iWorld
Instagram follows TikTok, launches ‘Remix’ on Reels
NEW DELHI: In a bid to overpower short-video platform TikTok, image sharing app Instagram has rolled out a new feature called Remix. The Remix feature allows users to remix reels which means they can upload a video next to another user's, building on top of the original clip.
To launch the Remix feature, users should click on the three dots that show up on the top right corner of the Reel, and choose Remix This Reel option. While using this feature, the screen will split into two parts; one part will carry the original reel, while the second will be your new reel. After recording, users can control the volume for the original audio, your recorded audio, and can even add a voiceover.
A similar feature is already popular in TikTok under the duet, and is being widely used for dance challenges. As TikTok is banned in India, Instagram believes that its new feature will garner huge popularity in the country.
"Remix lets you create your own Reel, along-side an existing reel. Interactive tools like Live Rooms, polls and questions in Stories, and AR effects have always been a huge part of how people connect on Instagram," said Instagram in a recent statement.
Facebook-owned Instagram had launched Reels last year, and since then, several features have been added to it. Some of these new specs include an extension of recording time to 30 seconds, and extending the countdown timer to 10 seconds while recording. It is also possible to trim and delete audio clips from the timeline.
It is to be noted that the Remix option will be enabled only in newly uploaded reels. If you want older reels to be remixed by others, the feature should be enabled manually. If you do not want people remixing your reels, you should go to settings, tap on reels, and disable the option.
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.
