iWorld
Travelxp series gives America a new angle
MUMBAI: Forget bucket lists and picture perfect itineraries. Travelxp’s new original series, 50 States, asks viewers to trade postcards for perspective as it sets out to rediscover America one honest moment at a time.
Premiering on 22 November, the series is hosted by Iona, a Boston native who steers clear of the usual tourist trails. Instead of chasing must-see spots, she lets the country reveal itself slowly, through everyday encounters, imperfect moments and the kind of conversations that only happen when the camera stops performing.
50 States is built on a simple idea, to understand a place, begin with your own. The show strips away scripts and staging, capturing the small details that often say more about a place than its biggest landmarks. It is less about movement and more about meaning, offering a gentle, unhurried look at the lives and stories that shape modern America.
The journey opens in Florida, a state known for never doing anything halfway. Rather than racing through highlights, the series takes time to observe the quiet, the colourful, the contradictory and the wonderfully ordinary. It is Florida as lived, not packaged.
“Most shows show America,” says Travelxp content strategist Puja Gokarn. “We wanted to feel it, the humour, the food, the rhythm, the road. The small details you only discover when the camera isn’t waiting for a monument.”
Iona adds, “It’s been special to showcase my country through a local lens. Florida captures the mix of culture, nature and character that make the U.S. so unique. I wanted to share the America I know, shaped by the everyday people who make it feel alive.”
Travelxp, now available in more than 118 countries and 25 languages, is known for its immersive, lived in storytelling. With 50 States, the brand nudges audiences to slow down and listen to the places they visit.
In a world obsessed with quick clips and glossy frames, the series offers something rarer, an invitation to witness America as a living, breathing story, told by the people who call it home.
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.
