iWorld
ShemarooMe partners with Airtel Xstream to expand its reach
Mumbai: OTT platform ShemarooMe has entered into a partnership with Bharti Airtel’s video streaming service Airtel Xstream Premium to strengthen its presence by tapping into the telecom giant’s over 300 million customer base across India.
With this partnership, users will get access to ShemarooMe’s content library along with 14 other Indian and global OTTs with a single access login on Airtel Xstream Premium app, available on mobile and large screens (TV, tablet and PC) at Rs 149/month and Rs 1499/year, said the statement.
“We are delighted to partner with Airtel Xstream and expand our reach across the country,” said Shemaroo Entertainment CEO Hiren Gada. “The partnership with Airtel will not just enable us to reach out to a wider audience but also allow the users of Airtel Xstream to get access to ShemarooMe’s varied content repository. With this association, we have strengthened our longstanding relationship with Airtel and look forward to more such collaborations.”
ShemarooMe has a network of over 50 partners across platforms such as e-commerce, banking & payment app, telecom, OEMs, media, and ISPs/broadband.
“Through this partnership, Airtel customers will get access to ShemarooMe’s entire content library in addition to other OTTs, unlocking the exciting world of video entertainment for India’s growing tribe of digitally connected audiences,” remarked Airtel Digital CEO Adarsh Nair.
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.
