iWorld
Zee5-Jio Studios join forces to launch Hisaab Barabar and Mrs.
MUMBAI: Last year’s collaborations had the internet buzzing, and this year, the trend isn’t slowing down!
Zee5, India’s beloved homegrown streaming giant, has joined forces with Jio Studios, the media powerhouse of Reliance Industries, to unveil not one but two exclusive cinematic gems.
Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions as Hisaab Barabar and Mrs. bring larger-than-life storytelling right to your screens.
With Hisaab Barabar premiering on 24 January in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu, and the release date for Mrs. just around the corner, this dynamic partnership promises to redefine entertainment for fans across India.
Hisaab Barabar, a satirical social drama starring R. Madhavan, takes a hard-hitting yet humorous approach to the issue of financial fraud. The film follows a common man’s relentless fight to expose a corporate bank’s billion-dollar scam.
Mrs., featuring Sanya Malhotra, explores the nuanced journey of a housewife navigating societal expectations and personal struggles, promising a poignant blend of drama and resilience.
These films aim to elevate Zee5’s already robust portfolio of impactful and entertaining content.
Zee5 chief business officer, Sivakumar Chinnasamy highlighted the platform’s commitment to offering premium content, “At Zee5, we are driven by the goal of providing high-quality and engaging content. Our partnership with Jio Studios brings two remarkable films—Hisaab Barabar and Mrs.—to our subscribers. These films embody meaningful storytelling that resonates deeply with audiences. We remain committed to expanding our rich content library and delivering innovative narratives.”
Jio Studios COO & CFO, Priyanka Chaudhary added, “We’ve had an exceptional 2024 and are thrilled to collaborate with Zee5 to bring cinematic gems like Mrs. and Hisaab Barabar to audiences. Mrs. has garnered acclaim at prestigious festivals, and Hisaab Barabar delivers a bold narrative on financial corruption. This partnership marks a new chapter in delivering high-quality, engaging content to viewers.”
With rising demand for original and diverse stories, Zee5 continues to enhance its portfolio by collaborating with leading studios like Jio Studios. This partnership underscores Zee5’s role as a pioneer in delivering premium and thought-provoking entertainment to Indian viewers.
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.
