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I own an HTC INCREDIBLE and I've been told to "root" my phone to get rid of all the bloatware. What is rooting and how do I do it? A lot of my apps and all of my music and all photos are saved to my mem card. There are some HTC apps I would actually like to keep. Also, is there anyway I could get swipe on my phone?
Yep - you can root your phone to get rid of bloatware and allow you to do all sorts of other things, basically, rooting the phone allows you to be the administrator of your phone, whereas now you just have a user account on it ... As for how to root, that's been done a lot of different ways and is explained in a number of places - you should read several how-tos so you'll have an idea of what you're getting yourself into (and whether you want to bother)... The contents of your memory card should be safe, but you should back them up anyway, since memory cards do fail during normal use. Simply rooting won't automatically remove any of your apps, so your good there, but it will give you the ability to remove apps, or even break (or even "brick") your phone, so take it easy and don't take any steps 'till you understand what you're about to do.
Here are some resources you can check out :
Ok, actually I'm not allowed to be helpful by posting links since I'm a new member, but google these terms: root droid incredible Jonamerica - that'll get you started...
As for swype the legit way to get it is to sign up for their beta (it's available on their website which I can't link you to) and go from there.
Thanks so much. I'll check it out!
Just a few newbie tips for you.
I'm new to all of this also.....rooting and flashing.
1. Read a lot before you do anything. Its not hard but readup first!
2. Be patient......2 or 3 times while I have rooted or flashed I have thought that maybe my phone is dead. Sometimes there is no visible indication that the phone is actually doing what you want it to do. Let it sit there and do its thing. DO NOT PANIC and pull the battery!
3. Backup backup backup backup BACKUP!
Have fun.....I am
wildland said:
Yep - you can root your phone to get rid of bloatware and allow you to do all sorts of other things, basically, rooting the phone allows you to be the administrator of your phone, whereas now you just have a user account on it ... As for how to root, that's been done a lot of different ways and is explained in a number of places - you should read several how-tos so you'll have an idea of what you're getting yourself into (and whether you want to bother)... The contents of your memory card should be safe, but you should back them up anyway, since memory cards do fail during normal use. Simply rooting won't automatically remove any of your apps, so your good there, but it will give you the ability to remove apps, or even break (or even "brick") your phone, so take it easy and don't take any steps 'till you understand what you're about to do.
Here are some resources you can check out :
Ok, actually I'm not allowed to be helpful by posting links since I'm a new member, but google these terms: root droid incredible Jonamerica - that'll get you started...
As for swype the legit way to get it is to sign up for their beta (it's available on their website which I can't link you to) and go from there.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for this search link. Guide is very helpful, fills in alot of the blanks I've been having.
You're welcome.
There are numerous other guides and threads out there, so googling and reading is a good idea... I just researched it again since I rooted my wife's Inc. last night and since it has an SLCD screen I wanted to make sure that unrevoked had been updated to work with these screens - turns out it has and it worked fine. I actually had a scary moment when the phone wouldn't boot into recovery (five vibrations and a blank screen) but a google search and a battery pull saved me and so far so good since then - and I was able to uninstall verizon's backup assistant which was killing her battery every day.
Is that the only reason you rooted your wife's phone, was to remove some of the bloat? I might end up doing the same.
ramma2 said:
Is that the only reason you rooted your wife's phone, was to remove some of the bloat? I might end up doing the same.
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Yeah, that was the main reason - when she upgraded from her dumbphone, we used Backup Assistant to transfer her numbers over, but lately it's been hanging during sync and killing her battery (and/or it may be syncing over the poor 1x data connection rather than available wifi - not sure about that but it sounds like something Verizon would do (it would both be a bit more secure, and use more data they could bill us for)). Since Verizon in all their wisdom made it so you can't uninstall that app or disassociate it from your account, I figured the I'd use force and just root the phone - worked too, now her battery's lasting all day, no problem.
I also would recommend rooting to anyone concerned about certain apps wanting internet permissions - DroidWall is a great app allowing you to prevent apps from accessing the internet (or you can block just wifi or just 3g for a specific app, potentially allowing you to better manage your data usage).
make sure to read alot about what ur getting into.. And remember to always backup before you do anything (incase of errors/problems) you can always boot back to stock...happy rootin!
Check this out: http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Barebones.
