Sony’s most prestigious gaming console till date PlayStation 4 or PS4 contains a bug that exploits and crashes the console through a text message. It is believed that malicious threat actors are sending infected messages to the console to crash it.
Reddit is bursting with reports from PS4 users who are complaining about receiving strings of text messages via the messaging app of the console. Some of the users had to perform a factory reset to get the console back to its normal functionalities.
Apparently, PS4 has been attacked with a Text Bomb that exploits the operating system to render the controllers and sound outputs inactive and when the console goes through resetting error loops start appearing.
“There is a new glitch that basically bricks your console and forces you to factory reset it. Even deleting the message from the mobile app doesn’t work,” posted an annoyed PS4 user on Reddit, Huntstark. According to another user, the message code was displayed only as a question mark in the box.
If you want to secure your console, it is recommended that you set your privacy settings only to allow messages from friends only. To do this, follow this:
Settings > Account Management > Privacy Settings. On the Privacy Settings menu, select Personal Info | Messages and from there click on ‘Friends’ or ‘No One’.
It is worth noting that the message is being sent through a group chat. Some users stated that by deleting the malicious text message via the PS4 mobile app resolves the issue but many claimed that they had to rebuild their console system’s database to make it functional again.
On Sony’s website, the process of resetting the console is mentioned, according to which you need to turn off the PS4 system and then keep holding the power button and release it after you hear the second beep. Now connect the DualShock 4 with the console’s USB cable and press the PS button. Sony hasn’t commented on the issue as yet. Keep visiting this space for more on this bug.