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Hello eveybody,
I just switched over from my HTC WinMo phone to this amazing Android EVO phone. I've continuously have been hearing the term "root" or "rooting" alot in this community. My question is sort of noobish; what does it mean to root your phone? Also, how can I do this to my phone?
It means you gain unrestricted access to the kernel of your phone. It allows you to install custom roms, themes, custom apps etc.
the easiest way i know of is to use unrevoked.com. they have an all-in-one method to give you full root in one fell swoop. good luck!
The way I picture rooting the phone is like jail breaking an iPod. So once my phone is rooted, I can download new apps, music, ringtones, wallpapers, themes, ect.??
On android you can download all that from the market, rooting takes customization to a whole other level. Just do a search and read up on it.
sent from the phone that is EVO
To me, rooting is admin like mode.
On your pc you have guest, limited and admin accounts. All accounts gave different levels of clearance.
I don't know much about linux but logging in as root gives you absolute highest permissions to do things. Imo, They sell these phones in non root able fashion so we don't break the os and ask for a replace ment due to malfunction. And to maybe lock us out of goodies that they want to up sell to us like adhoc wlan teathering.
Through the hard work of some folks, we can gain root access and have more fun. On the flip side, we can also do more damage as root.
I am rooted, but seldom use the root access. Imo Most people root so they can flash roms and teather for free.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Hello,
I have a question about how the "superuser"-app works behind the scenes.
As far as i know: The "superuser"-app can be used to grant root-permissions only to the programs, that I want. All other programs are still not running in root. Is this right?
If I'm right on that... Why does only the app super-user does have root after rooting the phone via e.g. the zergrush-exploit and other apps still not have root permissions although the phone has been rooted? Isn't there a security gap ?
In my point of view it could be possible, that any other app could take the root-rights just like the app "superuser" does it. If I'm not right, I don't get it, why only "superuser" gets root and all other apps can't get root unless "superuser" gives them root...
Isn't it a security gap? I just don't get it... how is this achieved?
Is it absolutely (or nearly absolutely) safe, that no other programs can get root-permissions when I use "superuser"? As I already said before, I'm really curious about, why or how this can be achieved and "guaranteed"...
Thanks in very much advance.
Kind regards
mr. salt
I think it's barely possible, that I'm the only one who is interessted how this app is working or wondering about the same security issues, which come along with my questions above?
I would appreciate an sophisticated answer very much!
greetings
mr. salt
sea_salt said:
Hello,
I have a question about how the "superuser"-app works behind the scenes.
As far as i know: The "superuser"-app can be used to grant root-permissions only to the programs, that I want. All other programs are still not running in root. Is this right?
If I'm right on that... Why does only the app super-user does have root after rooting the phone via e.g. the zergrush-exploit and other apps still not have root permissions although the phone has been rooted? Isn't there a security gap ?
In my point of view it could be possible, that any other app could take the root-rights just like the app "superuser" does it. If I'm not right, I don't get it, why only "superuser" gets root and all other apps can't get root unless "superuser" gives them root...
Isn't it a security gap? I just don't get it... how is this achieved?
Is it absolutely (or nearly absolutely) safe, that no other programs can get root-permissions when I use "superuser"? As I already said before, I'm really curious about, why or how this can be achieved and "guaranteed"...
Thanks in very much advance.
Kind regards
mr. salt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok let me see if I can explain this the best way I can. When you root your phone you are giving yourself the ability to run apps that require root. This ability is turned off by default in android. Now lets compare this to Linux, when you run an app as root you have t run the sudo command and then enter your password each and every time you want to run it with rooted rights. SuperUser is an app that when prompted will remember the selection you choice so you dont have to allow it every time you run the app and with out opening a terminal to type the commands to allow it to run as root.
You are looking at the app of super user more as a stand alone app instead of being a front end UI for the commands that you would have to run to get the same out come.
