This eight-character message causes Skype to endlessly crash

Users on Skype's community forums have discovered a bug that renders the app unusable when a message containing a particular string of characters is received. Sending "http://:" without the quotes crashes the instant messaging service, and since the message is stored in your chat history, every time you sign back in, the app crashes again.

In a statement to VentureBeat, Skype acknowledged the existence of the bug:

We are aware of the problem and are working to provide an resolution.

The bug seems to affect Skype for Windows, Android and iOS, but not the Mac client. At this stage, if you have the message in your chat history, you will not be able to use the Skype for Windows app, although the mobile platforms are unaffected so long as you don't receive the message when you're using the Android or iOS clients. A post on the community forum (which has since been removed) offers a workaround for Windows users:

Skype user "Lazymax" notes that you can get around the bug if the person who sent you the characters deletes the "bad" message. If you then install an older version of Skype, you can use it again.

We'll update you once we hear more on the matter.

Source: Skype community forum (opens in new tab); Via: VentureBeat

Thanks Ronnie for the tip!

Harish Jonnalagadda is a Senior Editor overseeing Asia for Android Central, Windows Central's sister site. When not reviewing phones, he's testing PC hardware, including video cards, motherboards, gaming accessories, and keyboards.

83 Comments

YES THANK YOU!!!!!!! (time to prank my friends)
No. Just no.
I literally have one contact on Skype. What's the worst that can happen?
You killed the echo test?
one legit contact
Hahahahaha!
Such an hysterically awesome response CJ! Top marks!
I have 3 and none of them used Skype from last one year.
"I literally have one contact on Skype. What's the worst that can happen?" I don't know. Is it Chuck Norris?
Does this also affect Windows phone's version of Skype?
on Windows Phone version, it's not an issue, as Windows Modern's version is just fine :)
Guess who just sent this message to all of his contacts..
Haha dude that's amazing! I'm totally gonna do it xD
There is a special place in hell for people like you
When I sent this on my sister's phone, it said "this message has been removed"
Ahahaha gonna do this too lmao
In old BW nokias like 3310, 1110 etc
if you send "," (comma) 69 times via sms ..the phone used to get turn off every time you try to read such sms.
Looks like Microsoft has quickly fixed the bug. http://johndasfundas.blogspot.in/2015/06/chatting-with-extra-colon-n-http.html Good work Microsoft !!! Not like Apple with the "effective power" bug.
And now after apple message bug..its skype's time
But Skype is definitely used a lot less on a daily basis
Definitely used a lot less on a mac.
Well the Skype protocol is used in Skype for Business (formerly Lync), which most companies use. So it's probably the most used communication platform in the world.
Exactly! That was my first thought.
well when you let in a backdoor for the hungry eyes and ears, users trust you less
Typical Microsoft, copying Apple again! #justkidding
Lol
Some weird bug!
No need to worry for me. Echo test will not bother me......
The desktop app is crap compared to the phone app. I can't even send pictures in the desktop app. And of course the good old Skype for Windows desktop version is the most superior one. I wish they did the apps just as good.
Why on earth would you send that?
Typo
Mistake or that person is a troller
Interesting picture...
If I send it from my phone will anything happen to my phone
Effective power anyone?
Ahahahaha
App should be renamed as "Snype" XD
ISIS, First Apple, now Microsoft, wonder what is in Google's crap already $_$??
{s con/con motherfuckerz
I need to greet my friends this morning. hello has changed to http://:
Reminds me of Yahoo messenger days - those days were fun ( remotely killing sessions , generate multiple pop's buzz ) :D
Ahhh those were indeed the days!
Couldn't you just login to Outlook.com and delete that Skype contact?
One doesn't simply delete accounts
haha. if someone sends me a link that crashes my skype, they're gone ;)
You cant delete skype contacts in outlook.com
Have you tried? I have the option to.
Rene actually looks like a super Saiyan god.
*rawr*
Rawr what? He really does. It's like he just fought golden frieza and took a selfie.
You are overanalyzing it! I was just adding simplified onomatopoeia for effect.
And what was it's purpose?
To emulate someone going super saiyan, or an animal.
...or a T-Rex.
Are you saying Rene's masculine looks resemble more to that of an animal?
I was really comparing the finer details of his spirit to that of an animal. His articles remind me of a predator hinting its prey. Edit: autocorrect
The second (big) paragraph I read 3-4 times and still dont get it :)) anyway, on PC, if its talking about PC, why not just delete the chat history (from Skype folder) Should be fine after. Though have no idea how can it be done on mobile device. won't reinstalling app solve the issue, if it doesn't load the history of course ?
Hahaha we don't even need it as the app crashes natively on WP.
Don't know what happened with your phone, but it almost never crashed on my 1020 and 930... Exaggeration?
Hahahaha, nice one.
Hope it doesn't affect me... Got plenty of active Skype contacts
Thanks
Is Skype still a thing?
Is the whole "is ___ still a thing" still a thing itself?
http://:
don't mind that comment, but.... is the Modern version of Skype geting crashed too?
It must be an easter egg, made by the same person who made Windows 95 crash when trying to run "/con/con"
'Send These Eight Characters On Skype And You'll Never Believe What Happens Next!'
Thought for sure it was going to be the same as the iPhone one and the Skype team had introduced the bug just so windows phone users would feel included
Lol, why did you even post the message..!!
because someone tipped him on the news lol
I fired it to see if there was a patch it and it downloaded an update. Is this it?
Fortunately, I don't save chat history.
I've been sending pasted links like that for the past 3 days with no issues.
I can activate Windows via Skype?
What's with these string-caused bugs? Aren't we past those already? Though I imagine this one could have to do with trying to parse the string into a URL, rather than code injection.
Well I'm a dummy since I crashed myself with that string instead of them, however it didn't go on an infinite loop since it removed it after restarting Skype for Desktop.
That sad moment when you realize that the reason windows phones Skype app is unaffected by this is because it has not received any substantial updates in a long time.
DEEZNUT aw, I need another z
A patch of sorts is already in place now. The culprit messages are deleted upon receipt - skype crashes no more.
... So still faster response than apple :)
'Not the Mac client' hmm.. It's just me or...
hello, here's a way to prevent this bug from affecting your computer. http://www.downloadsource.fr/comment-resoudre-le-probleme-de-plantage-sk... This tip also helped me with my problems or recurrent crashing of skype.

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