Android users alert! Setting this image as wallpaper can make your smartphone useless

Google’s willingness to keep its Play Store open for all and allowing everyone to upload apps on it has led to major security concerns in the past. Every now and then, we keep hearing about malicious text messages and apps which can be used to reboot smartphones or cause system crashes. Similar attempts have been made to rob people of their money and data. But, the Android users are now at a new risk. 

The threat is not from any app but a simple, beautiful-looking image. This picture has the ability to soft-brick your Android phone if you set it up as the wallpaper. The issue was reported by well-known leaker Universe Ice on Twitter and confirmed by dozens of other users.

“WARNING！！！Never set this picture as wallpaper, especially for Samsung mobile phone users! It will cause your phone to crash! Don't try it! If someone sends you this picture, please ignore it,” the tweet read. 

The reason behind this flaw is still not clear. 

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What is soft-bricking? 

This is a condition where your smartphone can’t be used or is rendered useless, till the time you reset the device completely. In this case, the phone is soft-bricked when the image in question is applied as a new wallpaper. The device crashes and the bug causes the display to switch on and off while on the lock screen.

It is possible that the image somehow comes into conflict with an underlying Android OS issue. It’s also possible that it was specially crafted to take advantage of an existing vulnerability. Google is yet to issue a statement on this. 

However, till there is more clarity, it is better not to use this image.