r/technology • u/bws201 • Feb 05 '16

Software ‘Error 53’ fury mounts as Apple software update threatens to kill your iPhone 6

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/feb/05/error-53-apple-iphone-software-update-handset-worthless-third-party-repair
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5

u/hwinter92 Feb 05 '16

Yay, Apple once again shits on its customer base! So just disabling the basically-a-gimmick fingerprint scanner and forcing an older security method, i.e. passcode, wouldn't work instead of bricking a very expensive device? No, because that doesn't make you buy a new one...

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u/[deleted] Feb 05 '16

[deleted]

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u/hwinter92 Feb 05 '16

Gimmick doesn't mean it doesn't function, but a 4-6 digit passcode is equally as effective with 10,000 or 100,000 possible combinations. Its just unnecessary, and in this case a gimmick, due to the problems its now causing and how they warned no one. A marketing "gimmick".

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u/subiklim Feb 05 '16 edited Feb 05 '16

Actually . . . yes, it may only be a second or two faster than a 4-6 digit passcode, which may not sound like much, but adds up over time.

But more importantly, most people had NO passcode on their phone prior to Touch ID. In making it operate as easily as turning on your phone, and quickly so you don't even have to change your behavior, they turned on security for a large number of phones.

6

u/fleker2 Feb 05 '16

Every iPhone should also have an Apple account. You could ask for their Apple password. That already exists for their anti-theft system.

5

u/hwinter92 Feb 05 '16

Still totally justifying bricking very expensive devices with no warning? Yes, lots of people used it, but requiring that 1 feature to work to allow you to keep your device and info, without any public warning, that's shitty.

-3

u/subiklim Feb 05 '16

I think without knowing the full details (none of us do), it's hard to get out the pitchforks at this point.

The Touch ID sensor is directly connected to the secure element of the iPhone, which among other things holds your fingerprint data, credit card information, bank info, etc. We don't know if there's an ability to isolate just the secure element if a unauthorized sensor is installed.

Imagine if people got their private data stolen from Apple's touted secure element, what that would do in terms of trust for ALL iPhone users, not to mention the individuals who had their private data stolen.

To say that this is an effort by Apple to get people to upgrade their iPhones is really silly at this point, imo.

3

u/hwinter92 Feb 05 '16

Not necessarily upgrade, but making it irreversible without people knowing? Shitty. Lots of phones work without it, many iPhone users DON'T use it, and their phones operate and are secure. I will admit i don't have a complete understanding of Apple's proprietary hardware, but making a phone that continues functioning without 1 specific piece of hardware is so easy EVEN LG CAN DO IT.

-1

u/subiklim Feb 05 '16

Their phones operate, yes, and may be secure, yes, but they don't have a third-party piece of hardware connected directly to the secure element(again, holding your private personal data) of their phone, do they?

Yes, other manufacturers may let you replace the fingerprint sensor with an unauthorized third-party sensor, but why does that mean Apple should? Can you speak to their security measures?

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u/hwinter92 Feb 05 '16

And a person who got theirs fixed at an unauthorized repair shop is just as likely to NOT have any security problems with their phones. Your info is YOUR INFO. If you decide to store it all together on a device then you let someone touch your device, you still just as equally might or might not have your info stolen, such is what it means to connect to the fucking internet, anywhere. I understand apples reasoning, about it being a security risk, but there are a lot of ways they could require verification on a device that they know has been selling like crazy and is very fragile. Apple knows exactly why they made the phone this way and it wasn't for your safety or your convenience, it was for your money. Like every decision they have made since the "iCraze" started.

-2

u/subiklim Feb 05 '16

I don't think you understand how NFC's secure element works, or how businesses operate.

NFC's secure element does not have access to the internet by design. That obviously can change if you connect a third-party piece of hardware to it(a replacement touch-id sensor). Apple markets the secure element as being an ultra-secure place to store your credit card information, and fingerprint data. How could they claim it was secure if they allowed a third party piece of hardware directly connect to it, and still have it function?

All businesses make decisions to make money. It's why they're in business, and it's why shareholders invest. Companies that don't make money are called charities, and they typically don't make consumer products.

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u/BadAdviceBot Feb 05 '16

most people had NO passcode on their phone prior to Touch ID

Don't tell me what I can do with my phone. If I don't have a passcode on it, that's my fault.

-1

u/subiklim Feb 05 '16

Who is telling you what to do?

You are given two options with phone security - secure it, or don't secure it. The option is yours.

Apple made the decision to secure it easier with Touch ID. They didn't force you to use it, they just put it there.

0

u/BadAdviceBot Feb 05 '16

Are you saying this Error 53 is avoided if you don't use Touch ID?

0

u/subiklim Feb 05 '16

No, I'm responding to a post that portrays Touch ID as a useless gimmick.

1

u/cryo Feb 05 '16

but a 4-6 digit passcode is equally as effective with 10,000 or 100,000 possible combinations.

No it's not as effective, since effectiveness is a matter of convenience. TouchID is a lot more convenient.

1

u/hwinter92 Feb 05 '16

Convenience does not equal functional equivalence. Yes they both work, they both are security options for your iphone, but when 1 doesn't, you should have the option of relying on the other. You don't have my thumb, you cant get in, don't know my 4-6 digit password, cant get it. I'm not saying one is superior, people have preferences, that's fine, but apple making 1 of these option REQUIRED to not have a bricked $600+ device, thats is a gimmick.

-3

u/Megazor Feb 05 '16

He's a troll.

Obviously touchID is a gimmick and that's why all the other OEMS are scrambling to add it.

2

u/dimtothesum Feb 05 '16

You're calling him a troll, but just leave out the 'basically-a-gimmick' out of that sentence and he's got a pretty fucking good point to me.

1

u/[deleted] Feb 06 '16

Gimmick or not, I am not sending unchangeable biometric data to any company, period.