[ad_1]
WhatsApp is no stranger to crashes caused by strange messages, but the latest variety is causing unstoppable crashes that, in the worst case, could leave you without your chat history.
WABetaInfo posted a long post detailing what it calls “scare messages” but can also describe them as “text bombs”, an older term for the same thing. Either way, these are messages sent in the popular third-party messaging app that are designed to block them when another unwitting user receives them.
Why does WhatsApp fail?
The common thread between these messages is the use of unusual characters, often from various non-Latin alphabets. When opening a message that contains these strings, the application cannot figure out how to process them, which is when the problems start.
If you’re not smart enough to interact with one of these messages, WhatsApp can enter an infinite cycle of glitches that can only be fixed by reinstalling the app. This means that you will lose your chat history on the device, leaving you with your most recent backup or nothing at all if you don’t have backup enabled.
There are different versions of these messages that work on the Android version of the application, as well as those that affect the iOS version. Don’t take it as an invitation to tap on funny-looking messages.
You can also find a vcard causing a crash, what WhatsApp calls your virtual contact cards. These contain multiple contacts with strange names which then cause crashes similar to messages.
What to do if you receive these messages
If you receive one of these suspicious-looking messages, there is a potential way to safely get rid of it. If you log in to WhatsApp Web on a desktop or laptop, block the user who sent the message, then set your privacy in “My contacts” or “My contacts except …” and finally delete the message, you have escaped from a possible problem.
However, this only works if you already have a WhatsApp web session open, so it is not a solution if your application already crashes and you cannot access the menu that allows you to configure one.
The sad thing is, there have been several messages like these over the years, but WhatsApp can’t seem to make any general fixes. The only thing users can do is stay tuned, keep their applications up to date when updates are available, and hope that developers will eventually figure out a way to eliminate these vulnerabilities for good.
