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So yes basically I know things on xda are supposedly safe in terms of security and roms. But have there ever been a case of a Rom having something like a keystroke logger or any type of hack to gather information or gain access to your personal stuff? And if it had never happened on xda maybe from one of the other sites?
I suppose I'm just trying to address how safe custom roms are I have been using various ones recently so I do trust them some what of course and I assume if a roms been on xda for months and has many posts it's been checked but I still wonder if someone was clever they could wait for the right moment to strike if you know what I mean. Thanks.
Yea, in a way, you are trusting that the devs have no added anything sinister to their custom ROMs. But in the time I've been here (a long time!) I haven't seen anything like this added to any ROMs. You could always do a full scan of the ROM before flashing it to be sure.
the_scotsman said:
Yea, in a way, you are trusting that the devs have no added anything sinister to their custom ROMs. But in the time I've been here (a long time!) I haven't seen anything like this added to any ROMs. You could always do a full scan of the ROM before flashing it to be sure.
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Click to collapse
What would you scan it with though? Pc viruses and malware different to mobile no? And anyway surely a clever hacker would make there own hack etc. And maybe they just add it to the update add well . Anyway good to hear no ones reported one yet!
Well I will try a pc scanner...phone scanners seem to just check.apk's so that's useless...done some full scans all the same just for the hell off it. Guess I don't have any money anyway so I'm safe . But like I say if they are clever they will write their own code so the scanners won't find it .
Still no one reported ok that's given me more confidence...a bit :s ...
Only thing I new of was start of the year I had a xperia z ultra and the mostly only way to gain root at the time was to use kingo root. It wasn't a XDA developed root tool is was from a Chinese website and it was suspect as it took your phone details like imei number. Not sure what happened in the end. But if you get a phone and you trust the recognised devs you should be OK.
Golly, I sho hope not!
:good::good::good:
How about as of late and the security involved when you have a rooted phone? I have not been able to locate any substantial info concerning the legitimacy of or about the claim. Do I need to UN root my phone after the new flash or no? Or, am I way of base here and obviously don't fully understand the weekness of having a rooted phone? In other words, a rooted phone is just as safe as a non rooted phone?
Thanks in advance
Edit
Randy L said:
How about as of late and the security involved when you have a rooted phone? I have not been able to locate any substantial info concerning the legitimacy of or about the claim. Do I need to UN root my phone after the new flash or no? Or, am I way of base here and obviously don't fully understand the weekness of having a rooted phone? In other words, a rooted phone is just as safe as a non rooted phone?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, a rooted phone is not as secure as an unrooted phone. You've opened up access to the system when you rooted, and therefore made it vulnerable.
Not that an unrooted phone is completely secure either, but with root access, a malicious app could do much damage.
What would you suggest since I plan to flash a newer, stable ROM with a newer radio binary? I need to ensure my phone is locked up right as possibly allowable without over taxing the system.
Thanks again
Randy L said:
What would you suggest since I plan to flash a newer, stable ROM with a newer radio binary? I need to ensure my phone is locked up right as possibly allowable without over taxing the system.
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's all a trust and common sense game. If you flash a rom you are putting the trust in others hands. No way around that. As for keeping it locked down. Your best bet would be to stay on stock. Root is a security hole and that's why Google is starting to allow apps to check for root and if found disable the app or features of the app.
Luckily most of our ROMS don't come from people stand to gain anything from that info and are probably like-minded when it comes to how we want our phones to work.
To answer some of these questions, it might help to fully understand what we're talking about.
What kind of security issues face an Android phone?
Well, for one, there are network-level attacks. This are fake cell towers (sometimes called Stingrays) that can collect the sort of data a cell tower might be able to collect, your location, your messages, and your data.
A third-party ROM or a rooted phone is not intrinsically more vulnerable to this. In fact, there are some apps that help detect this kind of attack, and those apps will generally require root access. This kind of attack is less likely to be a random skiddie, and more likely to be the police or a government.
