iWorld
WhatsApp partners with OML to raise privacy awareness
Mumbai: WhatsApp has collaborated with Only Much Louder (OML), a market-leading, full-service creative and entertainment business network for #MessagePrivately, a consumer awareness partnership focused on the importance of privacy in our lives. The collaboration has led to the production of ‘WhatsApp GoodMornings’ social series with Zakir Khan, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Aakash Gupta, and Gurleen Pannu, who talk about their experiences and light-hearted moments when sharing ‘Good Morning’ messages on WhatsApp from family and friends.
This partnership with the talented bunch of comedians brilliantly combined humour and relatability, leveraging the power of comedians, who resonate with millennials, to deliver content that is both informative and entertaining. With each comedian bringing their unique style, the films highlighted the importance of privacy in our digital interactions, all while delivering light-hearted and engaging storytelling.
It aimed to familiarise key audiences with privacy features related to messaging through some of their favourite comedians. The in-house team tapped into the potential of ‘Good morning’ messages to translate their power into a successful social media marketing collaboration for WhatsApp while seamlessly blending its creative expertise through four films and memes into the ‘WhatsApp GoodMornings’ IP series.
With cheeky wordplay that celebrated his beloved plant, Biswa Kalyan Rath kicked off this partnership by talking about the wrath of spam callers and how to not let them ruin our ‘budding’ happiness. Zakir Khan, with his innovative storytelling, educated his father about dodging over-enthusiastic scammers through the ‘Block And Report’ feature while simultaneously taking a playful jab at singlehood.
Gurleen Pannu taught her overprotective mother how to not let hackers get to chats with WhatsApp’s two-step verification feature. Lastly, Aakash Gupta, with his signature interactive style and wit, explained to viewers the importance of buying products from vendors with a Meta Verified Badge while brewing his first cup of Colombian coffee.
Meta director of consumer marketing Vyom Prashant said, “’Privacy is at the core of WhatsApp. Over the years, we have added layers of security and protection with innovative features that empower our users to communicate securely & confidently on WhatsApp, including engaging with businesses they choose to. ‘Good Morning’ messages on WhatsApp is a shared experience for our users across India, and we partnered with OML to build upon this familiar concept, with humour and levity to explain how easy it is to protect oneself from spam and scams on WhatsApp.”
Only Much Louder SVP of revenue Pankaj Malani said, “The team at OML Studios wanted to elevate the conversation about how WhatsApp is protecting its users’ conversations with loved ones from unwanted scammers. We set out to blend humour with purpose and highlight the importance of privacy while messaging in a light-hearted and relatable manner. We leveraged the intimacy that ‘Good Morning’ messages hold for everyone and kicked off the series with an amazing pool of talent, crafting engaging narratives that resonated with diverse audiences. Each message was designed to not only create awareness but also to foster connection, ensuring that every ‘Good Morning’ message resonated with warmth, all while underscoring the important role that privacy plays in our digital interactions.”
By celebrating the simple joy of good morning messages, this partnership reminded viewers of the love and support that surrounds them, transforming ordinary mornings into meaningful moments of connection. Ultimately, this collaboration highlighted WhatsApp’s privacy features that help people connect with their loved ones safely and securely and demystify privacy in a simplified manner that resonates with audiences. It also fostered a community that values both authentic communication and privacy in the digital age.
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.
