Here’s How to Fight the ‘Bug’ Infestation That Has Taken Over iPhones
As of yesterday, the internet was in a frenzy with people saying how fed up they were with a code that shuts down their iPhones, Macs and Apple Watches. The hardy giant that is known for its immunity against any virus, witnessed an obstinate bug take over its OS.
The ‘Unicode of Death’ as it is called, is said to have a code that contains Marathi and Arabic symbols. When sent as a text message, it shuts down your iPhone, causing it to reboot without prior notice and even crashes apps. The bug is so effective that it can even work when the message shows up on your home screen. 
The crashing seems to occur in iOS 8.1, iOS 8.2 and iOS 8.3 versions and can be transferred from Android to iOS.
We are aware of an iMessage issue caused by a specific series of unicode characters and we will make a fix available in a software update.
While Apple issued a statement acknowledging the problem, they also gave tips for a temporary solution.The company even promised that an upcoming software update will fix the problem permanently. Until then, here are the official instructions from the company:
- Ask Siri to “read unread messages.”
- Use Siri to reply to the malicious message. After you reply, you’ll be able to open Messages again.
- In Messages, swipe left to delete the entire thread. Or tap and hold the malicious message, tap More, and delete the message from the thread.
9to5Mac, an online magazine dedicated to Apple, also suggested three more ways to combat the bug. Keep yourself armed with these tips:
1. Tell the offender to immediately send another message thereby cancelling the effect of the initial strand.
2. Send yourself a message via Siri, the share sheet or your Mac.
3. Some users said that sending a photo via the photo app can allow them to access the message history and delete the conversation.
Most people are using the code as a revenge tool against their ex-boyfriends and girlfriends and some are enjoying pranking their friends. While the problem seems to annoy some, it’s leaving others amused.
However, The ‘Unicode of Death’ can adversely affect your device if not handled with caution. Beware.
