iPhone Unauthorized Repair = Brick?

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mattwnz

19996 posts

Uber Geek

#1486607 6-Feb-2016 18:19

josephhinvest: Good analysis from John Gruber...

"seems very reasonable to me that iOS should check for a trusted Touch ID sensor. But, if the sensor can’t be trusted, clearly the whole phone should not be bricked — it should simply disable Touch ID and Apple Pay. And, obviously, it should inform the user why. Putting up an alert that just says “Error 53” is almost comically bad."

That seems sensible. But sure Apple spin doctors will come up with a reason.

Sharesies

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mattwnz

19996 posts

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#1486609 6-Feb-2016 18:21

Dairyxox: Also to be fair Apple are saying if you're affected to call their service centre, so reading between the lines they can fix the issue, so nobody has to be left with a brick.

But will still likely involve a pricey repair/swap out

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#1486616 6-Feb-2016 18:39

The more I think about it the more I think this is a good idea, even bricking the phone....the only disappointment is that it wasn't done sooner, and had to be 'fixed' with an update.

Think about it, going forward if you get your phone 'fixed' and it doesn't work (because the security components are not correctly re-activated, as soon as you get it back) then you will not accept the repair.

Same story if this was how it worked from 'day-1'. Its only now ugly because its been triggered through an update.

Dairyxox

1594 posts

Uber Geek

#1486620 6-Feb-2016 18:43

mattwnz:

Dairyxox: Also to be fair Apple are saying if you're affected to call their service centre, so reading between the lines they can fix the issue, so nobody has to be left with a brick.

But will still likely involve a pricey repair/swap out

It would have involved that if the device was damaged anyway. If the first repair wasn't done properly, it shouldn't have been paid for/done at all.

PhantomNVD

2619 posts

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Inactive user

#1486653 6-Feb-2016 21:17

But to be fair to the repairers, they did do a proper repair, and the OPs phone worked fine afterward... The only issue here is that Apple don't let you do a button swap anymore... And didn't advertise that you shouldn't before this error appeared either!

Agree though with the poster who said it should error immediately, as that's the only way the owner would ever know the repair wasn't sufficient anyway?

I feel the Apple ID/ iPhone lock is sufficient for stolen phones, and perhaps the required touch swap out should only need a correct Apple ID login for the mainboard to authenticate the 'new' button.

Hadn't thought about stolen phones for screens before tbh, but if the same applied there... 👍

nicks

124 posts

Master Geek

#1486937 7-Feb-2016 13:11

I see someone's trying to flog one off on Trade Me now for $450. I've asked a question with a link to the MacRumors article so will be interesting to see the answer. It doesn't really seem to fit into one of the categories to report to TM, unless it's really a scam - hard to be sure.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/mobile-phones/mobile-phones/iphone/iphone-6/auction-1029017722.htm

dejadeadnz

2394 posts

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Inactive user

#1486940 7-Feb-2016 13:12

What this will do, IMO, is seriously cut across the so called "refurbished" market featured on the likes of those daily deal sites and amongst all the fly-by-nighters that sell second hand, last generation Iphones of questionable origins. Yeah, the CGA might be able to help you but if the shop isn't around any more or you just don't want the hassles, you just wouldn't buy from those places to save a couple hundy and risk lots of pain.

....... back to reality ......

Except for the fact that a lot of people DON'T understand this issue. And I suspect a lot of people are in for a world of pain. People buying second hand devices from places like Trademe will also do well to ask some serious questions and only buy from genuine users with a history of selling Iphones. Dick move on Apple's part. I can absolutely see the justification for rendering the finger scanner and Apple Pay unworkable the moment a "rogue" part is detected. But going as far as bricking someone's device is over the top.

sbiddle

30853 posts

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Retired Mod

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Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1486942 7-Feb-2016 13:16

Having not followed this story until today when I saw lots of people ranting about it I'm surprised so few people seem to see the actual basis behind it. The sensor is a TPM module, tampering or replacing this device by unauthorised persons should result in the whole device being disabled as it's an intricate part of the iPhone now and the security of the device and TPM is paramount. The fact these checks weren't part of iOS8 is surprising and shows Apple were probably a little slow to implement something that should be in the OS.

I'd be keen to know what happens with Android under such circumstances when a TPM module is tampered with.

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