A bug in Apple's iOS is causing handsets to crash when a text message containing a certain string of characters is received, Digital Spy reports.

The glitch is the result of the operating system's inability to correctly render Arabic text, but the software will only crash if a specific string of characters is sent.

The bug will cause an iPhone to reboot when the offending message is received, unless the user is already viewing their iMessage history when it arrives.

Users have been sending the phone-crashing text to one another as a prank, and some of the victims have taken to Reddit to vent their frustration.

There are workaround solutions, with users able to protect themselves by shutting off the 'show on local screen' slider under the 'messages' section of the 'notifications' menu. 'Alert style when unlocked' must also be set to 'none'.

Reports on Twitter suggest that Apple is aware of the bug and working on a fix, but the Cupertino firm is yet to issue an official statement.