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Don't Plan on Rooting Android 7.0

Except that Verified Boot is disabled (completely, if I'm not mistaken) while the bootloader is unlocked.

So if you go the usual, clean, hack-free approach of unlock -> recovery -> root -> custom ROM you'll be absolutely fine. This might cause problems if you're one of the security-conscious few who like to re-lock the bootloader after loading a custom ROM.

This will impact devices with less-friendly bootloaders though - those that need exploits in order to root. And really, that's probably a good thing - if you can bypass the bootloader lock and gain root-level control over the OS, so can some malicious app.
 
Okay, so it may not be the FINAL nail :p

I stand by my prediction, though, that Android in its pure state will eventually be un-rootable. It may not be in the next few versions, but it's coming.

:)
 
I'm finding that I'm just rooting for some apps and that is it.

Because of no devs, my phone is just rooted now. No custom ROMs, no custom kernels.

But, I actually don't need custom ROMs anymore. Nova is such a great launcher and even LG's launcher works fine for me.


I'm ready, if that day is coming...... I think.
 
I have yet to root any of my phones.

Samsung and Package Disabler Pro gives me all I need.
that and Nova Launcher Prime...
 
Most people root to "gain control" of their phones. My last 3 phones were rooted to remove carrier bloatware, use AdAway, and backup apps and data. The backups came in handy, because if a developer or Google updated an app and the newer version was "crappy/buggy", I could revert to older version.

So..... If phone is truly running a Google/Android OS, not some carrier branded version/manufacturer version (Blur/HTC), phone won't have bloatware. Launchers can change look of phone. Issue one is mainly solved. AdAway (or other ad blockers) can sometimes be used without root. Problem 2 partially solved. As for #3? Kind of a biggie for me. Some apps have newer versions bi-weekly. Most are garbage. No way to revert back!

When the "powers that be" decide features that I actually chose my phone for are "no longer needed", I have an issue. Anyone remember the Original Droid? When the system upgraded from "Froyo" to "Gingerbread", Motorola decided the blinking led was no longer needed. First time I rooted. I WANTED and NEEDED that feature for various reasons. I chose that phone for that feature. I needed a ROM to put back a feature someone else took away. On MY phone.... What would prevent them from disabling something else? "You don't need a speaker phone.... You can pay for visual voice mail..." Can anyone else see a carrier forcing you to use their navigation system on their branded phone and having "your device is incompatible with this app" appear on the Playstore? Yeah... Too scary to even think about....

OK... Rant over....
 
Mainly root my devices to unlock the Hot Spot function. Don't use it much but nice to have in a pinch.
The Advanced Power menu with Gravity Box is a nice touch as well as Ad Blocking.
The ability to update to new Android version after the manufacturer stops releasing updates by installing custom Roms.
 
sherri said:
As for #3? Kind of a biggie for me. Some apps have newer versions bi-weekly. Most are garbage. No way to revert back!
Click to expand...

You don't actually need root to back up application APKs. /data/app is user-readable. Many file explorers include an application manager which can be used to easily copy an APK to the storage of your choice.

And it's a bit clumsy, but Helium backup supports a non-rooted way to back up application data as well using the adb backup mechanism.
 
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codesplice said:
You don't actually need root to back up application APKs. /data/app is user-readable. Many file explorers include an application manager which can be used to easily copy an APK to the storage of your choice.

And it's a bit clumsy, but Helium backup supports a non-rooted way to back up application data as well using the adb backup mechanism.
Click to expand...

/data/app has nothing useful visible, unless rooted.

As of the last time I looked at Helium, it could not backup non-rooted phones.
 
sherri said:
Most people root to "gain control" of their phones. My last 3 phones were rooted to remove carrier bloatware, use AdAway, and backup apps and data. The backups came in handy, because if a developer or Google updated an app and the newer version was "crappy/buggy", I could revert to older version.
Click to expand...

This is why I have wanted to root my phones, so I could control permissions on apps. Being able to backup stuff would be nice, too.
 
sherri said:
Most people root to "gain control" of their phones. My last 3 phones were rooted to remove carrier bloatware, use AdAway, and backup apps and data. The backups came in handy, because if a developer or Google updated an app and the newer version was "crappy/buggy", I could revert to older version.

