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This is why you shouldn't get a third party vendor to fix your Touch ID button

By Cookie Monster - on 8 Feb 2016, 9:00am

This is why you shouldn't get a third party vendor to fix your Touch ID button

 

Going to an unauthorized or third-party service provider not only voids your device warranty, you also run the risk of bricking your iPhone 6. 

According to The Guardian, thousands of iPhone 6 users could not access their devices after replacing their Touch ID buttons at "non-official" service centers and updating to iOS 9. Upon installing iOS 9, iPhone 6 users encountered the "error 53" message and could no longer access their devices. An Apple spokeswoman responded to this matter with the following statements:

"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. This check ensures the device and the iOS features related to touch ID remain secure. Without this unique pairing, a malicious touch ID sensor could be substituted, thereby gaining access to the secure enclave. When iOS detects that the pairing fails, touch ID, including Apple Pay, is disabled so the device remains secure.

When an iPhone is serviced by an unauthorized repair provider, faulty screens or other invalid components that affect the touch ID sensor could cause the check to fail if the pairing cannot be validated. With a subsequent update or restore, additional security checks result in an ‘error 53’ being displayed … If a customer encounters an unrecoverable error 53, we recommend contacting Apple support.”

In a nutshell, Apple implements various security features on the iPhone to prevent potential malicious third-party components from compromising the device. If an unofficial hardware is found on the iPhone during the standard security check after a software update, it auto locks out the device.

While Apple may have its good intentions, not every iPhone 6 user who had encountered the error message is satisfied with the company's stand. Kyle Wiens, who manages the iFixit website, claims that this problem is widespread as the website receives over 183,000 hits on the "error 53" message. To make matters worse, Apple employees at the retail stores and service centres cannot do anything about the error message besides selling a new phone.

If you accidentally damaged the Touch ID button on your iPhone, we highly recommend that you visit any of the four authorized service providers in Singapore. And if you are planning to get AppleCare+ warranty service for your iPhone 6s/6s Plus, do note that you have to pay more compared to iPhone 6/6 Plus users.

Locations of the authorized iPhone service providers in Singapore.

Source: The Guardian via MacRumors

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