A string of text sent in a message Crashes Iphone

The article you reference refers to a proof-of-concept vulnerability that was patched about 6 years ago. Such a virus was never seen in the wild. To date, there have been no viruses in the wild that affect iPhones/iPads unless they have been jailbroken. Does that mean it could never happen? No. It justs means it's highly unlikely.

This problem is not a virus. From everything I've read, it does not represent any security threat.

I'm sorry if this is too late! I know how to fix it. Basically the iPhone doesn't understand the string of code in the message that has been sent to you, so it keeps crashing the app since it cannot understand the message. This is also why it restarted, because it was confused by the characters. HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO FIX THIS!

First you need to go to your contacts

Click on the person's name who sent you the effective power message

Scroll down to send message

Click send message

Type their name in the To box at the top of the screen

send them a message

This should break the chain and fix your phone.

*** To everyone that thinks this is funny to send around to people and "crash their phones" it's really not. It is breaking peoples phones and causing people a lot of grief***

I hope this can help anyone with this problem!

Go to your contacts and click on the person that sent you the Arabic message. Scroll until you see send message and send them a message that way. Then delete the conversation. This should fix the bug.

the Solution 2 step:

1-put your iPhone date two month forward

2-go to settings > Messages >(under Message History, select keep messages 30 day)

NB: this will fix the problem but will delete all your messages inbox.

go to your photos and send a picture message from there to whomever sent you the message and that will fix it. did it myself

Thanks for the fix. Worked like a charm!

Mike - which fix did you use?

How to prevent the text from rebooting your iPhone or crashing Messages

This corrects the immediate problem but it can happen to you again if someone else sends you the message.

To prevent it do this:

Go to Settings > Notifications > Messages

Then set "Alert Styles" to "none" and turn off the switch to "Show Previews".

This prevents the malicious text string from being able to cause a respring that reboots your phone and occasionally crashes Messages.

You will still be able to tell when a new incoming text comes as it will 'ding' [or what ever noise you assigned it, and the icon badge will show the unread text message count which will change with the new incoming text added. You just won't see a preview of the text message or banner when it comes in.

When Apple has the fix out with their next release [middle of June, or so I read] you can change the settings back.

Thanks for the fix. Worked like a charm

Here's a fix from another thread....worked like a charm!

.......

the Solution 2 step:

1-put your iPhone date two month forward

2-go to settings > Messages >(under Message History, select keep messages 30 day)

NB: this will fix the problem but will delete all your messages inbox.

.......

Also found a new fix to the crashed messenger(if you're unable to even open the app) go to contacts quickly select to call the contact (doesn't need to go through) then press the info icon in your call logs and select to send a message to anyone and at this ppint you should've been taken to the message screen of the Contact you chose and your iPhone should now work fine! Hope I helped!!

Okay, this is NOT funny at all. I have tried EVERY SINGLE available fix on this website and others and NOTHING works! Every time I try and open the messages app from anywhere (the app, siri, contacts, or other) it crashes immediately. Every single time! I've sent photos to the 2 people who sent me the virus, I've sent photos to myself, I've had siri send myself a text, I've set my phone's date 2 months in advance and had all messages 30 days old deleted, I've turned my phone off and on a MILLION times, I've done the thing where you turn off the banners. MY GOD. HELP.

Arsenio Batoy the 4th wrote:

Okay, this is NOT funny at all. I have tried EVERY SINGLE available fix on this website and others and NOTHING works! Every time I try and open the messages app from anywhere (the app, siri, contacts, or other) it crashes immediately. Every single time! I've sent photos to the 2 people who sent me the virus, I've sent photos to myself, I've had siri send myself a text, I've set my phone's date 2 months in advance and had all messages 30 days old deleted, I've turned my phone off and on a MILLION times, I've done the thing where you turn off the banners. MY GOD. HELP.

Restore the phone from a back up using iTunes.

I'll try it, thanks

I was told to go to Photos and choose a picture to send to the original person who sent you the text. Hit send. You should be able to access iMessages right then and there and delete the conversation between you and that person. Hope it works for you.

Finally found a workaround that actually works! I had tried everything under the sun. I read EVERYTHING online about how to fix it and none of it worked. I couldn't figure out who was the punk that Sent me the message to be able to text them back. Here we go!

hold down the home button for Siri and ask her what unread text messages you have.

The very first name or number that she says is the culprit!

nan now you know who you have to text.

SHe he will then ask you if you want to reply.

SAy yes

reply with whatever floats your boat

and say send