iWorld
Supernatural thriller Baida now available on Prime Video
MUMBAI: After a successful theatrical run and a wave of critical acclaim, the highly anticipated sci-fi supernatural thriller Baida is now available to rent on Prime Video.
Baida takes audiences on a chilling journey into the realm of the unknown, blending the supernatural with modern-day suspense. Released theatrically on 21 March 2025, the film has earned praise for its unique storyline, gripping direction, and atmospheric storytelling.
Set in a remote village plagued by a series of unexplained disappearances, Baida unravels a haunting mystery through the eyes of a man drawn into a dimension beyond human comprehension. The story follows a former spy-turned-salesman who arrives in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh, only to find himself surrounded by sinister forces and caught in the grip of a shadowy figure known as Pisaach. As he is seemingly transported to an alternate reality, his grasp on what’s real begins to erode. Joined by local villagers, he embarks on a desperate journey to escape death and the terrifying pull of a mysterious hut deep within the forest.
Baida is among the rare Indian films to inspire multiple explainer videos on YouTube, garnering millions of views. Fans across genres, especially sci-fi and supernatural enthusiasts, have been eagerly awaiting its digital release.
Directed by Puneet Sharma, the cast of Baida includes Sudhanshu Rai, Hiten Tejwani, Manisha Rai, Sourabh Raaj Jain, Shobhit Sujay, Tarun Khanna, Akhlaq Ahmad (Azad), Deepak Wadhwa, Sidharth Banerjee and Pradeep Kabra, among others. While the cinematography has been helmed by Abhishek Modak, the film is edited by Kantara and 777 Charlie’s fame Pratheek Shetty. The music and background score of the film is by Karthik Chennoji Rao and Ronada Bakkesh.
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.
