iWorld
SonyLiv plans to take unique food content to 8k hrs by Sept ’18
MUMBAI: Who is the first mover in the OTT space to introduce food as a genre? SonyLiv has — on World Food Day (16 October) — introduced the food genre to its existing line-up of diversified content.
Not only that, SonyLiv is committed to bringing the best of world cuisine to its viewers and will double its exclusive food content from the existing 4000 hours, in the next 12 months.
Giving its viewers a new level of experience of engaging with food, SonyLiv has joined hands with Padma Shri awardee, Chef Sanjeev Kapoor, Rajshri Food, a popular YouTube channel featuring renowned chefs like Varun Inamdar and Ruchi Bharani, to satiate the taste-buds of food lovers and enthusiasts alike and take them on a gastronomic delight.
SonyLiv will feature Rajshri’s episodes spanning a duration of 5-7 minutes each.
FoodFood, an Indian food and lifestyle TV channel since 2011, will continue its run on SonyLiv by bringing the best from the culinary world to your devices, as well as engaging discussions between Kapoor and other celebrated Indian chefs like Harpal Singh Sokhi, Amrita Raichand, Anupa Das, Ajay Chopra, Shailendra Kekade, Saransh Goila, Shilarna Vaze, Vicky Ratnani, Rakesh Sethi, Shantanu Gupte and Pranav Joshi.
Sony Pictures Networks India EVP and head – digital business Uday Sodhi: “With the introduction of the food genre, SonyLIV is committed to engaging its viewers with the best of world cuisine curated by top celebrity chefs. We have displayed our pioneering edge by being the first OTT platform in India to introduce the category of food. It is going to be a major genre on SonyLiv, going forward, in addition to entertainment and sports.”
Kapoor says: “Via this association with SonyLiv, I hope to repeat the same success in the digital world. Experimentation and innovation are the key pillars for any chef, and we will display the best that world cuisine has to offer.”
Rajshri Foundation trustee Neha Barjatya says: “Rajshri YouTube channel has over 800 pure vegetarian recipes. This association will add to the richness of content available on SonyLiv.”
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.
