PS4 Crashes

Malicious message crashes aren't just for smartphones,

it seems. Numerous PS4 owners have reported receiving

PSN messages where an unrecognized character

effectively bricks their consoles, making them crash and

leaving them unable to start properly. And deleting any

rogue messages (typically by leaving the conversation in

the PS Messages mobile app) isn't enough by itself --

you have to either rebuild the database in Safe Mode or

factory reset the system.

You can eliminate the chance of a hostile message by going

into your settings (either in the console or the PS Messages

app), visiting account management, and then changing your

privacy settings so that messages are either limited to friends

or switched off.

We've asked Sony for comment. The company can likely

address this with a software update, and it's relatively easy

to protect yourself in the meantime. However, there's little

doubt that the consequences are serious. Most phone-

oriented bugs are troublesome, but won't necessarily

prevent you from using your other apps on your device.

Here, a prankster is rendering your PS4 effectively inoperable

until you walk through some painstaking troubleshooting steps.