Daily Mail reported that a so-called “Error 53” has been bugging these two iPhone models along with iOS 9 updates for a couple of weeks.
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Going by the information shared by affected users, the “Error 53” message seemingly pops up after a repaired new iPhone or iPad is updated.
In a statement for Gizmodo, Apple confirms that the fatal Error 53 is what you’ll get for putting unauthorized hardware in an iPhone. However, the problem arises when the iPhone repaired by a third-party store gets a new version of the iOS.
Even if it happened months ago, a fix by a third-party technician can leave an iPhone susceptible to the phone-bricking devastation of Error 53. When iPhone is serviced by an authorized Apple service provider or Apple retail store for changes that affect the touch ID sensor, the pairing is re-validated. Each Touch ID sensor is uniquely tied to the iOS device’s motherboard for additional security.
The statement continued: “If a customer encounters Error 53, we encourage them to contact Apple Support”.
A simple Google search of the error will lead you to numerous posts and threads in Apple’s Support Communities with users complaining about the issue and how their device is officially dead.
According to The Verge, the problem occurs because of Apple’s “Touch-ID” feature.
Kyle Wiens, who runs the website iFixit, told the Guardian that this was a major problem. Hundreds of people lined up to purchase the new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus that went on sale today. This let one have their iOs features related to the TouchID secure.
‘We protect fingerprint data using a secure enclave, which is uniquely paired to the touch ID sensor.
The bug resurfaced when a journalist, who broke his phone screen while covering a refugee crisis was forced to get it repaired in a third-party store.
On the one hand, verifying the connection between an iPhone and the secure element within Touch ID is very important. Apple is reportedly bricking all iPhones that are serviced by unauthorised personnel.
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Apple says this error is the result of a security procedure that checks whether a Touch ID sensor in the home button-which enables fingerprint recognition-has been tampered with.
