The messaging service WhatsApp is hugely popular thanks to features like group messaging and a wide selection of emojis.
But one security researcher has uncovered a vulnerability in the service that can be used to crash the app .
Indrajeet Bhuyan found that sending a single message containing 6,000 emojis would overload the app and force it to shut down.
Explaining the flaw in a blog post , Bhuyan said: "In WhatsApp web, WhatsApp allows 6,500 - 6,600 characters.
"But after typing about 4,200 - 4,400 smileys the browser starts to slow down. But since the limit is not yet reached, so WhatsApp allows you to go on inserting."
"When it [the mobile app] receives it, it overflows the buffer and it crashes."
The 18-year old researcher and blogger demonstrates the 'emoji overload' technique in a video posted to his site.
He explains that he has reported the danger to WhatsApp who could fix the problem with an upcoming patch.
When it launched, the instant messaging service - which connects via 3G or wireless networks - was only available to smartphone users.
But in January, it was announced that the service will be available on desktop computer users too.
In September, WhatsApp revealed that more than 900 million people used the service.
Daily Mirror