Another kind of attack is a malicious app. Think of it like a trojan horse, something you willingly let into your phone, and it has a secret malicious payload. Maybe it's a browser that actually skims all your activity to sell to marketers. Maybe it's a widget that shows a neat clock on your lock screen, but it actually collects all of your contacts so they can be spammed later.
Since this would be an app that you've willingly downloaded, a third-party ROM doesn't make you much more susceptible, but granting this app Root could make it much more damaging, since it could hide itself from uninstallation or even modify other apps to do bad things.
Note, though, that certain third-party ROMs and apps that require root can help protect against this. If you download an app, and it says it needs permissions that don't make sense (why does a clock app need access to my camera, or my contact list?), that should be a red flag to not install it. But some ROMs actually let you revoke/block individual permissions., so if a baddie app was trying to access stuff it shouldn't, you can stop that from happening.
But there's a slightly more insidious kind of malicious app. Imagine third-party app that accesses Twitter, or Snapchat, or Instagram. Now this app actually saves all of the things you're doing elsewhere before it punts them off to the service you're trying to access. This app could be appearing to function completely honestly, hoarding your Snaps and your snapchat password, until one day they decide to leak all your snaps, or upload all the images you sent to your private Instagram to a public site.
You're not intrinsically more vulnerable to this kind of attack with a third-party ROM or a rooted phone. These apps will likely be come from a non-Play store source, which can happen even stock/unrooted. An app like this with root access can do more bad stuff, but their wheelhouse is in doing bad things with the data you've already willingly given them, so it's moot.
Then there's the issue you seem to be most worried about, which is malware baked into a ROM. This is by far the biggest danger in terms of risk, because it could be doing all sorts of nasty stuff relatively invisibly. What prevents someone from doing this, though? Well, for one, with an open source project, everyone can see the code. If there is something flagrantly wrong, it could be spotted by other people. It's possible to try to hide it, though, and some smaller ROMs don't attract a ton of eyeballs, so not that many people might be looking.
Then again, plenty of major ROMs could have the same thing going on, just in very clever or subtle ways. Look at how pervasive the Heartbleed issue was, and that was in code that tons of very smart people had the chance to look over.
Third-party ROMs do present more danger in this regard. What do we consider third-party, though? Major carriers lay tons of extra code on top of vanilla Android. And plenty of them may be doing unseemly things with your data, either for marketing reasons or at the behest of someone like the NSA. In that case, you're best but would be to stick strictly to AOSP ROMs, but even then, it's not a sure thing.
Truth be told, the best thing you can do for security is just pay attention to what you're letting onto your phone, and what you're letting those apps do. Your choice of ROM and root status is a part of it, but being generally aware is by far the most important thing.
I have been finding myself only using Magisk for EmojiOne, but noticing I don't use Emoji like I used to anymore and am thinking since I only use Substratum with a Center Clock mod and have stopped using it for Dark theming, maybe going back to a stock based setup would be fine. I can use the Andromeda thing with Substratum which is an extra step but can do my center clock and possibly emoji one via substratum... not sure what else I would want root for... Updating is a touch of a pain for me. What do yo guys think, and have any of you gone back to stock?
I went back to stock just because I didn't want to have the uncertainty of being rooted.
Nothing wrong with rooting but I love this phone the way it is.
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
For myself Rooting was a necessity. The devices sold in the past had so much Crapware.
It was nice to get the latest and greatest ROM and tweak the device to run faster because at that time they were just plain old slow.
Today, depending on where you bought a device devices are very fast. It seems to me that every ROM has an issue that influences the character of the device.
If your device comes from a carrier such as Verizon you should Root it to get rid of their crapware.
It seems their attitude is you only have the right to buy their device not the ability to control, I mean really you think you own it or something? ( yes I'm a VZW hater)
What was the question?
kdkinc said:
For myself Rooting was a necessity. The devices sold in the past had so much Crapware.
It was nice to get the latest and greatest ROM and tweak the device to run faster because at that time they were just plain old slow.
Today, depending on where you bought a device devices are very fast. It seems to me that every ROM has an issue that influences the character of the device.
If your device comes from a carrier such as Verizon you should Root it to get rid of their crapware.
