Alert: One Text Message May Crash iPhones
By Edward Cardenas
SOUTHFIELD (CBS Detroit) - iPhone users are reporting on social media and in Mac blogs that a text message sent by iMessage or SMS can cause the device and message app to crash.
The bug, which is a string of symbols and Arabic characters according to MacRumors, is sent by iMessage or SMS to an iPhone.
9to5mac states that if the text is received while the iPhone is on the lock screen, it causes the recipient's iPhone to reboot. Additionally, if the message is received while the messages app is open in the list view, the messages app will crash when users attempt to open the app.
MacRumors recommends the following fixes if the bug is sent to a iPhone owners:
- If the Messages app was opened to the conversation with the person who sent the offending message, the Messages app can be reopened to this conversation. Sending a reply message fixes the problem.
- If Messages was opened to the conversation list view, the app will crash when you attempt to open it. This can be fixed by having someone send a message or by sending a message to yourself by Siri, or through the Share sheet in any app.
- To send yourself a message in Siri, tell Siri to "Send a message to myself." Siri will open up a dialogue where you can give her a quick message like "Fix" that'll be sent to your iPhone to clear away the malicious message.
- Users can also open an app such as Notes, write a note and use the Share option the little document with an arrow to message it to yourself.
Apple is reportedly working on fix for the bug.
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