Apparently, this malicious text message can affect a wide range of iPhone models.
There have been plenty of malicious text messages that have been able to crash your smartphone, and in some cases even hack your device. While compared to Google’s Android, Apple’s iOS operating system is widely believed to be more secure, it hasn’t really been vulnerability-proof. According to reports, a new malicious text message is doing the rounds that is said to be capable of crashing your iPhone and even disable your iMessage.
Targeted at devices running iOS 9 up to version 10.2.1 betas, the text message comes with a very large attachment that instantly locks the iMessage app, which renders itself unresponsive when the attachment is tapped to open. The attachment is said to come with a malicious code. While users can long press home button to open multitask switcher to kill the iMessage app, the phone shows a white screen when you try to relaunch the messaging app. After a while, the app crashes and you are back on the Home screen. ALSO READ: Kerala-based researcher successfully bypasses activation lock on an Apple iPad
According to reports, the iMessage app is unable to comprehend the large attachment sent to it and ultimately becomes unresponsive. The message is being circulated via iCloud Drive. Interestingly, users can’t seem to fix the problem by hard rebooting the device or switching it on and off.
Fortunately, there’s a simpler workaround to fix the problem. To begin with, if your smartphone has been affected by the spam, open the following URL – vincedes3.com/save.html – on your Safari browser. The website will begin an automated process wherein a script will instantly relaunch the native iMessage app, and then take you to a new message screen. “I have just saved your iPhone bro ;),” reads a pre-populated text in the messaging app. After this process, the iMessage app goes back to working as normal. RELATED: Pegasus spyware can jailbreak and hack any iPhone with an SMS, Apple issues iOS 9.3.5 update to patch exploit
This is far from the first time Apple’s so-called secure iOS has been targeted by cyber criminals. Just last month, there was a 3-second video from VK.com, which is believed to be shortened link for a malicious website, that could make your iPhone sluggish, and ultimately freeze it. Fortunately, normalcy could be restored after a hard reset.
In case you come across such malicious text or link, do not click on it, don’t forward it to anyone. Meanwhile, check out a video demo of how the malicious text in question can screw your smartphone.