It seems their attitude is you only have the right to buy their device not the ability to control, I mean really you think you own it or something? ( yes I'm a VZW hater)
What was the question?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, I agree 100%. I can simply disable gMail and Calculator, the only 2 APPs pre-installed on my Pixel 2 XL that I don't need. I use Inbox by Google for eMails and a Calculator Widget for that. Aside from the EmojiOne and CenterClock, I don't even dark-theme anymore, especially not on this device with the "black crush" all the OLEDs have an issue with. I was rooted fro KCal, but am finding the Boosted setting works just fine and oddly my Blue Tint has weakened since my first few days where it was really bad. Almost like the display is wearing in and getting better? It's still there, but just not as much as that first fresh opening, so warming up the display isn't needed much for me now either.
I like to see where people's heads are at with each device, and this is one the extra input is nice to read.
I'm actually on the fence about rooting. Just received my phone this weekend and I can't decide. Going to unlock bootloader before fully setting up, but I have been playing with it a little. I've always rooted and ran custom ROMs as well as adaway. With PureNexus on my N6 I stopped flashing for over a year except the occasional ROM update. I simply like Android in it's simplest form.
I will always root, no matter what. The only downside is like you said, having to mess with getting OTAs in an unnatural way. However, seeing as how I flash all factory images, I get them sooner than those waiting on an OTA to hit their phone. Plus once you have all the tools ready to go, it literally only takes a few minutes to flash an update.
I always root because I usually run stock. And while stock on a Pixel 2 XL is damn near close to perfection, it will never be what "I" consider perfect. Which means I have to mess with the /system files to get things "perfect." I've modded the stock launcher, which I couldn't do if I was rooted. I've switched out fonts. I've changed the navbar, status bar, and quick settings. And of course, there's always AdAway which requires root. Granted some of those things can be achieved with third party apps, but I'd rather get it done "internally" whenever possible.
I used to have it for years, then more and more companies (Google and banks) made their apps check for root, and I tired of the cat and mouse game with SuperSU and Magisk. So I unrooted over a year ago. Didn't miss it at all until yesterday, when I wanted to do something with Tasker that requires root. But what I wanted to do falls into the category of "it would be nice" as opposed to "I have/need to do this", so I remain unrooted. I haven't really missed it much.
I am stuck without root since I have the Verizon model which was given to me free from work so I cannot complain too much. I have always rooted and messed with ROMs. The only thing I would need root for with the 2 XL is ad blocking with Chrome. I am trying the Samsung browser and ABP which work pretty well together.
If I didn't have the noise cancellation mic issue on my 6P I think I would have given up root a long time ago...
I rotate between stock and rooted daily lol
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
I am sort of glad I found this thread. I'm not a XDA regular but I've been following root guides from here since my Razr Mazz HD. I chose the Pixel in part for the ease of getting root and for Project Fi. Now that I have the phone, I'm not sure I want to root. I've never had a phone with quick updates before. I LOVE AdAway, but is it really worth the tradeoff? AdGuard is just as good if you don't use your VPN slot but if you DO use a VPN and need it.... not rooting forces me to choose between PIA and AdGuard. But do I even need a VPN anymore with Project Fi? Probably... Firefox with uBlock works pretty well too but doesn't work on apps. Oh the decisions.
Ruraltech said:
I am sort of glad I found this thread. I'm not a XDA regular but I've been following root guides from here since my Razr Mazz HD. I chose the Pixel in part for the ease of getting root and for Project Fi. Now that I have the phone, I'm not sure I want to root. I've never had a phone with quick updates before. I LOVE AdAway, but is it really worth the tradeoff? AdGuard is just as good if you don't use your VPN slot but if you DO use a VPN and need it.... not rooting forces me to choose between PIA and AdGuard. But do I even need a VPN anymore with Project Fi? Probably... Firefox with uBlock works pretty well too but doesn't work on apps. Oh the decisions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you like it the way it is, then I'd just leave it. It's a great device on stock. However, having root, AdAway, TiBu, kernels, and mods, is a lot of fun as well. As long as you know adb and fastboot fairly well, rooting and flashing monthly updates is pretty easy :good:
I was rooted from the get go!!
