GandalfTehGray
Android Expert
There is a method floating around that I can confirm works on both the Verizon and Att phones. Anyone interested?
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Bootloader Unlock Available
- Thread starter GandalfTehGray
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- motorola moto x
I'm not, really, for two reasons. I like having a warranty in case something goes wrong. Maybe in August, after the warranty has expired. Though, the second reason is that it's a huge security hole, obviously. (Though, of course, you'd have to be pretty sophisticated to know it. Police organizations probably would be.)
GandalfTehGray
Android Expert
Fair enough. When you say security hole, what means are you thinking of?
Once the bootloader is unlocked, it's trivial to flash a recovery that will root the phone. Once the phone is rooted, anybody can get any data that they want from it. Actually, I *think* your data would be safe by encrypting the phone, but otherwise, it's wide open.
What in the world are you talking about? You think you can take my data because my phone is unlocked and rooted?
Your phone is open to grabbing data using adb commands by anybody who connects it to a computer. My unrooted phone is not.
Even if the phone is not rooted but bootloader unlocked, it's not all that difficult to install the TWRP custom recovery and use that to root the phone.
Spdfreak34
Android Enthusiast
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't I need to have USB debugging enabled for ADB to work?
Theoretically, since the phone's bootloader is unlocked, an attacker could flash a custom ROM (or maybe just flash the system image - I' not sure about that one off the top of my head) to defeat any security lock that you have on the phone and then enable USB debugging. I think that encrypting is your best bet in that case.
Oh, and it's possible that restarting in TWRP may give an attacker root level access to the phone from recovery. If so, it may be read-only, but it's still access to the data partition. (Unless, of course, the data is encrypted.)
Paranoid much? Why am I going to give my phone to someone? Do you live in a cave so the sky can't fall on you?
If you are aware of the exposure and determine that it is not an issue for you then great.
What I've seen in these forums are ...
- People who lent their phones to someone who turned out to be untrustworthy or just didn't know the implications.
- People who lost their phone.
- People who had their phone stolen.
- People who's three year old niece was playing with it and now it is a brick ... maybe.
- People who's three year old nephew simply forgot where he'd put it.
If it's outside your absolute control then you have an exposure.
... Thom
What I've seen in these forums are ...
- People who lent their phones to someone who turned out to be untrustworthy or just didn't know the implications.
- People who lost their phone.
- People who had their phone stolen.
- People who's three year old niece was playing with it and now it is a brick ... maybe.
- People who's three year old nephew simply forgot where he'd put it.
If it's outside your absolute control then you have an exposure.
... Thom
I've lost a phone before. I've known people who had phones stolen. I've know a few people who have lost phones in cabs (fell out of pockets.) If you are arrested for something - say, you are involved in a car accident that includes a serious injury - you may not have much of a choice about giving the phone up. My phone doesn't have just sensitive information about me - it has sensitive information about people I know as well. Exposing that information is a risk that I choose not to take. Losing my warranty is also a risk that I choose not to take. The benefit of an unlocked bootloader does not exceed the utility of the phone stock with the warranty and security. (I see a very, very small benefit at the moment. There are few, if any, custom ROMs, and I bet that they are not as good as the phone is stock.) If you want to, go ahead. I gave the reasons why I choose not to.
GandalfTehGray
Android Expert
I don't want a Rom on the X personally, just wanted to ensure updates with Root. Personally I've never had anything break and be repairable under a warranty so that doesn't particularly worry me either.
krouget
Android Enthusiast
I've rooted my device, kept the OEM recovery, installed an ad-blocker and proper backup utility, along with GravityBox and Xposed for a ton of extra quality of life features. Combined, they've made the Moto X that much better of a device. That said, it's the first device I've owned which has remained this close to stock, given Motorola has done an outstanding job.
As to security, I'm not too concerned. In order to really compromise the device, they'd have to have physical access and specific knowledge of processes. My routine makes it very difficult to outright lose the device (as opposed to misplacing), I can remotely manipulate it, and I don't let anyone touch it who is untrustworthy. I've also implemented other prevention/security measures to protect critical information, so again, it's not a huge concern.
As to security, I'm not too concerned. In order to really compromise the device, they'd have to have physical access and specific knowledge of processes. My routine makes it very difficult to outright lose the device (as opposed to misplacing), I can remotely manipulate it, and I don't let anyone touch it who is untrustworthy. I've also implemented other prevention/security measures to protect critical information, so again, it's not a huge concern.
highhacker
Newbie
Thanks .ill take it. Those people can keep there bloatware ad infested unrooted phones .i will always root and could care less if some one steals my info..it is nothing the cia already don,t know about you .i prefer putting my own apps on my phone rather than verizon sticking crap i don't use or need an i have lifelock
GandalfTehGray
Android Expert
Well its still an option if your Moto X was made in 2014, guy with codes doesn't seem to have any of the 2013 codes now.Thanks .ill take it. Those people can keep there bloatware ad infested unrooted phones .i will always root and could care less if some one steals my info..it is nothing the cia already don,t know about you .i prefer putting my own apps on my phone rather than verizon sticking crap i don't use or need an i have lifelock
trophynuts
Extreme Android User
this is the first time i've ever seen anyone mention the security issues of an unlocked boot loader to that extent. I'm not hating, i've just never seen it before. I see your logic, i just don't get that paranoid about stuff i guess.
I've never used the Moto X, but when i was dabbling with Android, one of the main reasons i unlocked/rooted was to put a custom kernel on if nothing else. To try and squeeze more battery life out.
I've never used the Moto X, but when i was dabbling with Android, one of the main reasons i unlocked/rooted was to put a custom kernel on if nothing else. To try and squeeze more battery life out.
You can disable all of the bloatware, can't you?
As far as I know, there is no way to root the phone with 4.4.2 at this time unless you unlock the bootloader. That is supposedly an option for phones that were assembled in 2014 (settings / about phone / status, scroll to the bottom for the assembled on date.) All that you need to know are on this post: China Middleman Back?? - xda-developers
So, use PayPal to send the money (not as a gift, or you can't get a refund, but as goods/services) to that email address with your IMEI and email address in the notes. It's reported that he will give a refund if your phone is too old to get an unlock code.
And, again, one issue with unlocking the bootloader is that you throw away your warranty from Motorola unless it's a developer edition (you don't have to pay for a code for a dev edition phone.)
Nope, that's for a bootloader unlock code. You can read through that xda-developers thread, but, TL;DR, a few months ago somebody who had access to bootloader unlock codes for Motorola X and 2013 Droid phones started selling unlock codes, which were successful, but that stopped for some reason. Either that person, or another person, just recently started selling codes again, with the caveat that it only covers IMEIs that were manufactured in 2014 (though apparently some with phones manufactured in late 2013 were also able to get codes.) It seems that he has a partial database or something, rather than an algorithm that generates unlock codes from IMEI numbers.
Sorry for two replies, but I just wanted to add (in case it wasn't already known), a Verizon Motorola X is already SIM unlocked. Nobody with a Verizon X should think about wasting money on a SIM-unlock code. (My reply a few posts above about getting a bootloader unlock was to a Verizon customer...)
DirtyDee
Android Expert
Umm how would that work? Seriously they send him their key and he would run it and unlock it and good to know on that Verizon model
GandalfTehGray
Android Expert
For the bootloader unlock code you send the money and your IMEI number, he sends you back the unlock code that you enter through ADB.