A Malware is Bricking the World’s Most Popular Console

PlayStation console

A malicious message that doubles up as a malware has reportedly been crashing PlayStation 4 consoles, leaving them unable to start and requiring a complete factory reset.

The new malicious malware message is spreading around the PlayStation Network, one that completely crashes the entire console. The malware was first spotted by a Reddit user, who suffered the crash. Other PS4 users have also reported similar problems, adding to indicators of malicious actors on the PlayStation Network (PSN) sending the messages to boot other gamers in competitive games.

“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,” the play wrote. “It happened to me during Rainbow Six: Siege. A player from the other team used a dummy account to send the message and crashed my entire team. We all have had to factory reset. Only one of our guys wasn’t affected and he has his messages private.”

A workaround fix is to download the PlayStation Messages app onto a smartphone to then delete the messages – to avoid opening them on the console. The more prudent method to avoid the malware is to set the PlayStation account to private messages alone by opting to receive messages from “friends only” or “no one”.

For those already impacted by the malware attack, the easier solution is to reboot the console n Safe Mode before choosing to rebuild the PS4’s database. As a last resort, a victim may be required to conduct a complete factory reset that will get rid of the malware, along with everything else located on the hard drive.

Image credit: Pexels.