With WhatsApp users, caution is called for again.
In the worst case, the current “text bomb” can lead to all chat messages being deleted.
Two billion users use the WhatsApp platform every month.
Now there is another so-called "text bomb" in circulation that can delete chat messages.
The “Whatsapp bomb” can be circumvented with a few measures.
At the beginning of last year,
reached the mark of
two billion
monthly active users * for
the first time
, according to Statista.
All these
users
are now at
risk of
being
confronted
with a so-called
text bomb
- and not for the first time.
Strangers are
now sending text messages again, which consist of special characters that the app cannot display.
This
time, there are not only
text messages in
circulation
, but also
contact files
that are sent in VCard format, such as on the
WABetaInfo
page
- a platform that regularly reports on news about the
operating systems
of Apple, Google and Microsoft - can be seen.
-Anti crash integrated into official WhatsApp: There are messages designed to freeze or crash your WhatsApp.
Then there are modded WhatsApp versions that have a “Crashcode protection” like a bigger Unicode database.
We need this integrated into the official application.
pic.twitter.com/bpyWtFUwQO
- Ian (@ Ian_Oli_01) August 15, 2020
WhatsApp spokesman: "We strongly advise our users to download updates"
The text bomb has
unpleasant consequences
for the
recipient
.
WhatsApp * crashes and cannot be opened again without further ado.
It can
get worse
.
To get the app working again, it must first be uninstalled and then downloaded again.
Then
is back, but the
chat messages
may
no longer be
.
If
the chat history has
not previously been
backed up
, all messages are deleted forever.
As reported by t-online.de, WhatsApp is already working on a
security patch
for the problem.
"As with any tech product, we strongly advise our users to keep their WhatsApp app and mobile operating system up to date and to
download
updates
as soon as they are available," said a WhatsApp spokesman, according to the news portal.
WhatsApp bomb: This helps against the ominous text messages
Until then, in addition to the
intermediate
backup
of messages, there are other
measures
that
users
can
take
to protect
themselves from the
text bombs
.
In the account settings,
group invitations from strangers can be prevented
under the tab
"Data protection"
.
In addition, some users could be
lucky in misfortune
.
Anyone confronted with a text bomb while
using
via
web client
or
desktop app
can easily delete the message on the PC - without any further consequences.
(
lb) * Merkur.de is part of the Ippen digital network.