Apple’s latest iOS update fixes Telugu character bug that crashed iPhones
Apple has started rolling out a new iOS update, version 11.2.6, which fixes the bug that caused iPhones and apps such as iMessages, Facebook and WhatsApp to crash due to a Telugu character. The bug also affects Safari and the built-in Messages app on macOS and the Apple Watch.
How Telugu iOS bug worked
When the Telugu character is sent in an iMessage, it can freeze up the entire Messages app on all of a person’s Mac and iOS devices.
The Messages app will then refuse to function properly until the offending character is removed by deleting the conversation with the person who sent it.
In some situations, if the character is viewed through an iOS notification, it can cause the entire device to crash.
iOS bug turns into prank
Shortly after the bug was discovered, some users started to send out tweets featuring the Telugu characters in an attempt to crash others’ iPhones.
Some even inserted the buggy character into their Twitter names. Mashable notes that the tweets caused Twitter apps to crash for several iPhone users.
Apple has started rolling out a new iOS update, version 11.2.6, which fixes the bug that caused iPhones and apps such as iMessages, Facebook and WhatsApp to crash due to a Telugu character. The bug also affects Safari and the built-in Messages app on macOS and the Apple Watch.
How Telugu iOS bug worked
When the Telugu character is sent in an iMessage, it can freeze up the entire Messages app on all of a person’s Mac and iOS devices.
The Messages app will then refuse to function properly until the offending character is removed by deleting the conversation with the person who sent it.
In some situations, if the character is viewed through an iOS notification, it can cause the entire device to crash.
iOS bug turns into prank
Shortly after the bug was discovered, some users started to send out tweets featuring the Telugu characters in an attempt to crash others’ iPhones.
Some even inserted the buggy character into their Twitter names. Mashable notes that the tweets caused Twitter apps to crash for several iPhone users.
