Some iPhones bricked when repaired by third-party facilities

Any third-party repairs that affect this area, like the home-button or the screen, can spur the messages, and thus, the death-sentence, for an iPhone. “ALSO, the phone could be returned to Apple (Service Plus or Yoobee in NZ) to have a new Touch ID sensor or screen replaced and the device will work”.

Weins told WSJ that many of these third-parties use recycled Apple parts, and that the policy is harsh, and ridiculous.

“We take customer security very seriously and Error 53 is the result of security checks created to protect our customers”, Apple said in an official statement sent to ZDNet. Apple confirmed yesterday that the disabling “Error 53” occurs because the company wants to prevent Touch ID-related security problems that could be introduced by unauthorized repairs.

“We protect fingerprint data using a secure enclave, which is uniquely paired to the touch ID sensor”. Apple recommends contacting their support team if this happens but even then, you may be out of luck.

Apple has advised users facing the problem to contact Apple support. In addition, the user is not even informed why his phone was ‘bricked.’ Thus, users of iPhones and iPads are in up in arms against this move of Apple which borders on overkill.

The best bet right now with an iPhone giving the Error 53 alert is that you don’t try and fix or repair it on your own, and take it straight to Apple hoping for a replacement.

The technical problem has been described as “the plague” as unauthorised repairs void warranties and affected customers flock to Apple stores only to be turned away.

Users who have got their handsets repaired from third-party service centres and updated their iPhones to the latest versions are seeing “Error 53” pop up on their screens. Apple advice was not to throw your phone out jut yet.

Speaking with The Guardian, iFixit’s Kyle Wiens said that the issue, while still unclear, appears to be Apple ensuring only genuine components are being used for repairs.

According to recent reports, tech giant Apple put in place a security check in its new iPhone and iPad models, because of which the devices gets disabled when users get them fixed from a non-Apple-certified technician. The latest smartphone from Apple could be the most features-packed edition yet.