iWorld
Sci-fi series ‘Detective Boomrah’ streams on MX Player
Mumbai: Produced by Saints Art, the new sci-fi series ‘Detective Boomrah’ is now streaming on MX Player. The release marks the OTT debut of the character of Detective Boomrah which is already popular in the audible and radio formats.
In the first season comprising three episodes, Detective Boomrah and his partner Sam visit Ropam Haveli in Rajasthan to investigate the case of a man who appeared mysteriously in a locked room and then jumped from the roof to vanish midair.
The web series presents the audience with a fictional detective character who confronts the paranormal. Apart from being a rare genre, it also has unique references to the rich Indian cultural heritage that is expected to strike a chord with the audience.
The series has been directed by Sudhanshu Rai, who also plays Detective Boomrah, and produced by Saints Art. The cast includes Raghav Jhingran, Manisha Sharma, Shobhit Sujay, Abhishek Sonpaliya, Priyanka Sarkar and Garima Rai.
Rai had earlier directed ‘Chaipatti’, a horror comedy already streaming on MX Player.
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.