As for the security, to be honest the best security is common sense. As it is a simple fact that PC, phone, internet, server ect security is only as good as the hacker trying to get into it. If he/she really wants your info they are gonna get it. Take a look at what happened to the US DOD and they have a far more secure setup then anything on the market.
Hey guys, sorry for the question, but what are the benefits of just rooting?? (since i dont think i want to unlock the bootloader, and im a bit confused bout which goodies come with rooting, and which come from unlocking )
Thanks
Coldsun15
coldsun15 said:
Hey guys, sorry for the question, but what are the benefits of just rooting?? (since i dont think i want to unlock the bootloader, and im a bit confused bout which goodies come with rooting, and which come from unlocking )
Thanks
Coldsun15
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well a lot of really great applications need to be run on a rooted device.
For instance some RAM boost apps, certain security apps, antivirus apps.
A few games like rooted devices also.
...etc.
Others will chime in here shortly with better answers...
and ad block apps that usually block ads in other apps too
Root gives you full control over everything in /data and /system. So you can backup and restore all your apps and data (e.g. using Titanium Backup) or add/delete/replace system apps (at the cost of losing ability to do OTA upgrades, except if you keep a backup of the original files and restore them before doing the upgrade). You can run Browser2RAM and other nice hacks and customize your system while it is running.
What you cannot do with root only: custom recovery or custom kernels. No custom recovery means no easy way to modify or repair the system from "outside", the only thing you can do with the stock recovery is restore the complete system ROM. No custom kernel means no advanced modifications, e.g. DPI changes, over/underclocking, or driver-level stuff.
Setting your DPI lower than stock. 180 is so sweet.
No it's not working anymore since JB.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app
Thanks guys! I have a rooted and unlockedhtc desire z, and im able to install kernels nstuff, but i wasnt sure which things i was being able to do due to being unlocked.
Thanks for the answers!
Ghorin said:
No it's not working anymore since JB.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to wait a bit longer too see if anyone has a solution. Then I'll unlock and install clean Rom. Then dpi change will be possible.
Just my two cents
coldsun15 said:
Hey guys, sorry for the question, but what are the benefits of just rooting?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a lot of great "lowlevel" networking apps like dSplot http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1914699 (there are a bunch of others, zanti, facesniff, etc, google is your buddy) which if you're into those type of things, are REALLY handy danddy.
The adblocking can't be praised enough, whenever I come across an unrooted-unadblocked device it makes my head spins.
Certain file manager apps (Total Commander, Beta Explorer to name a few) arguably takes advantage of root to squeeze better performance or features (personally, I didn't notice anything faster nor slower, but I dig it when total commander says it's being granted root access when I move files, it make me feel special like that).
Browser2ram is super-freaking-amazing (check this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1923285)
If you're a linux fly guy, having busybox around makes this tablet way more handy and powerful (I'm ssh'ing into it, doing all bunch of thingies)
You can use somewhat more sophisticated VPN-alike routing like ssh-tunneling from your tablet through your home (or amazon EC2, like in my case) on a per-app or device-wide basis (e.g: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.sshtunnel&hl=en there are others)
Various app-backing things (yes, titanium is fine, I meant along the line of DataSync: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.quintstoffers.DataSync&hl=en)
IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING you can tweak and play with various scripts and config files lying around though I'd be extremely careful with that as it can brick your device, prevent you from OTAing or punch a hole through the universe, ymmv (I personnaly had some issues with build.props which the fine gentlemen here on xda helped me resolve)
There are plenty of other reasons, rooting really makes android in general, and this device specifically, shine like a crazy diamond.
Cheers.
I don't want to know how to root, I can find my answer for that on Google, however what I don't get is what it does...
I know it unlocks the device somehow, but can't I simply access everything in the system if I compile android from source and install it on the device?
I have downloaded the android source and I believe I can access every possible thing, so why is rooting needed?
If I install an app as a system app, won't it automatically have the permissions to do what I need it to do?
AFAIK rooting is for the people you'd call the end user/consumer or whatever.