I'm going to try to live without root for a bit but already hating not having AdAway. I just know I won't keep up with updates if I have to do them. I sure wish AdAway didn't need root
Ruraltech said:
I am sort of glad I found this thread. I'm not a XDA regular but I've been following root guides from here since my Razr Mazz HD. I chose the Pixel in part for the ease of getting root and for Project Fi. Now that I have the phone, I'm not sure I want to root. I've never had a phone with quick updates before. I LOVE AdAway, but is it really worth the tradeoff? AdGuard is just as good if you don't use your VPN slot but if you DO use a VPN and need it.... not rooting forces me to choose between PIA and AdGuard. But do I even need a VPN anymore with Project Fi? Probably... Firefox with uBlock works pretty well too but doesn't work on apps. Oh the decisions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not regretting going back to stock from rooted as the only things I no longer have is center clock and emojione, which I 'could' get using Andromeda / Substratum but heard you have to reconnect to the computer anytime you reboot the phone and decided that's just not worth it for me. I am interested in ad blocking if possible without Root for Chrome. Only Ads that get in my way are via "News" and articles I touch from the Google Feed. Sadly many lately are blatant click-bait, page-hopping crap and slideshows that I refuse to go past the first page on.
Edit: Well, just ran across something known as DNS66 and have that up and running without Root and sure enough, it's blocking Ads on everything, even in Chrome without issue.
sharkie405 said:
I will always root, no matter what. The only downside is like you said, having to mess with getting OTAs in an unnatural way. However, seeing as how I flash all factory images, I get them sooner than those waiting on an OTA to hit their phone. Plus once you have all the tools ready to go, it literally only takes a few minutes to flash an update.
I always root because I usually run stock. And while stock on a Pixel 2 XL is damn near close to perfection, it will never be what "I" consider perfect. Which means I have to mess with the /system files to get things "perfect." I've modded the stock launcher, which I couldn't do if I was rooted. I've switched out fonts. I've changed the navbar, status bar, and quick settings. And of course, there's always AdAway which requires root. Granted some of those things can be achieved with third party apps, but I'd rather get it done "internally" whenever possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whats your few minute process? Do you only have a few apps to restore with data?
plisskenn said:
Whats your few minute process? Do you only have a few apps to restore with data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash without wiping data.
plisskenn said:
Whats your few minute process? Do you only have a few apps to restore with data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See below. ?
jrbxx7 said:
Flash without wiping data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using XDA Labs
First thing I did with my unlocked XL 2 was to unlock the bootloader. I then rooted once Magisk was available. I root so I can do pain-free full TiBu of my apps and for AdAway. Even though I have corporate email on my phone, the Magisk Hide bypasses their restrictions in the email app.
I'm actually kind of shocked we don't have more ROMs for this phone, though I'm not a Dev and don't know how complex it may be. If more Devs release custom ROMs, I'll be trying some out for sure.
I never buy android phone unless it's bootloader-unlockable and root-able
Too many handicap applied without root.
I hate dns/vpn based adblock, it cluttering my status bar and notification. So, yes, i need root for adaway,
Google limit Tethering frequency option for my country (No 5Ghz) so, yes, i need root to enable it,
I like the ability to background play youtube, and see youtube without ads, so yes, i root my phone for that. Sure, no root option is available, but lot of problem with google account cant sign in, and this and that.
I like the ability to use Brevent, Edge Sense Plus, Greenify etc without the need of plugging my phone to PC and do adb command. So, yes, i rooted my phone for that.
The phone will never be 100% yours, unless you have total control over anything inside it
So,
There's no way am back to stock. Especially with xposed working so well right now.
otonieru said:
I like the ability to background play youtube, and see youtube without ads, so yes, i root my phone for that. Sure, no root option is available, but lot of problem with google account cant sign in, and this and that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you are using Magisk, how did you get YouTube Red without subscribing? (You can PM me if you don't want to hijack this thread...)
