New iOS Bug Tests Your Patience but Leaves Your Personal Data Alone

For those who update their mobile devices as soon as new versions are released, and everyone should be doing so, there is a URL being sent around that will cause you some grief if you click it. Anyone running the latest version of iOS on an iPhone or iPad may have to deal with mean friends sending this URL and causing devices to crash or reboot. Nothing more than this is happening, but it is rather annoying. A similar but appeared in an earlier version of the OS, which was patched by Apple fairly quickly. 

This is a good reminder that opening links that arrive via email or instant messaging comes with some risk. In this case, it doesn't do any damage to devices, other than perhaps loss of some browser tabs. However, so far that's as bad as it's been. But there is definitely risk that other links in such messages are malicious. So, if you don't know the sender, are not expecting a link, or are even a slight bit suspicious, just skip it. If you just can't resist, ask the sender what it is. If they intended to send it and will tell you, go ahead. If they will tell you they sent it, but won't disclose other details, they might be playing a trick on you. If that is the case, click at your own risk.

You can also hold down on the link with your finger or stylus for a few seconds and the actual location the link is headed will appear. This particular one goes to crashsafari.com, though some tricksters have been masking it by using an URL shortening service.

Honestly, would you open any link with the word "crash" in it? If you do, you are probably just asking for trouble.

Versions affected include iOS 9.2.1 on iPhone 5S and 6S and 9.2 on iPhone 6. It also will crash Safari on desktops or laptops and cause you to have to reboot to be the browser to work again. Remember that personal information is not at risk with this particular one; but being able to keep your cool may be.