If a mysterious error code called “Error 53” pops up on your Apple iPhone 6 or 6 plus, get ready.
This message has been occurring on iPhones since the latest iOS 9 updates.
For devices that have undergone third-party repairs, the error message could mean that your phone is broken.
Apple says that the error appears to protect customers, but thousands of users are claiming that it has rendered their iPhones useless, and any data kept within is lost without hope of retrieval.
The focal point of the issue lies in the security measures of the Touch ID sensor.
Apple released its latest statement on the issue to AppleInsider, explaining the security behind the latest updated.
The statement said, ‘We take our customer security very seriously and Error 53 is the result of security checks designed to protect our customers.’
‘iOS checks that the Touch ID sensor in your iPhone or iPad correctly matches your device’s other components.
‘If iOS finds a mismatch, the check fails and Touch ID, including for Apple Pay use, is disabled.
‘This security measure is necessary to protect your device and prevent a fraudulent Touch ID sensor from being used. If a customer encounters Error 53, we encourage them to contact Apple Support.’
The touch ID sensor records fingerprints, and keeps the data protected with a “secure enclave,” an Apple spokeswoman explained in an earlier statement to The Guardian.
Any third-party repairs affect this area, like the home-button or the screen, can cause the messages, and consequently, the death-sentence for an iPhone.
The Apple spokeswoman explains that “faulty screens or other invalid components,” can disrupt the unique pairings of the touch ID, disabling the phone so it remains secure.
The company has recommended users to contact Apple Support for Help. But, once Error 53 comes up, contacting Apple Support may not be of much help.
As Wall Street Journal points out, some customers have gone to the Apple Store only to be turned away as the error message was like “the plague,” and unauthorized repairs have voided the warranty.
