iWorld
SLA Digital powers Viu carrier billing
MUMBAI: SLA Digital has partnered with Vuclip, a PCCW Media company, and the leading premium video-on-demand service provider for emerging markets, making its service, Viu, available to more customers via carrier billing.
Viu provides compelling original content in addition to the freshest regional and premium TV shows and movies to its 16 million users across 15 markets including the Middle East countries of Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
“SLA Digital is committed to delivering new and innovative services for Asian and Middle Eastern mobile customers to consume via carrier billing. This exciting partnership with Vuclip enables us to expand our content offering and ensures that Vuclip’s customers are treated to a frictionless entertainment experience to consume at their leisure.” commented Ashley O’Kane, Head of Marketing at SLA Digital.
With carrier billing, SLA Digital provides customers with an alternative mobile payment solution to subscribe to Viu’s comprehensive catalogue of content where the amount is charged to their post-paid bill or deducted from their prepaid balance. This option, therefore, provides customers with a seamless and secure payment alternative to credit or debit cards.
Speaking about the partnership, Wesam Kattan, Vice President Content & Brand Marketing, Vuclip MENA, said, “Viu is happy to partner with SLA Digital to facilitate our consumers with a convenient and secure payment solution for our service. Through the integration of carrier billing, viewers can now easily subscribe to our comprehensive catalogue of TV shows, movies and original content. This partnership also enables us to expand in the region to include SLA Digital’s Middle Eastern and Asian mobile operator portfolio. We are excited to kick off with an initial offering with Zain Kuwait and look forward to developing our relationship further.”
The carrier billing partnership is now live with Zain Kuwait, with plans to further leverage SLA Digital’s mobile operator connectivity across the region.
PIX COURTESY: ZAWYA
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.