Hey all. So as the title says, I'm new to Android, I've had an iPhone for like 10 years now and fancied a change. Bought the Razer on Monday and was wondering whats the benefits of Rooting the phone? As someone who used to Jailbreak the iPhone for tweaks etc, why should I root my phone? And is there any advice/help for making my phone better out of the box?
My main reason is to block ads, web and YouTube.
Oh by the way welcome to the dark side. Lol
If ads don't bother you i personally wouldn't bother with all the trouble
I root mainly because of xposed/gravity box and ads blocker
waiflih said:
I root mainly because of xposed/gravity box and ads blocker
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's that?
Root is not that hard. Go to this post scroll down to "Prebuilt boot image:" download the IMG and flash it.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=76062554&postcount=1
I use root for several different things.
1) Get rid of Ads
2) Grant extra rights to an app called MacroDroid (This app allows you to fully automate your phone through macros, like setting up a rule that says when the phone connects to my work wi-fi then it automatically will switch to vibrate only. This particular rule does not require root but there are extra functions granted by root that allow you to pretty much create whatever kind of rule you want to suit your life. It's a very powerful app and useful app.)
3) Get access to the true file structure (or root) of the phone allowing you to change undercover things if you know what you are doing.
4) I have another app called Social Contact Photo sync that needs root to match up my phone contacts with their Facebook photos.
5) I have an app called Tiles that allows you to change out and add a few extra buttons to the quick menu in the pulldown tray.
6) This is probably the most important one though, Titanium Backup. This should be the first app you install after getting root. Not only does it back up the apps and things on your phone but it also saves the data within those apps. So any custom settings and whatnot you have made in the apps will be saved. It also has many many more features, such as cloud saves to Dropbox or Google Drive.
Ultimately though the real point of Rooting is to grant you admin access to do whatever you want with it, just the way a PC is. You own it, so make it yours.
lostnsound said:
I use root for several different things.
1) Get rid of Ads
2) Grant extra rights to an app called MacroDroid (This app allows you to fully automate your phone through macros, like setting up a rule that says when the phone connects to my work wi-fi then it automatically will switch to vibrate only. This particular rule does not require root but there are extra functions granted by root that allow you to pretty much create whatever kind of rule you want to suit your life. It's a very powerful app and useful app.)
3) Get access to the true file structure (or root) of the phone allowing you to change undercover things if you know what you are doing.
4) I have another app called Social Contact Photo sync that needs root to match up my phone contacts with their Facebook photos.
5) I have an app called Tiles that allows you to change out and add a few extra buttons to the quick menu in the pulldown tray.
6) This is probably the most important one though, Titanium Backup. This should be the first app you install after getting root. Not only does it back up the apps and things on your phone but it also saves the data within those apps. So any custom settings and whatnot you have made in the apps will be saved. It also has many many more features, such as cloud saves to Dropbox or Google Drive.
Ultimately though the real point of Rooting is to grant you admin access to do whatever you want with it, just the way a PC is. You own it, so make it yours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. That's very helpful and sounds like I'll be doing that then! One note, should I force the Oreo update first or leave it?
askylitangel said:
Awesome. That's very helpful and sounds like I'll be doing that then! One note, should I force the Oreo update first or leave it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you wanna try rooting i recommend you to back up your ohone ir sync it with google, then download the factory images of razer,
From here you can flash the factory images of oreo and have your phone factory reset, then from there set up your phone.
Oh to use the factiry images, you need to unlock your bootloader.
IM in the same boat, ive only ever owned iPhones going back to the 3GS the RazerPhone is my 1st Android phone too slowely getting use to it however the only problems i have is with lack of secuirty and OS updates that we are use to on Apple devices
iliais347 said:
If you wanna try rooting i recommend you to back up your ohone ir sync it with google, then download the factory images of razer,
From here you can flash the factory images of oreo and have your phone factory reset, then from there set up your phone.
Oh to use the factiry images, you need to unlock your bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So how do I go about doing that?