That guide is specific to Cyanogenmod, and it's a little outdated, but it's a good starting point to learn what applications are required for the phone to run, and which applications are simply "extra."
Ok, strange problem here...
My Note 2 no longer shows up in the web version of the Play store. All other devices - even ones I no longer own, are still there.
The Play store on my device works fine and I'm able to install and update apps without a problem.
This seems to coincide with the new layout of the web Play Store.
Does anyone have any suggestions on how to get my device back on the device list?
Got a reply from google... not impressed.
"I appreciate you patiently waiting. I've heard back from our specialist team and according to their records, it appears you may be using a rooted device. Unfortunately, our ability to troubleshoot issues with rooted devices is limited. They may have altered functionality depending on how the device has been modified and we're not able to see what's happening with the device. For assistance with rooted devices, we recommend contacting your device manufacturer or carrier. However, if you unroot your device and still encounter this issue, please let me know and I will be happy to take a look.
If your device isn't rooted, please let me know, and I'm happy to see what I can do to assist you further. Thank you for your understanding. "
Clear Play Store data and then log on again. Happened to me last time and this fixed it. Else, remove and re add Google account on device.
SenK9 said:
Clear Play Store data and then log on again. Happened to me last time and this fixed it. Else, remove and re add Google account on device.
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It seemed to have magically corrected itself without me doing anything. I don't know what caused it, but if I find out, maybe I can remove some dead devices that I no longer own and are still listed under "My Devices" :laugh::good:
Not possible, unfortunately.
Hey there, I followed efrant's excellent thread (sticked) for returning my 2 year old SGN back to stock after enjoying rooted and unlocked CM10. Upon switching to my new phone (a Nexus 4) and configuring it, I decided to check Android Device Manager to ensure that Locate, Ring and Erase functioned properly. Much to my surprise, the Galaxy Nexus is still listed as one of my devices. Moreover, I can't find a way to remove it from my account. Even from within Google Play, it only offers the option to 'hide' the extraneous devices. On an aside, I've read that old devices will be purged from the account if they haven't been used for 9-12 months (reports vary).
Anyway, do I have anything to worry about as I move forward with the N4? The reason I ask is that I'd like to sell my SGN but don't want to have vestigial connections to my account when I do.
Thanks.
I went to use Samsung Pay and noticed it did not show up at the bottom of the home screen, so went into programs to open it. I got a message saying I needed to update it to continue, but when I tried, got a message saying it was not available. Obviously, blocked on the N7. I'm actually sorry I tried to update, as anything Samsung is risky under the circumstances. I really liked SP, but guess I'll switch over to Android Pay. Any ideas?
Google the apk
Just Google samsung pay apk along with what ever new version of samsung pay you need to update to. Use your phone for the search because you can just down load the updated version directly onto your phone. Once downloaded just find it on your phone and click on it to open it up and follow the directions. It's pretty easy and should get you up and running in about 10 mins or less. I've done it a couple times on my Note 7
wakecrash said:
Just Google samsung pay apk along with what ever new version of samsung pay you need to update to. Use your phone for the search because you can just down load the updated version directly onto your phone. Once downloaded just find it on your phone and click on it to open it up and follow the directions. It's pretty easy and should get you up and running in about 10 mins or less. I've done it a couple times on my Note 7
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Thanks! I'll check that out. I'm always a little reluctant to sideload apps that involve financial stuff. But I'm also reluctant to load anything Samsung now in case they include some kind of kill switch.
Can anyone help me carrier unlock my Verizon phone? My phone has been hacked and I hope being able to flash it will help me to get rid of whatever they have done to it. Can anyone tell me why I get this message when I reset my phone? Any help would be greatly appreciated
there is no carrier unlock for VZW models. if you can boot into recovery, sideload the OTA version that was last on your device.
What did you do that resulted in the phone being hacked? With the sectors being wiped that are shown in the images, it looks like you have provided total device access to something whilst having an unlocked bootloader or something similar. If you let us know what happened, it might help us to figure out what options you may still have.
But definitely see if you can do what @uicnren mentioned first.
Im not sure who or how they wiped anything. It happened one day after connecting to my girlfriends wifi. I got ahold of Verizon and they sent me a new phone and as soon as I started it the same thing happened to it also
How do I find what OTA version was used on my phone?
