iWorld
SonyLIV onboards 50 advertisers for India’s tour of Sri Lanka
New Delhi: After entrancing sports aficionados with Euro 2020, SonyLIV is now set to enthrall millions of cricket fans with India’s tour of Sri Lanka that began on Sunday. The series comprising three ODIs and three T20s will continue till 29 July.
The matches are being broadcast across six different languages including Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Bengali only on SonyLIV.
For the high-octane series, SonyLIV has roped in over 50 advertisers including brands like Apple, HUL, Amazon, JSW, TVS, Tata Motors, Amul, Dafanews, CoinDCX, Mobikwik, Cars24, Medibuddy, Bridgestone, Acko General Insurance and GoDigit amongst others. The OTT platform has also locked sponsorship deals with some of the most prominent brands like Vimal, Betway, WazirX, and Swiggy.
SonyLIV senior vice president and head of ad revenue, Ranjana Mangla said, “We are elated to witness an overwhelming response from our advertising partners for all our sporting events that air on SonyLIV. Following the success of Euro 2020, we have managed to onboard more than 50 advertisers and multiple sponsors for India’s tour to Sri Lanka. Like always, we are committed to providing the best viewing experience for all global sporting events on the platform.”
The Indian team is led by former India captain Rahul Dravid who has stepped in as coach. Shikhar Dhawan will captain the young side while Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be the vice-captain in the three-match ODI and T20I series.
The platform is also set to provide comprehensive coverage of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 from 23 July.
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.