There's always a guide
https://forum.xda-developers.com/razer-phone/how-to/guide-to-unlocking-bootloader-t3706462
Please be aware that unlocking your phone will delete all data so backup pictures etc
SeriousFlash said:
There's always a guide
https://forum.xda-developers.com/razer-phone/how-to/guide-to-unlocking-bootloader-t3706462
Please be aware that unlocking your phone will delete all data so backup pictures etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So is it worth waiting on 3 to push the Oreo update? (I'm from UK) or should I unlock the bootloader and force the update?
If you want to root your phone just go for the unlocking and debranding your phone to get Oreo and the easy root.
If you don't want to root then wait for three I would say since Oreo doesn't bring too much new stuff besides autofill in apps and better Dolby Atmos
The guides are all pretty straight forward and if something goes wrong you can always flash the recovery images
SeriousFlash said:
If you want to root your phone just go for the unlocking and debranding your phone to get Oreo and the easy root.
If you don't want to root then wait for three I would say since Oreo doesn't bring too much new stuff besides autofill in apps and better Dolby Atmos
The guides are all pretty straight forward and if something goes wrong you can always flash the recovery images
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Thank you so much! If I get lost you're the first person I'll ask for help aha
I should probs ask. But once it's rooted what do I do next? Like to block ads etc
Block Ads without a constantly running process by modifying the HOSTS file, OS Tweaks (L Speed, HEBF Optimizer, ect.), Better Customization (Substratum), more features you can use, Hack games with Game Gaurdian (Useful in games like City Racing 3D where you can hack the IAPs to get them free, because $100 for one car is too expensive), Bypass regional or device restrictions on the Play Store by spoofing a different devices specs.... and for my favorite root ability, ViPER Audio (Nothing sounds as near as good, not even Dolby Atmos)!
The list goes on and on... I love root. Most devices I use I root. However rooting voids your warranty. Also some devices have better development and are more stable, the Razer Phone is still new so it may be a while longer before we have more ROM options with root.
There are two types of root. System and Systemless (Recommended, especially for new users since a factory reset will often undo changes you made that may of bricked your phone when something went wrong)
FanboyStudios said:
Block Ads without a constantly running process by modifying the HOSTS file, OS Tweaks (L Speed, HEBF Optimizer, ect.), Better Customization (Substratum), more features you can use, Hack games with Game Gaurdian (Useful in games like City Racing 3D where you can hack the IAPs to get them free, because $100 for one car is too expensive), Bypass regional or device restrictions on the Play Store by spoofing a different devices specs.... and for my favorite root ability, ViPER Audio (Nothing sounds as near as good, not even Dolby Atmos)!
The list goes on and on... I love root. Most devices I use I root. However rooting voids your warranty. Also some devices have better development and are more stable, the Razer Phone is still new so it may be a while longer before we have more ROM options with root.
There are two types of root. System and Systemless (Recommended, especially for new users since a factory reset will often undo changes you made that may of bricked your phone when something went wrong)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds amazing tbh. Is there a tutorial for the systemless? And how would one go about installing the "add-ons" so to speak?
askylitangel said:
That sounds amazing tbh. Is there a tutorial for the systemless? And how would one go about installing the "add-ons" so to speak?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I would wait until there's more development and things are more stable... but if you so ask...
First you should get TWRP. https://forum.xda-developers.com/razer-phone/development/twrp-razer-phone-t3727333 After installing, back everything up to your microSD card. Then you need to install Magisk (This is the systemless root, I usually myself don't use systemless root and I prefer system root as I'm more careful and I want some of my changes to stay even after a factory reset). After that, you may get Magisk modules which add functionality and use some root apps.
Just a quick note, it does seem like there are some minor bugs with the Oreo update on the Razer.
Me and my gf have matching razers and both our phones have stopped syncing voicemails to our dialer and our dialers keep crashing.
We have also had a problem with the phone becoming entirely unresponsive even to force power off and after about 5 minutes the OS would crash and reboot then it would be fine.
This all seems to be a bug within Oreo, the only other phone to ahve the update seems to be the Pixel phones and they seem to be reporting similar issues.
I never had these issues prior to the update and we have both had these phones since day one (very awesome phone by the way regardless of the issues).