Nothing hacked here... this is an error when wiping the Secure Element (the trusted secure module).
(https://android-review.linaro.org/p...cure_element/1.0/SecureElementHalCallback.cpp line #66)
Are you initiating the wipe from the recovery? If so, that's likely the reason. If there is an account attached to the device, a wipe must first be initiated from within Android (Settings)
Woodruff87 said:
Im not sure who or how they wiped anything. It happened one day after connecting to my girlfriends wifi. I got ahold of Verizon and they sent me a new phone and as soon as I started it the same thing happened to it also
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what symptoms were you seeing that made you think you were hacked?
Those errors are normal in Recovery Mode. I see them all the time, sometimes they don't appear, usually they do.
Did you remove your google accounts from settings, do a factory reset from the reset menu and lastly in recovery mode where you posted the screenshots from.
Your Account might be hacked but the phone is unlikely hacked. You would get a message at boot telling you that the device has been modified. With a locked bootloader its extremely unlikely (unless NSO Group is targeting you).
Woodruff87 said:
Can anyone help me carrier unlock my Verizon phone? My phone has been hacked and I hope being able to flash it will help me to get rid of whatever they have done to it. Can anyone tell me why I get this message when I reset my phone? Any help would be greatly appreciated
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Click to collapse
Did you unlock the bootloader? Have custom firmware/kernel installed?
A "hacker" wins nothing by resetting/wiping your phone. They want data, and that only works if the phone can turn on and works. This looks like a wipe/factory reset gone wrong, which spells user error or software error and less likely a "hacker" attack. Most hacks you will never notice. A hacker that makes you notice that something went wrong, is either an amateur or did it on purpose. Ergo, he wants you to know that something went wrong, which usually only happens in order to extort you. If there is no extortion, then an obvious act by a hacker is highly unlikely.
We need some more information. What firmware had you installed? What happened exactly when. Did you install any new apps recently? What did you do prior to something going wrong? All the information that could help us troubleshoot your issue.
You said your phone wiped itself a day after connecting to your girlfriends wifi, and that a replacement device that you got sent by your carrier, did the same. Did you check your Google account? Do you have two factor authentication activated? It sounds like your phone got wiped over wifi, which would require access to your Google account. It's just odd that you get errors, which normally shouldn't happen if someone would use the erase a lost Android device function.
It's also possible that your backup from your GAccount is simply corrupted (many people had issues with random reboots). You should try and set up your (replacement) phone anew without any backup, maybe that can fix your issue.
Beyond that Google account thing-y, anything else is highly unlikely. Even specialized companies have serious issues getting into a modern smartphone, lest alone an Android 12 phone with a Google Server grade Titan m2 chip. The newer the firmware, the less likely the chance that someone from the outside could get in, especially with a phone like a Pixel that isn't very common. Most security firms/govermental agencies can only abuse older, known security loopholes. It's more likely that very popular phones like a Samsung or IPhone are targets from "the bad guys", since there will be bigger payoff for breaking the security of those phones, since there is a greater pool of users to target. Most hacks I've witnessed weren't random, they were targeted. Ask yourself: Am I worth the trouble of getting hacked? Do you have anything of interest on your phone that would warrant an excessive use of resources? Managing to hack a Pixel is not only unlikely in terms of the security you need to breach, but also in terms of the potential payoff in relation to the necessary knowhow and resources. It's just "not worth it".
What you should do immediately, just in case, is secure your Google account. Change your password. Maybe even change your two-factor authentication, if you have one (sms is not secure, use a token generating software/device). Change the wifi password from your girlfriend and check the list of connected devices. make a list of these connected devices + history (find that in the rooter software) and check them against the devices you know of. Also check the list of connected devices to your GAccount. Use the option to log out ALL devices from your Google account, so only your device is connected.
Do any other people have access to your phone? Do any other people know your passwords? Does your girlfriend has access? Do any other people have biometric security saved on your phone? Do you trust your girlfriend completely?
Make sure you use a special, new password for your GAccount, never reuse old ones that you have used somewhere else. Also check your emails on https://haveibeenpwned.com/
Beyond that, if you are not doing already, use a password manager.
Woodruff87 said:
Im not sure who or how they wiped anything. It happened one day after connecting to my girlfriends wifi. I got ahold of Verizon and they sent me a new phone and as soon as I started it the same thing happened to it also
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Wait a sec. Verizon sent you a new (refurbished probably but new nonetheless) phone and when you turned it on weren't you greeted with the startup menu? Am I missing something?
