Google links don't work after iOS 9.3

Please help me understand something: If the bad data is downloaded completely by iOS independent of the app & its affiliates why doesn't Apple just stop the iOS from downloading the bad data if it has in fact identified it as such.?.

When Windows forces updates that brick machines & these problems are clearly identified, an update follows with a resolution shortly afterwards.

Apple can afford to beta test these issues, and if you are indeed correct on what the only culprit is; the fix is remarkably easy. Yet, here we are with the clock ticking away, day after day, only more reports of the same problems but no fix.

To disable google search links only; the iOS would have to be infected because all browsers do not work independently of the iOS. Each app has a trust certificate/signature attached to it for our protection.

Isn't it then logical to conclude that the problem is slightly bigger; and fully created by Apple, not an App?

While there is a way to blacklist bad data by banning the cert, there is currently no mechanism in iOS to purge association data from swcd once iOS has downloaded it. Furthermore, due to the cert used for association data signing being used in multiple places, blacklisting it would also blacklist the website and/or the app itself. That's going overboard as neither are malicious.

It's also wrong to say Windows has this solved. When the malicious FTDI drivers that intentionally bricked devices were delivered via Windows Update, Microsoft didn't pull them until FTDI requested it.

I'm not sure why you said "Apple can afford to beta test these issues". The bug was triggered by a specially crafted file, not arbitrary, generic data. That's why it's only known to occur with booking.com's data. It's hard to test for that, especially when the file is otherwise completely compliant JSON.

I'm not sure what you think the "simple" fix is, purging keychain data on crash isn't easy.

The fact it was booking.com's data was only discovered yesterday, which is also when I filed a security bug with Apple. Although Apple did approve a fixed version of Booking.com (for new users) for the App Store extremely quickly as an emergency exception.

Google search results are disabled because of how Google uses JavaScript to open URLs. Their method of opening URLs forces the link to go through swcd To check if it's a Universal Link. That's also why disabling JavaScript fixes it for Google but "Open in Safari" and links from Mail continue to die.

"Google search results are disabled because of how Google uses JavaScript to open URLs. Their method of opening URLs forces the link to go through swcd To check if it's a Universal Link. That's also why disabling JavaScript fixes it for Google but "Open in Safari" and links from Mail continue to die.

HOW then do you explain Atomic Web browsers ability to open all Google based search results without any issues; yet Google Chrome & Safari fail??

HI,

Since upgrading to ios 9.3 (iPhone 6) my Safari links do not work. When the link is held down it crashes Safari and the phone stops responding for a short while. I do not have the Booking.com App installed. I'm a beta tester and have never had any problems with the betas!

I have changed search engines and it's stil the same. I have disabled JavaScript and no change. I have now installed third party web browsers (Firefox Chrome) and these too are still buggy! Clearing all the webdata, history, browser cache does not improve this. Any other solutions to this would be really appreciated?

Steve

Plymouth

UK

even facebook links are not working , what is the use of the iphone if it will be used only if it will be used only for phone calls ..... Hope they solve the problem soon or to get back the old software

I have found that using safari ( without latest ios update ) using google as search engine links dont work. Chrome browser works.. Weirdest of all I typed in bing in the url field in safari , did the search with bing instead of google and the links in Bing results work??? Email links still crashes the phone.

About time we had some government regulation to authorise software updates before they are allowed to be released. This is wasting millions of hours of business and private users time.

Go to Settings > Safari > Scroll down to Advanced > Turn off Javascript. You will then be able to use Safari. Links in emails still won't work and email becomes frozen if you try to open link. You then have to close and reopen email from App.

I've posted a message on my Facebook page warning people not to update to iOS 9.3 until Apple get their act together. I wish I'd waited to see if there were any problems before installing this update. I'm not normally so quick to update.

This is bananas!

I have not upgraded to 9.3 and yet this problem has just started for me. I know URLs were working on the Sunday from a message I opened. Now the URL freezes the messaging app.

I have deleted the all the apps that have been updated in the last 3 days. It's not that. How has the IOS source code changed??

Does IOS force push security updates without user knowledge, similar to mac OS?

I've found a solution for my iPhone 6s, and believe me I tried many things I read here.

I downgraded to 9.2.1 following the instructions on the web, it was via iTunes after downloading the file. Then I restored the phone manually, without back up, the 128gb (yes, it was a pain!). I reintalled only the apps I use everyday and of course I left booking.com uninstalled! I didn't want to run any risk! Now everything is working perfectly, Safari, google seach, links through the Mail. I read the ios 9.3 has nothing to do with the links problem but I will wait a bit before upgrading.

If you can spent this whole time restoring your phone, this is the solution.

I've found a solution for my iPhone 6s, and believe me I tried many things I read here.

I downgraded to 9.2.1 following the instructions on the web, it was via iTunes after downloading the file. Then I restored the phone manually, without back up, the 128gb (yes, it was a pain!). I reintalled only the apps I use everyday and of course I left booking.com uninstalled! I didn't want to run any risk! Now everything is working perfectly, Safari, google seach, links through the Mail. I read the ios 9.3 has nothing to do with the links problem but I will wait a bit before upgrading.

If you can spent this whole time restoring your phone, this is the solution.

here is a good explanation what is going on:

https://bencollier.net/2016/03/unable-to-open-links-in-safari-mail-or-messages-o n-ios-9-3/

btw: booking.com are stupid programmers because it is ridiculous to associate every hotel link with the booking.com app but apple is also not smart because they need to predict how stupid programmers are out there and develop a lot of exclusions.

Now, imagine that after booking.com installation your memory is 2.5MB busy by some link association with app.

Apple fix it pls asap and remove this file from memory.

The ONLY thing that fixed my iPhone 6 (9.3) was to erase the phone (make it like it was a new phone) and restore it from a week old back up I had on iTunes. As a precaution I deleted the app booking.com.

Now everything (all links, etc..) work as before.

😟

Didn't work for me on my iPhone 6. Followed the recipe exactly. Also tried the brute force approach of restoring, as suggested in another post. That didn't work either. I guess I'll just stop worrying this one and wait for Apple to come through.

I don't profess to be an expert but people are adamnet that this has nothing to do with iOS. People claim this is 100% related to an error with the app Booking.com or one of their affiliated sites --- their app creates corrupted data that then screws up your phone. I was able to fix mine by restoring my iPhone from a 1 week old iTunes backup --- and removing Booking.com (and every other booking travel site except Expedia). Hope this helps ... It's a PITA.

Hi,

I have the exact same problem. Updated my iPhone 6 to iOS 9.3 and links in mail and google no longer work. WHY does a company as large as Apple a) not test software before launch and b) continue to frustrate existing LOYAL Apple users with such retrograde steps.

Nicola