https://www.polygon.com/2018/10/14/17974946/ps4-message-hack-factory-reset To do this you go to Settings < Account Management < Privacy Settings < Personal Info/Messaging I recommend changing it to friends only.
Also disable friend requests for now because the same hack can be done with the message section of friend requests.
This one isn't an issue with the game, it's an issue with the console itself. If someone successfully sends you one of these messages, you can't use your console until you're able to remove the message. I've seen some people say that deleting the message via the PS Messages app or PSN website then rebuilding the database works; others have had to resort to a full on factory reset (blowing away any games, saves, etc that they had on the console).
Nope, it's happened. Confirmed by several people on reddit. It has to do with people sending you characters in message that the system can't handle in.
Wasn't this a big thing on iPhone a few years ago too? I remember I was told to turn off the banners that show up when you receive a text, but I don't remember if it was for this. Effective power sounds familiar though.
