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Skype falls victim to text chat bug Skype falls victim to text chat bug
(34 minutes later)
Skype says it is trying to fix a bug that causes its chat apps to repeatedly crash if a specific string of eight characters is sent to a user. Skype says it has fixed a bug that caused its chat apps to repeatedly crash if a specific string of eight characters was sent to a user.
The flaw affects its software on iOS, Android and some versions of Windows, but does not appear to affect Macs. The flaw affected its software on iOS, Android and some versions of Windows, but did not appear to affect Macs.
"We are aware of the problem, and are working to provide a resolution," a Skype spokeswoman said. "{We] have rolled out updates for all impacted platforms," a Skype spokeswoman said.
The discovery comes a week after a similar but unrelated bug was found to affect texting apps on iPhones. The action came a week after a similar but unrelated bug was found to affect texting apps on iPhones.
Apple has since described a workaround for that issue but is still working on a more permanent fix.Apple has since described a workaround for that issue but is still working on a more permanent fix.
Delete and reinstallDelete and reinstall
The problem with Skype, which is owned by Microsoft, was first flagged by a Russia-based user on the company's community forum.The problem with Skype, which is owned by Microsoft, was first flagged by a Russia-based user on the company's community forum.
"Clearing chat history [does] not help, because when Skype downloads chat history from server, it will crash again," wrote a person nicknamed Giperion."Clearing chat history [does] not help, because when Skype downloads chat history from server, it will crash again," wrote a person nicknamed Giperion.
The report was later brought to prominence by the news site Venturebeat, which detailed a possible fix: the person who sent the original message must delete it, and the affected user needs to delete the Skype app and install an older version of the software.The report was later brought to prominence by the news site Venturebeat, which detailed a possible fix: the person who sent the original message must delete it, and the affected user needs to delete the Skype app and install an older version of the software.
However, while it is easy to download and install an old version of Skype for Windows, it is more complicated to do so for iOS and Android devices, meaning affected users might prefer to wait for Microsoft to release an update that addresses the problem. However, while it was easy to download and install an old version of Skype for Windows, it was more complicated to do so for iOS and Android devices.
Updates for all affected platforms have since been rushed out.
This is distinct to last week's discovery of a text bug that crashes iOS devices, which involves messages featuring specific strings of Arabic, Chinese and other non-Latin characters.This is distinct to last week's discovery of a text bug that crashes iOS devices, which involves messages featuring specific strings of Arabic, Chinese and other non-Latin characters.
That flaw affects Apple's Messages app as well as third-party services, including Twitter and Snapchat. That flaw continues to affect Apple's Messages app as well as third-party services, including Twitter and Snapchat.
Apple's temporary workaround - which involves telling Siri to "read unread messages" - tackles the problem in the company's own chat app, but not others'.Apple's temporary workaround - which involves telling Siri to "read unread messages" - tackles the problem in the company's own chat app, but not others'.