I've only rooted a Samsung device since the Samsung Tab S 10.5.
Reasons I found why I would root the Samsung Galaxy S8+ SM-G955U:
- Adblocker (I don't mind blocking ads from apps/Samsung but I also don't mind them being there...)
- Removing System apps (I'd probably only remove a few that I found useless/don't mind them being there...)
- Backup/restore (I'd make a backup, but I can also do this without root I believe?)
- Using SmartThings to stream to my Vizio but having a full 65' screen with the proper aspect ratio. Yes this annoying not to see a full screen on a bigger screen that you stream to from your phone, it was new to me and I was happy with it but also hoping for a bigger screen output.
- Easy to overclock/return to normal clock for testing/emulation purposes and not for extended use.
- I don't believe I would do any button remapping on my phone, but I'd do anything that makes my phone look even better and have more effective usage.
- Background settings with color/image by root?
- Lockscreen wallpaper can be changed by root?
- I am guessing that I can turn on my flashlight with a button while the screen is off with root?
- Double tap home to instant sleep phone with root. Isn't there apps in Google Play that do things like this?
- Anything that increases sound and video/picture quality with root.
Reasons why I won't root:
- Samsung loss of apps
- Loss of software updates?
- Re-customize the internal portion of my phone . I don't have to worry about my emulator files on my SD card or my music. I also started using my phone without rooting in mind and excitedly set it up.
- I don't have warranty, I treat my phones rather well even when I rooted my Samsung Tab S 10.5, it is still rooted and solid running. For my tablet the warranty ran out. For this device, I got it refurbished with no warranty.
- UPDATE: I forgot to mention, I'd also have to deal with a fixed Netflix rather than the actual app and its updates.
Sadly I'll loose a number of things by Samsung that I read about. I'll then have to remove those apps and I have been happy with what I have. There are also plenty of risks while it's rooted + bootloader unlocked.
Wonder if my battery would drain more with root depending on all the functions I would want.
I also wonder if I would get anymore software updates.
I read about developer updates that are better and faster than what software updates release.
What do you think about whether or not I should root now? Some of the things I want to do listed above may have apps for that without root as well as I am not annoyed by ads or by extra system apps with 64GB ROM. Anyone believe that some of the things I really want to do comes with an app instead of having to root?
The most useful things would be tap a button to turn on my flashlight when the screen is off, easy to overclock and put back, SmartThings resize on 65' screen, change the customization color/images of my phone further, double tap to sleep, increase sound and video/picture quality, though I like the way my phone sounds.
G955U is a bootloader locked device. There is no way to root it. How are you saying that you can root it?
So I have SM-G955U as well, with version 1 bootloader. Can I root this?
Also I want to use the Verizon bands so is there any recommendation for what I should try to do?
thus far, i have found absolutely no clear instructions on how in the heck to do this.
there is so much noise on this forum about older variations and over seas models.
AhmedKhan123 said:
G955U is a bootloader locked device. There is no way to root it. How are you saying that you can root it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is one option to root G955U but just for android 7 only
rosel11078 said:
there is one option to root G955U but just for android 7 only
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct cause I believe it's the one I'm using. I was 955u and had lots of issues trying to find a proper guide that worked but it wasn't till I paid someone for the service to do It for me that I finally got root. And I think afterwards it changed my phone to g955u1. Also yes been on 7.0 since I got the phone rooted 2 years ago
AhmedKhan123 said:
G955U is a bootloader locked device. There is no way to root it. How are you saying that you can root it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL he speaks on that which he knows nothing about
all jokes aside, I am getting tired of having to use Nougat. losing support for a lot of stuff I like. the only thing that keeps me from giving up root is Viper4Android. where else am I supposed to find a sound driver like that?
I've had my Pixel 2 XL for 2 weeks now and am very impressed with all of the customizations. Quick question: is it worth it to root it? My bootloader is unlocked, BTW. What are some additional benefits it I choose to root it?
t4duzan said:
I've had my Pixel 2 XL for 2 weeks now and am very impressed with all of the customizations. Quick question: is it worth it to root it? My bootloader is unlocked, BTW. What are some additional benefits it I choose to root it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "worth it" part is up to you. What is it you want to achieve? If you want to....