Morgrain said:
Did you unlock the bootloader? Have custom firmware/kernel installed?
A "hacker" wins nothing by resetting/wiping your phone. They want data, and that only works if the phone can turn on and works. This looks like a wipe/factory reset gone wrong, which spells user error or software error and less likely a "hacker" attack. Most hacks you will never notice. A hacker that makes you notice that something went wrong, is either an amateur or did it on purpose. Ergo, he wants you to know that something went wrong, which usually only happens in order to extort you. If there is no extortion, then an obvious act by a hacker is highly unlikely.
We need some more information. What firmware had you installed? What happened exactly when. Did you install any new apps recently? What did you do prior to something going wrong? All the information that could help us troubleshoot your issue.
You said your phone wiped itself a day after connecting to your girlfriends wifi, and that a replacement device that you got sent by your carrier, did the same. Did you check your Google account? Do you have two factor authentication activated? It sounds like your phone got wiped over wifi, which would require access to your Google account. It's just odd that you get errors, which normally shouldn't happen if someone would use the erase a lost Android device function.
It's also possible that your backup from your GAccount is simply corrupted (many people had issues with random reboots). You should try and set up your (replacement) phone anew without any backup, maybe that can fix your issue.
Beyond that Google account thing-y, anything else is highly unlikely. Even specialized companies have serious issues getting into a modern smartphone, lest alone an Android 12 phone with a Google Server grade Titan m2 chip. The newer the firmware, the less likely the chance that someone from the outside could get in, especially with a phone like a Pixel that isn't very common. Most security firms/govermental agencies can only abuse older, known security loopholes. It's more likely that very popular phones like a Samsung or IPhone are targets from "the bad guys", since there will be bigger payoff for breaking the security of those phones, since there is a greater pool of users to target. Most hacks I've witnessed weren't random, they were targeted. Ask yourself: Am I worth the trouble of getting hacked? Do you have anything of interest on your phone that would warrant an excessive use of resources? Managing to hack a Pixel is not only unlikely in terms of the security you need to breach, but also in terms of the potential payoff in relation to the necessary knowhow and resources. It's just "not worth it".
What you should do immediately, just in case, is secure your Google account. Change your password. Maybe even change your two-factor authentication, if you have one (sms is not secure, use a token generating software/device). Change the wifi password from your girlfriend and check the list of connected devices. make a list of these connected devices + history (find that in the rooter software) and check them against the devices you know of. Also check the list of connected devices to your GAccount. Use the option to log out ALL devices from your Google account, so only your device is connected.
Do any other people have access to your phone? Do any other people know your passwords? Does your girlfriend has access? Do any other people have biometric security saved on your phone? Do you trust your girlfriend completely?
Make sure you use a special, new password for your GAccount, never reuse old ones that you have used somewhere else. Also check your emails on https://haveibeenpwned.com/
Beyond that, if you are not doing already, use a password manager.
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Click to collapse
Thanks I really appreciate the help and all the advice. I checked https://haveibeenpwned.com/ and my account has been pawned in 1 data breach... I will deactivate the Google account and start over fresh. Thanks again for all the info
bencozzy said:
Two things are they refurbished? And do they work without signing into google?
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The first one was new, but the one I got from Google as a replacement was refurbished. Ill try resetting through the settings and deactivating all my accounts.
Woodruff87 said:
Thanks I really appreciate the help and all the advice. I checked https://haveibeenpwned.com/ and my account has been pawned in 1 data breach... I will deactivate the Google account and start over fresh. Thanks again for all the info
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Click to collapse
This, among many other things, is one of the reasons I use GrapheneOS and NO gooble services (despite all the attention they give to sandboxed gooble services).
Woodruff87 said:
Thanks I really appreciate the help and all the advice. I checked https://haveibeenpwned.com/ and my account has been pawned in 1 data breach... I will deactivate the Google account and start over fresh. Thanks again for all the info
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Click to collapse
your google address was found on that site for another service and you used the same password for both services, correct?
despite what some believe, your google account will not get hacked unless your password is insecure (ie. leaked or insufficient with 2FA). anything less and your asking for trouble (also using GrapheneOS).