If you have a new phone and want to install one of the many custom ROMs around, you simply need a rooted phone.
A custom ROM is in easy terms a custom made User Interface for the phone.
There is lot more complicated stuff going on under the hood, but in general you change the look and feel of you phone's UI.
The phone has to be rooted, because the manufacturers and net providers around pack a lot of useless crap called "bloatware" (like Samsung Shop and Samsung Play and Samsung Sing and Dance and Music and whatnot) on your phone, which often makes it slower than it can be without it.
But naturally the big corps don't want you to be able to get rid of that **** too easily, which is why you don't have access to the system folders as a normal user.
I guess in your case it's possible that you (if you compiled android from source and installed it on your device) so to say have an already rooted phone, since Android itself is rooted by default. Like I said, the manufacturers are the ones to unroot Android in order to dictate which apps their customers might or might not use.
But I'm a noob and am not sure how you would install Android on your phone if it's new (and unrooted by default?) if you haven't rooted it before?
meh, hope that helped a bit at least...
root- you would love to do it after reading this..
Root? what is it?
it is what i call full access to our phone, flash new roms, have dual boot (example- you can have to os like ics and JB), can access the evasive /data folder which holdes the apk/setups of apps installed from playstore and many other things..
If you are concerned about warranty you can unroot your phone and give in your phone for warranty. i have given my phone for warranty like this.
The most important thing i like about root is that i can fix my phone myself (if it is a software problem). any other question please ask, and i will answer it.
Thanks if helped!
I don't have the time for development anymore. I used to play with stuff like that years ago, but life has taken me away from it. I'd still like to be able to access everything on my phone and play with custom roms, and root lets me do that. The end consumer comment is a good one.
As for to root or not root, I tell most people who ask me to root for them what they use their phone for and explain what they would get out of rooting, and explain the risks involved. Seems that people who understand what rooting does are able to do it themselves, and the ones that ask you to do it for them usually decide against it after hearing "there is a tiny chance that your phone could get bricked" lol
If you just want to play emulators etc, how would you benefit from rooting?
IMO rooting is very useful if you want to keep touching system things in a stock rom, optimizing and debloating it, installing other people ROMs, etc... I believe that if you compile your own flavour of android and find no restriction doing whatever you want, you don't need to.
Android phone without root is nothing
McFex said:
AFAIK rooting is for the people you'd call the end user/consumer or whatever.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good:
McFex said:
But I'm a noob and am not sure how you would install Android on your phone if it's new (and unrooted by default?) if you haven't rooted it before?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some phones can just be flashed (for example via usb) which gives you full control, others can be cracked.
Hi,
I just bought a Oneplus 6 256gb version and now I'm thinking about rooting it for the likes of adaway and lucky patcher.
But what exactly are the dangers? I researched quite a while but I'm still not sure if it's safe enough. I am only planning on rooting, so no custom rom. So a few questions here:
1. Can I still update Oxygen OS after root? Would I need to reinstall Magisk (root) if yes?
2. Is it really that unsafe to use banking apps with a rooted device?
3. Anything else that affects a phone with root in a negative way?
I have rooted my old galaxy s5 quite a bit, so I know how to not brick my phone. So, yes, I know I could potentially brick it if somethings goes wrong.
Thanks for the help.
Elekted
You can update while rooted but you will have to reflash the Magisk zip as the new update will install the stock boot.img and Magisk patches the boot image. So with a stock boot image, you will need to flash Magisk again for root.
On the banking apps, yes. I do not use banking apps on my phone, but I use Android pay. The reason being, is I have a friend that works for Chase Bank in the fraud department for mobile devices. He said the risk is when you are adding a credit card to the Android app, never in using the app to make a payment as they generate a token for the specific amount of that transaction and they use a ID and not your credit card number in the transaction.
