According to The Guardian, Apple’s latest operating system, the iOS 9 permanently disables the handset if it detects that a repair has been carried out by a non-Apple technician. The “error 53,” which is considered a new buzz in the tech world, but if it happens, the unfortunate soul would read the following message, “An unknown error has occurred (53),” and the device expires shortly after.
The Cupertino based tech has confirmed about the ‘Error 53’, saying that the message is actually the company’s technique of preventing Touch ID-related security breaches.
The issue appears to be happening to those handsets where the home button, which has touch ID fingerprint recognition built-in, has been repaired by a third part i.e. a non-official company or individual. However, it has also affected customers whose phone has been damaged but they carried on using the device without any repair.
An Apple spokeswoman informed, “We protect fingerprint data using a secure enclave, which is uniquely paired to the touch ID sensor. When iPhone is serviced by an authorised Apple service provider or Apple retail store for changes that affect the touch ID sensor, the pairing is re-validated.”
However, she added “when an iPhone is serviced by an unauthorised repair provider, faulty screens or other invalid components that affect the touch ID sensor ……result in an ‘error 53’ being displayed … If a customer encounters an unrecoverable error 53, we recommend contacting Apple support.”