There is reportedly a bug plaguing Samsung smartphones which could cost users dearly.

The bug sees the Samsung Messages app (i.e. the default messaging app) sending along photos from your gallery to your contacts without permission.

The bug could see one picture being sent but reports suggest the bug could unknowingly forward your entire gallery along to a contact.

Reports from The Inquirer suggest the bug affects Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ and Galaxy Note 8 devices, but the South Korean electronics giant has yet to confirm the issue.

There is an easy way to check if your phone is secretly sending along your pictures without your permission. Simply head to your phone’s message log to check whether you are unknowingly sharing photos with friends.

While we wait for Samsung to fix the problem (or acknowledge it to start with) you can restrict Samsung Messages from accessing your storage media which should stop the bug in its tracks.

Go to Settings, search for Permissions, scroll to App Permissions and then tap on Storage. Deselect Messages within the Storage sub-menu and that should prevent messages from getting a hold of your photos.

Thankfully this isn’t a massive issue, sure it’s not great having to explain to Jim why you sent him a gallery of cat pictures but luckily your phone isn’t unceremoniously catching fire.