe for a Format version which we are diligently exploring. We are also pleased to bring our intriguing paranormal series, Death Walker to the UK and France.”
Benz added, “the continued demonstrated interest in the series, with the ordering of new seasons as well as extending the license of prior seasons, speaks well to the program’s broad-based and long-lasting appeal.”
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.
