iWorld
NGC specials examine the Vatican and Pakistan
The National Geographic Channel will end the month with a couple of specials offering diverse perspectives. Inside the Vatican airs on 30 March at 7.00 pm. The Vatican is one of the most widely known places in the world. 524 people reside in it. The State of Vatican City is the world's smallest nation. Its leader the Pope, has the distinction of being both its supreme civil authority and the head of the Roman Catholic church.
The Vatican draws tourists due to its magnificent art, architecture, manuscripts, books, and historical documents. This special is inspired by the National Geographic book Inside the Vatican. It will provide a rare glimpse of the Vatican and the thriving community that exists within its walls. Actor Martin Sheen The West Wing narrates the story.
On 31 March at 9pm watch Honour Killing in Pakistan. Here filmmaker Mick Davie travels to Pakistan to expose the practice of honour killing. A man can sometimes kill a woman without punishment. In the story Zahida Perveen's husband mutilated her and left her to die. But she lived and fought back, demanded justice, and won. This is her story, and the story of campaigners like her. The story revolves around the Pakistani women's fight for equal rights.
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.
