iPhone-crashing bug also affects third-party apps like Twitter, Snapchat

The messaging bug that can potentially crash Apple devices like the iPhone can also affect apps such as Twitter, WhatsApp and Snapchat installed on the device.

MacRumors said the bug, which was first found to crash iOS' Messages app, also crash third-party apps.

"In Twitter, any direct message or public mention that includes the string of characters will cause a recipient's phone, with notifications turned on for Twitter, to crash immediately. A similar situation occurs when sending text chat via the Snapchat app, permanently crashing an iPhone when the user goes to read the message," it said.

So far, Apple has offered a temporary fix for the bug while it works on a software update.

But MacRumors said the fix may become more urgent now that it is confirmed that third-party apps could also be affected by the bug.

Notifications

A separate report on CNET said the string of characters will not always cause an iDevice to crash.

It said that if the message is viewed in the Apple iMessage conversation string, the device won't crash.

"(T)he issue only occurs when a notification pops up on the user's screen showing the characters. When notifications are turned off for Snapchat and Twitter, the string won't cause the device to crash," it added. —  Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News