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Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

There's an iOS bug that lets you crash other iPhones with a single text

In some cases, the bug can force an iPhone to reboot.

THERE’S A NASTY new iPhone bug doing the rounds: It’s a string of characters that, when sent in a message, crashes the recipient’s phone.

We first heard about the issue on 9to5Mac, and it apparently affects only iPhone-to-iPhone communication. After receiving a text with the particular string of characters, Messages will reportedly crash repeatedly. It can also force iPhones to reboot in some circumstances.

Here’s the text that is reportedly causing the bug:

effective. Power لُلُصّبُلُلصّبُررً ॣ ॣh ॣ ॣ 冗

For what it’s worth, we’ve tried to replicate the bug and can’t manage it – suggesting that it doesn’t necessarily affect all iPhones. But comments on social media show that it’s definitely for an issue for many:

On Reddit, one user theorises that it’s caused by a failure to render unicode properly — “[causing] messages to take up a lot more memory than normal, leading to iOS killing the largest process,” and thus crashing.

And as 9to5Mac notes, this isn’t the first time this has happened. In 2013, the tech blog reported on how certain Arabic characters could cause issues in both iOS 6 and OS X 10.8.

If you’ve been affected, Forbes has a suggestion on how to fix the issue and let you reopen Messages: Either “have the person who pranked you send another message,” or “send yourself a message through Siri or your Mac.”

Apple told Business Insider it had no comment at this time.

- Rob Price

Read: Is your phone overheating regularly? Here’s how you can fix it >

Read: Why this Irish company’s plans for global expansion is leaving the US for last >

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    Mute Lucy Nevins
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    Sep 16th 2011, 8:45 PM

    Can’t see this happen in any shape or form!

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    Mute Toast Rack
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    Sep 17th 2011, 12:28 AM

    Why? Any logical reason, or just populist begrudgery?

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    Mute David Conroy
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    Sep 17th 2011, 1:09 AM

    Well, if it does, I hope he makes €380 million profit, and that he uses it (all) to pay off his debt to NAMA. Now that I don’t see happening.

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    Mute Rachel Walsh Howe
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    Sep 17th 2011, 12:10 AM

    Is there not enough empty apartments already

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    Mute Toast Rack
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    Sep 17th 2011, 12:30 AM

    You must mean ARE there not enough? To which the answer is no, not enough of sufficient quality in the appropriate areas. Duplexes in Co Roscommon – well now that’s a different story which only the wrecking ball can truly answer.

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    Mute Frank2521
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    Sep 17th 2011, 1:54 AM

    I don’t know which is worse the planners(bad name) continuing to grant permission for developement or mcGuiness for President.
    I do know – it’s the planners, they cost more than the terrorists and the drug dealers combined. The country is ruined as a result of bad planning decisions.

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    Mute jackass ireland
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    Sep 17th 2011, 5:17 AM

    Dead on. These people are a law unto themselves and put the ass in jackass. No one takes them to task over their bullshit decisions. Wholly unqualified and completely incompetent.

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    Mute Frank2521
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    Sep 16th 2011, 11:45 PM

    I hope it dosnt happen – more brown envelopes. Will any planner ever be prosecuted for their part in granting permission for developments in Ireland.
    One can only assume it is corruption when you see the evidence of developments built in flood zones etc. It is that or pressure from TD’s or Councilors either way one orbthe other should be in jail and should be ashamed to show their face in public.
    I think corruption and collusion is common in our councils. We need whistle blowers to stand up.

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