Flash custom roms and kernels..
Use add blocking and themes..
Install sound mods...
Or just customize the crap outa it.....then yes.
However, a word of caution, do your research into flashing procedures, and become very familiar with fastboot just in case something goes wrong, and you need to recover your device.
Also, if you use certain banking apps, they may not work if your rooted. If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask. There are bunches of helpful people on XDA that are happy to help you. :good:
Badger50 said:
The "worth it" part is up to you. What is it you want to achieve? If you want to....
Flash custom roms and kernels..
Use add blocking and themes..
Install sound mods...
Or just customize the crap outa it.....then yes.
However, a word of caution, do your research into flashing procedures, and become very familiar with fastboot just in case something goes wrong, and you need to recover your device.
Also, if you use certain banking apps, they may not work if your rooted. If you have anymore questions, feel free to ask. There are bunches of helpful people on XDA that are happy to help you. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the advice and info Badger50. I think I'll do as you recommend and research it for awhile.
Also insurance apps detect root also and some games
Magisk is a great app for hiding root from these apps most of the time.
If you want to keep up to date on the monthly Google updates it can be a bit of a pain as you have to replace your boot image and kernel and even then can have issues with the way pixel handles the rom.
But with that said it's good to at least do it learn a bit about what goes into it see if it is good for you.
Good to have a backup phone and or know your restore procedures.
Pretty hard to brick a phone with the pixel phones.
Just have to follow some steps exactly the way they tell you.
I stay stock now because of the updates some times it takes me a day to get time to fix the phone to accept the update and work properly and I like having accu battery have history from start of the phone
Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk
Taimen_#1
Without a doubt, hands down, currently I need Root. If the device has no solution then it's the last one I would pick. Currently I'm running Havoc with Magisk 18. I have the viper/Dolby sound benefits with my favorite Sony features & apps. Also I'm running lawnchair w/ quickswitch module. All in all I guess you could say I have a problem. Every since I learned I could update to KitKat instead of being stuck on stock gingerbread I've been rooting. Thanks:good:
If you have a warranty (sounds like you bought it used) or you have have insurance they will be void if you are unable to restore to stock.
That's why I don't root.
Just something to be aware of.
One of the best and ultimate reasons to root is to be able to take a nandroid backup that's better than any non-rooted backup method! It will literally backup and remember everything (due to all of this residing in the /data partition)! Your homescreen, settings, app and its data,down to every little thing!
Being able to move the clock back to the right, modify so it's better on battery life and cpu quickness, enjoy extra features in apps, and many other "tweaks" are secondary but very enjoyable and satisfactory...
it's an interesting question to me, because this is the first phone that I have decided not to bother rooting. It is also my first pixel/Nexus which I think is part of the reason. In the past getting rid of bloat and many of the controlling aspects from carriers was important to me. With the pixel, there is very little of that. Plus it just works, I'm not working around issues.
maybe I'm getting old, but to me the phone is now something I want to use not something I want to play with. When I root the phone, I have to keep up with security updates and I'm usually also fixing and patching things from trying different mods. So far the pure Android experience from Google has proven reasonably reliable and stable, and it just doesn't seem worth the hassle anymore. I will continue to buy phones I can root, how's that may change at some point.
Right now, my opinion is, for me, there is no need to root
I haven't unlocked my bootloader or rooted since the first pixel. I use adguard premium and YouTube vanced. Currently, absolutely no need for root anymore. Just my two cents.
simplepinoi177 said:
One of the best and ultimate reasons to root is to be able to take a nandroid backup that's better than any non-rooted backup method! It will literally backup and remember everything (due to all of this residing in the /data partition)! Your homescreen, settings, app and its data,down to every little thing!
Being able to move the clock back to the right, modify so it's better on battery life and cpu quickness, enjoy extra features in apps, and many other "tweaks" are secondary but very enjoyable and satisfactory...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything related to apps and app data. Anything on the internal sdcard, not so much.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app