iWorld
The Bengal Files to stream on ZEE5 this November
MUMBAI: After a much-talked-about theatrical run, The Bengal Files, Vivek Agnihotri’s gripping political drama, is now gearing up for its world digital premiere on ZEE5 from 21 November.
Written and directed by Agnihotri and produced by Abhishek Agarwal Arts and I Am Buddha Productions, the film stars Anupam Kher, Pallavi Joshi, Mithun Chakraborty, Darshan Kumar, Simrat Kaur, and Saswata Chatterjee in powerful roles.
The film marks the third chapter in Agnihotri’s acclaimed “Files Trilogy” after The Tashkent Files and The Kashmir Files. Set against the volatile backdrop of pre-Independence Bengal, it revisits the events of the 1946 great Calcutta killings, a turning point that shaped India’s partition and freedom movement.
Speaking on the release, ZEE5 Hindi business head Kaveri Das said the platform aims to bring stories that entertain, move, and provoke thought. “The Bengal Files is a powerful cinematic experience that captures complex layers of history and emotion. After its successful theatrical run, we are delighted to make it available to audiences worldwide,” she said.
Director Vivek Agnihotri called the film “a reminder” and “a tribute to Bengal’s courage and truth,” adding that ZEE5 will help the story reach every home.
Pallavi Joshi, who also stars in the film, said each Files film has been “an emotional and artistic awakening,” while Anupam Kher described the trilogy as “stories that stay with you forever, not just about history, but about humanity.”
The Bengal Files premieres exclusively on ZEE5 from 21 November. History, as Agnihotri promises, will be retold, with truth at its core.
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.
