iWorld
Indian audio streaming market sees new entrant as Velvet brings in Pankaj Tripathi
MUMBAI; The Indian audio streaming sector continues to expand with Velvet, a new platform specialising in cinematic audio stories, announcing actor Pankaj Tripathi has joined as co-founder. Tripathi recently released a bunch of his stories written and narrated by him on Velvet.
The bootstrapped venture, which launched quietly in late 2024, was founded by actor and dialogue coach Vikas Kumar, alongside Akshat Saxena, Varad Bhatnagar and Sharib Khan. It joins a growing market that includes successful platforms such as Pocket FM, Pratilipi FM and Kuku FM.
“From folk tales to epics, our stories have always had the power to inspire, educate, and entertain,” said Mr Tripathi. “We aim to elevate this tradition into a cinematic experience for the ears, whilst remaining deeply rooted in our cultural ethos.”
The platform, which focuses on preserving and promoting traditional storytelling, has attracted over 10,000 direct listeners and reaches more than one million users through partnerships with Josh App in India and Future Today Group in the US.
The announcement follows the recent launch of Eshtory by former radio executive Harrish Bhatia, indicating growing interest in India’s audio streaming market.
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.
