iWorld
Prime Video’s Prime Day streamfest goes global, from Panchayat to Priyanka
MUMBAI: Prime Video clearly had its popcorn moment. For its Prime Day 2025 bonanza (July 12–14), the streamer rolled out 17 titles across Indian and global languages—and the world hit play hard.
From the narrow lanes of Nagpur to Netflix’s home turf, Amazon’s homegrown content made noise everywhere. Viewers across 4,400+ Indian towns and cities and in 224 countries and territories lapped up titles like Panchayat season 4, the edgy reality drama The Traitors, and Priyanka Chopra-Idris Elba-John Cena action flick Heads of State.
Panchayat’s fourth outing hit record numbers, marking the biggest launch in the franchise’s history. Audiences from 180+ countries tuned in during its launch week, with viewership spread across 95 per cent of India’s pin codes. The show even bagged a spot in the Top 10 trending list in 42 countries on day one.
The unscripted nail-biter The Traitors held fans hostage in 88 per cent of pin codes across India. So naturally, Prime has greenlit season 2. Panchayat season 5 is already in the works and slated for a 2026 premiere.
But it wasn’t all about desi delights. Prime Video’s international Prime Day slate—featuring Korean romances like Good Boy and Head Over Heels, and Japanese anime like City and the Animation—struck gold too. American heavy-hitters like Dexter: Resurrections, Ballard, and Deep Cover kept screens sizzling.
“Through our spectacular content line-up, we delivered one of the most engaging experiences for our customers this Prime Day,” said Prime Video, India director & head of SVOD business, Shilangi Mukherji. “While our content resonated deeply and strongly across India, the exceptional response from global audiences to our Indian titles demonstrates the growing influence of Indian entertainment on the world stage. As we continue to take Indian stories global, we’re equally dedicated to bringing premium international content to our Indian audiences, ensuring a truly borderless entertainment experience.”
It’s not just what you stream, it’s how. With subtitles and dubs in Indian languages, Prime Video’s “global meets local” mantra is clearly paying off. From Uppu Kappurambu to Heads of State, it was a full house at the world’s biggest virtual cinema.
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.
