WEB DESK: A newly discovered bug in iPhones and iPads causes the devices to briefly crash when a specific sequence of characters is entered. However, there is some confusion about whether this issue poses a security risk.
The bug, which affects the user interface rather than security, was identified by a security researcher on Wednesday. The problem occurs when users type a particular sequence, “”:, followed by any other character, into the Search bar in the Settings app or the App Library search bar on the home screen.
This action causes the Springboard, Apple’s mobile user interface, to crash momentarily, sending the user back to the lock screen. In some cases, the screen flashes black for a second before reloading.
Despite initial concerns, security experts have assured that this bug does not pose a security threat. Ryan Stortz, an iOS security researcher, and Patrick Wardle, founder of the security startup DoubleYou, both confirmed that the bug is not a security vulnerability.
They also noted that there is no indication that the bug can be triggered remotely, unlike a similar issue in 2020 that crashed the Twitter app when users viewed a tweet with certain characters.
Apple has yet to comment on this newly discovered bug, but experts have advised that there is no need for concern, as it does not compromise the security or functionality of iPhones or iPads.
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