specific network name destroys WiFi on your iPhone
A security researcher recently discovered that a carefully crafted network name is causing a problem in iOS WiFi settings. The ability to connect to WiFi is then completely disabled.
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New bug completely disables WiFi on your iPhone
A WiFi router with a specific name can completely ruin your iPhone’s WiFi functionality. That leaves security researcher Carl Schou see on Twitter. The dangerous name in question: “%p%s%s%s%s%n”. As soon as you connect an iPhone or iPad to a router with that name, all WiFi functionality disappears.
System network features such as AirDrop are also disabled. The problem persists after the device reboots. Fortunately, you can solve it by resetting all network settings on your iPhone. With that, your iPhone will forget all the WiFi passwords you ever set. Very annoying, but a solution.
Why you should be careful for the time being
Fortunately, few WiFi networks have the specific name of death. It is therefore unlikely that you will fall victim to this bug. However, from similar bugs in the past, we’ve learned that there are always pranksters who get satisfaction from wrecking someone else’s iPhone.
The name of a router can be easily changed. If you come across a network called “%p%s%s%s%s%n” in the next few days, don’t connect. There is a good chance that Apple will fix the bug via a software update in the coming weeks.
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