And nothing will affect your phone negatively unless you do something to cause the issue. It's virtually always user error. Know what you're doing and if your new to modding, don't be a guinea pig or early adopter. Let others who know what they are doing and report on what works and doesn't. That's the best advice I can give you.
1. You can upgrade your Oxygen OS but u will lost your root Xposed etc.
2. If you know all application installed in your phone and you know who published it, then it will be safe (don't install such like *Free Minecraft Giveaways* lol)
3 .Oneplus is NOT Samsung. Unlock and root your phone will not cause permanent negative effects.
Another thing to be aware of is that unlocking the bootloader (not the rooting) will cause your devices widevine security level to go down. This means netflix/amazon video will be limited non HD resolution. You can still cast the video to your tv at HD or higher resolution though.
Does this also affect youtube and all other streaming devices or just amazone prime and netflix?
@Eric214 thank you for the quick response. With negative effects i was thinking battery, security or other issues. Or how peltus mentioned the issue with widevine. Are there any other apps i can't use anymore after root or limitations?
peltus said:
Another thing to be aware of is that unlocking the bootloader (not the rooting) will cause your devices widevine security level to go down. This means netflix/amazon video will be limited non HD resolution. You can still cast the video to your tv at HD or higher resolution though.
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Click to collapse
I assume that's to try to prevent people from ripping data from a video stream and pirating/distributing it?
That's why I only bought netflix with the intention to use it on my TV when I'm bored of all the stuff I've downloaded on my computer lolol
Elekted said:
@Eric214 thank you for the quick response. With negative effects i was thinking battery, security or other issues. Or how peltus mentioned the issue with widevine. Are there any other apps i can't use anymore after root or limitations?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use Android pay with Magisk but if you install Xposed, you will fail safety checks
1.
It's really easy with A/B... You install the update, automatic or manual via the system updater. Then BEFORE rebooting, you install Magisk again to the inactive slot. Reboot, that's it. I never had such easy updates before.
2.
When rooting a phone, you usually read the details and how all this works. You keep your phone up to date. Every app requesting root rights needs your confirmation. Look before acknowledging and use reliable sources especially for apps requiring root. But with root, you can use an adblocker, a low level firewall, a good backup software and more to keep yourself away from risky content behind banners.
3.
You can relock the bootloader and flash the stock image and the phone is in its original state.
Beside that, if you do not use Xposed, with Magisk Hide I did yet not find an app which refused to work on my phone. Also Android Pay does work.
akxak said:
1.
It's really easy with A/B... You install the update, automatic or manual via the system updater. Then BEFORE rebooting, you install Magisk again to the inactive slot. Reboot, that's it. I never had such easy updates before.
2.
When rooting a phone, you usually read the details and how all this works. You keep your phone up to date. Every app requesting root rights needs your confirmation. Look before acknowledging and use reliable sources especially for apps requiring root. But with root, you can use an adblocker, a low level firewall, a good backup software and more to keep yourself away from risky content behind banners.
3.
You can relock the bootloader and flash the stock image and the phone is in its original state.
Beside that, if you do not use Xposed, with Magisk Hide I did yet not find an app which refused to work on my phone. Also Android Pay does work.
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Click to collapse
Thank you that i exactly what i wanted to know. Guess im going to root my oneplus then.
This phone seems pretty brick-resistant. Lots of people getting into bootloops, but fixes are easy. I haven't seen a single hard-brick yet.
OP provides a tool for getting out of major errors, and it seems to work well.
iElvis said:
This phone seems pretty brick-resistant. Lots of people getting into bootloops, but fixes are easy. I haven't seen a single hard-brick yet.
OP provides a tool for getting out of major errors, and it seems to work well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What tool is that?
Elekted said:
What tool is that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-6/how-to/tool-msmdownloadtool-v4-0-international-t3798892
I have not used it, but many people have reported good results.
iElvis said:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-6/how-to/tool-msmdownloadtool-v4-0-international-t3798892
I have not used it, but many people have reported good results.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, nice to have that in case thing goes wrong.