iWorld
Lionsgate Play announces first Indian original show ‘Hiccups and Hookups’
Mumbai: Lionsgate Play, the streaming service platform from Lionsgate India and Starz has announced the release date of its first Indian original series production “Hiccups and Hookups.” The family dramedy will premiere on 26 November, exclusively on the platform.
The Kunal Kohli-directed series will feature Lara Dutta, Prateik Babbar, Shinnova, Divya Seth, Nassar Abdullah, Khalid Siddiqui, Meiyang Chang, Meera Chopra, and Ayn Zoya.
“Hiccups and Hookups” is the story of Vasudha Rao (Dutta), a newly separated single mother living with her brother Akhil Rao (Babbar) and her daughter Kavanya Khattar (Shinnova). As the two coaches each other through the crazy world of dating while raising Vasudha’s teenage daughter, their closeness and honesty allows them to share the good, bad, and ugly side of their relationships. The plot explores multiple layers of the lead characters and how they deal with their own challenges and their baggage with each other. The sassy yet heart-warming series opens doors to accepting a dysfunctional family without any judgment, shared the platform in a statement.
“It gives us immense pleasure to finally reveal the name of our first Indian original series ‘Hiccups & Hookups.’ We are certain the viewers are going to love the onscreen magic created by Lara Dutta, Prateik Babbar, and Kunal Kohli. With our first Indian original series, we aim to stay true to our ethos of entertaining our audience with unique, bold and edgy content,” stated Lionsgate managing director for South Asia and networks – emerging markets Asia Rohit Jain.
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.
