Such messages or ‘message bombs’ are not new and not limited to Android. Even iMessage is not immune to bugs that could send the app crashing.
A bug is being forwarded via messages which when tapped, could send not just the WhatsApp Android app crashing but possibly even the entire Android device as well, the media reported.
« As with any message bomb, it involves sending and receiving a specially crafted message with hidden symbols in between spaces. Tapping on a portion of the text will basically make the app ‘expand’ the hidden symbols, potentially overloading the app and even the OS, » SlashGear reported on 6 May.
Such messages or ‘message bombs’ are not new and not limited to Android. Even iMessage is not immune to bugs that could send the app crashing.
« There seem to be two variants of this WhatsApp message being forwarded. One involves an ominous black dot that comes with a warning on what will happen if you tap on it which most curious cats will do anyway, » the report added.
Another ‘message bomb’ which is causing the messaging platform to crash is more ‘nefarious, looks too innocent’ and does not come with a warning. The message includes special characters that do not display visibly but are used to change text behaviour.
A superfluous amount of these invisible symbols causes WhatsApp to freeze. Facebook-owned WhatsApp has not commented on the potentially disruptive bug so far.
