iWorld
Mad Influence, YouTube India, and Star Sports transform live-streaming landscape with #DostsLive
Mumbai: In a historic collaboration, Mad Influence, YouTube India, and Star Sports have come together to pioneer a revolution in live-streaming, unveiling a remarkable, never-seen-before intellectual property (IP). This groundbreaking partnership has given birth to #DostsLive, an interactive YouTube livestream event held at the prestigious Star Sports Studios in Mumbai, marking a pivotal moment in the broadcasting industry.
#DostsLive hosted the biggest watch party of top creators during the India Vs South Africa match in the CWC2023, delivering an unparalleled viewing experience to fans worldwide. The event, live-streamed on Star Sports’ official YouTube channel, captivated audiences for an impressive 6 hours, 49 minutes, and 30 seconds on November 5, 2023.
Mad Influence CEO Gautam Madhavan expressed his excitement stating, “The creation of #DostsLive marks a significant milestone in the evolution of live-streaming. Our vision was to redefine the viewing experience, and the overwhelming response with 15 million+ viewership and 1.5 million+ engagement validates the success of our endeavour. This collaboration exemplifies the power of synergy in the digital age.”
This collaborative effort brought together renowned YouTube content creators, including Gaurav Chaudhary (Technical Guruji), Tanmay Singh (Scout), Real Hit, RJ Mahvash, Thugesh, Chetan Monga, and others, showcasing the strength of collective creativity and influence in the digital space.
The event commenced with a powerful announcement by Star Sports, followed by creators taking to their YouTube communities and Instagram stories to build anticipation among their vast audience.
The creators not only brought energy to the livestream but also celebrated Virat Kohli’s birthday in style. Gaurav Arora, the famous doppelganger of Virat Kohli, cut the cake with Cricket experts Mohammad Kaif and Sreesanth, making it a memorable moment. Videos capturing the birthday celebration were shared on the creators’ profiles, adding a personal touch to the event.
As part of the celebration, the creators also had the chance to create videos with cricket experts Mohammed Kaif and S Sreesanth, bringing insightful and entertaining content to their audiences. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of the studio shenanigans were also shared by the creators on their profiles, giving fans an exclusive peek into the making of #DostsLive.
Despite the challenges posed by tight timelines, the successful execution of #DostsLive stands as a testament to the dedication and collective efforts of all teams and creators involved.
The event generated immense buzz on social media, with fans contributing over 100 posts on #DostsLive and over 5916 posts on #WorldCupOnStar, highlighting the impact and resonance it had among audiences.
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.
