iWorld
Telecom to be among 2017’s top employment generators; rise in women pro predicted
MUMBAI: The Year 2017 is bringing good news for job seekers, with an expected 10-15 per cent rise in hiring activity in 2017 as reported by over 2000 employers across India Inc. according to a private survey. This points towards a cheerful year for the hiring industry, as employers’ expectations are greater than what they were last year.
In the survey last year (2015-16), employers had anticipated a lower 5-10 per cent rise in hiring while now they are upbeat about seeing a 10-15 per cent rise in 2017. “There is a clear paradigm shift in the Indian economy, with the support of the government’s efforts and focus on IT, entrepreneurship and manufacturing, India Inc. is steering itself for strong growth that is seen to be impacting job growth and employment in the country next year,” says Times Business Solutions head of strategy Nilanjan Roy.
In the TimesJobs survey 2016-17, 30 per cent organisations felt the IT and telecom sectors will hire the biggest numbers, 20 per cent said the healthcare sector and 15 per cent said that manufacturing will be the top employment generator. Another 15 per cent voted for automobile and 10 per cent for infrastructure and retail sectors.
The focus on gender diversity will also continue to take shape in 2017, as highlighted by India Inc. in the 2016-17 study. Over 70 per cent organisations plan to increase the ratio of women in their workforce. This is a significant 10 per cent rise in employer expectations as compared to that in 2016, showing a heightened awareness of the gender diversity challenge faced by India Inc. About 60 per cent employers foresee a higher demand for women professionals at the middle level positions, 20 per cent see maximum hires at the entry level while another 20 percent say they will hire women professional for CXO level leadership roles in 2017.
Nearly 25% of organisations voted that IT would be the most sought after profile followed by another 20 per cent organizations that feel the demand for sales, business development professionals and research and development profiles will rise considerably in 2017. About 15 per cent organisations said that they expect marketing and advertising professionals to see maximum demand in 2017.
The most optimistic hiring expectations are for middle-level professionals, according to the survey 2016-17. The study reveals professionals with 5-10 years of experience will see the maximum demand across sectors. Nearly 30 per cent of the organisations surveyed stated mid-level managers with 5-10 years of experience would be most sought in 2017. About 20 per cent employers see greater demand for young professionals with less than 2 years of experience in 2017 while 15 per cent said experienced professionals with 10-20 years of experience will be most in demand.
While positive hiring activity is being reported in Tier I cities and state capitals, the major metros will continue to be the top job hubs in 2017 according to the survey. Nearly 45 per cent organisations said job opportunities will be maximum in metro cities, including, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Chennai while 40 per cent see a rise in employment opportunities in Tier I locations. Overall, the survey 2016-17 reports the second and fourth-quarters of 2017 as the hottest for hiring in India Inc.
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.
