Comments on: The dangers of rooting your Android phone

By: uhanrodric

uhanrodric — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 16:54:46 +0000

I have a Moto Cliq, and it is my first Android device. I just read that someone has possibibly found a way to root the Cliq. My view is, since this is my first Android device, I’m going to wait until it’s lifespan is just about done, and I’ve moved onto a new device to try and ROOT it. That way, worse case scenario, I still have my new device.

By: Ben

Ben — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:30:02 +0000

Thanks for writing this, i don’t have the phone yet, but i’m trying to learn as much as I can before getting it. Is the moto cliq/dext any good?

By: chancy319

chancy319 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:36:15 +0000

I don’t have root but I’m quite happy with my phone the way it is.

By: j bond

j bond — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 15:05:20 +0000

Unless u have a flow chart u will never know how your changes will efect the sys for sure. Things may seem fine, u make a selection, all hell breakes loose. It could happen I programmed for years its hard to follow someones logic. It can be good thing “yes do your home work first” you’ll feel better .GOOD LUCK

By: krazytrixxxsta

krazytrixxxsta — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:40:44 +0000

you can install app to your sd card instead of the phone by downloading the apps from 4shared.com into your computer then sending it to your phone.

By: krazytrixxxsta

krazytrixxxsta — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 00:37:40 +0000

you dont hav

By: Pete Webster

Pete Webster — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 14:49:31 +0000

I wanted to root, purely so i can a) put a custom ROM on my HTC HERO and b) so i can install apps on the SD Card.
However, I have already installed the Modaco custom ROM and Cyanogen’s recovery image. I have not yet run out of space on my phone for apps. But after reading your post – I’m gonna think twice about adding ROOT, at least untill i have a full device..

Can you not install apps on the SD card without ROOT?? If not, this would be a great feature from Android that would prevent many people from going down the Rooting road.

Also, Even if you do ROOT your device. Do apps state that they need Root when you install them, ive not come across one that says this yet?

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:02:24 +0000

This was a nice article, but the only problem with it is that it is written as if users only encounter these issues when rooting their android device.

Did anyone every use Windows XP? Probably. The biggest issue with XP is that every (as in EVERY) program is run as admin, therefore with admin rights. Not many people realize this, but everyone went around business as usual and to my knowledge didn’t raise red flags for many.

My point is that what you say is important for those unfamiliar with super user privileges to understand, but if you have used XP you have already been doing this inadvertently, and if you run Vista, Win7, any Linux distro, or Mac, you are already familiar with the concept of rights and probably just give whatever privileges when it asks.

Therefore, the real point for anything device or OS, not just your rooted phone, is to know where the software you install is coming from and make sure it is safe before you install it.

By: Andre

Andre — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 16:40:37 +0000

Unless one has knows exactly the advantage of rooting, they shouldn’t do it. Even tethering can be done by a purchased app (PDANet).

You have a valid reason about malicious software getting root, but there are a few more reasons. Rooting has a high chance to destroy data stored on the phone, and unless someone is completely OK with that, they should not go forward with rooting.

Rooting also voids the warranty.

Rooting, then making a mistake as root might cause a bricking. Some phones can be reflashed, while others do not have a usable flash image, so if anything outside of the /system directory gets modified, there is no way to recover. In these cases, a bootloop that doesn’t get fixed by a hard reset will definitely brick the device.

Of course, there are valid reasons to root a device. Wanting to move to a newer Android version comes to mind. Similar with wanting to drop the manufacturer/carrier stuff and just have the default Android UI.

If I were to ask one question about if someone should root their phone, it would be if they know what root is on UNIX, and the dangers of running as it. If they don’t know the dangers, then they should think twice about rooting.

By: kris

kris — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 02:17:59 +0000

@VoLoDaR1 can you give me the link to the hero rom?