“US law firm PCVA has filed an application for a class action lawsuit on behalf of angry iPhone owners affected by an Apple software update that bricks devices if Touch ID has been repaired by an unapproved dealer,” Liam Tung reports for ZDNet.
“The firm signalled last week, in the wake of the so-called ‘Error 53’ controversy, that it was exploring a class action suit against Apple over the issue,” Tung reports. “On Thursday, PCVA filed an application in the District Court for the Northern District of California, seeking relief on behalf of several affected iPhone 6 owners.”
“If an iPhone 6’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor has been replaced by a non-Apple approved repair shop, the device becomes unusable and displays an ‘Error 53’ message, advising them to contact Apple support,” Tung reports. “The suit is seeking an order that would force Apple to stop disabling iPhones that have been repaired by a third-party and provide a software update that restores functionality to them… PCVA accuses Apple of exploiting the “cult-like following” it enjoys and argues the class action should proceed on the basis that damages affecting thousands of iPhones exceed $5m.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Idiots.
This is a security issue.
Apple’s previous statement regarding the matter:
We protect fingerprint data using a secure enclave, which is uniquely paired to the touch ID sensor. 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. 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 unauthorised 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.
SEE ALSO:
Error 53: Once again, Apple PR drops the ball – February 9, 2016
Apple under pressure as lawyers pledge action over ‘Error 53’ iPhones – February 9, 2016
‘Error 53’ fury mounts as Apple software update kills some iPhones ‘fixed’ by non-Apple repair shops – February 5, 2016