So..... If phone is truly running a Google/Android OS, not some carrier branded version/manufacturer version (Blur/HTC), phone won't have bloatware. Launchers can change look of phone. Issue one is mainly solved. AdAway (or other ad blockers) can sometimes be used without root. Problem 2 partially solved. As for #3? Kind of a biggie for me. Some apps have newer versions bi-weekly. Most are garbage. No way to revert back!

When the "powers that be" decide features that I actually chose my phone for are "no longer needed", I have an issue. Anyone remember the Original Droid? When the system upgraded from "Froyo" to "Gingerbread", Motorola decided the blinking led was no longer needed. First time I rooted. I WANTED and NEEDED that feature for various reasons. I chose that phone for that feature. I needed a ROM to put back a feature someone else took away. On MY phone.... What would prevent them from disabling something else? "You don't need a speaker phone.... You can pay for visual voice mail..." Can anyone else see a carrier forcing you to use their navigation system on their branded phone and having "your device is incompatible with this app" appear on the Playstore? Yeah... Too scary to even think about....

OK... Rant over....
Click to expand...

Already there. Try installing Trucaller (Independent dialler app) on a Marshmallow phone.
 
Unlocking the bootloader allows you to flash partitions you couldn't previously using fastboot, in particular the recovery partition, but it doesn't in itself change any of the phone software. So it's as a step towards rooting: unlock bootloader, install custom recovery, use recovery to root the phone. However it is only after the last step, where you modify the ROM to allow you root access that the phone is actually rooted.

Things like these "rooting apps" use exploits to modify the ROM without going through the other steps. Personally I regard the custom recovery as essential before I'll consider modifying the ROM, so don't want anything to do with these apps and only buy phones with unlockable bootloaders.
 
krokus said:
/data/app has nothing useful visible, unless rooted.
Click to expand...

Let me restate: the application APKs are accessible without root, even if you can't browse to the folder itself. Sorry for that confusion. :)

I was able to use my file explorer of choice to copy .apk files to my Internal Storage without root on my Nexus 6P. I tested this with both Solid Explorer and X-Plore, but it should work with pretty much any file explorer which includes an "app management" piece.

As of the last time I looked at Helium, it could not backup non-rooted phones.
Click to expand...
From the Play Store listing:
Helium is the missing app sync and backup solution for Android.
Helium does NOT require root. All Android users can use Helium to backup and sync Android applications.
Click to expand...

That's been the case since Helium launched, since it makes use of the adb backup mechanism.

You use a PC utility to initiate that backup without root; with root, Helium is able to use the local adb shell to kick off the backup without need the PC.
 
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krokus said:
As of the last time I looked at Helium, it could not backup non-rooted phones.
Click to expand...

It can, but as Codesplice has pointed out it's clumsy and it won't work on some apps.

Root is essential for me. I've yet to come across a manufacturer UI I am completely happy with (that includes AOSP) and a decent adblocker/firewall is essential.

As silly as this sounds, I also struggle to cope with a clock which isn't centred on the status bar.

My carrier is also pretty shit at updating so being able to install the latest, unbranded software versions is a bonus.

Thankfully, most of the major OEMs offer a bootloader unlock solution (LG, Moto, Sony, HTC, Nexii) so of the major players, it's only really Samsung users that this will be an issue for.
 
If the next rack of Android phones with 7.0 are pure, no bloat and give me at least some hardware control I don't see the need to root. Manufacturer/carrier bloatware sucking RAM and battery dry are the main reasons I root. I don't understand how some let phones off the production line without actually testing them in real world situations first. Kyocera phones are notorious for that. Not that we'll see any phones with 7 for a long time. I don't think any of their phones have Marshmallow yet lol
 
If "Android in its pure state will eventually be un-rootable" then it's purely down to Google and nothing to do with OEMs or carriers. ;)

You have to look at this pragmatically. Almost every day the tech press carries another scare story about Android vulnerabilities. No (responsible) banking app will run on a rooted device, not will Android Pay. That's because root access is inherently unsafe.

I (and many other AF members) probably have enough knowledge to keep a rooted device secure, but Joe Bloggs following some anonymous YT video guide may not. Yet it's Android, and Google. who are blamed when Joe falls victim to malware or a pishing attack.
 
No one has ever got Joe Blow not to click on everything he sees on a computer monitor, either.

Like you, I can stay away malware, and I have found that the carrier can put as much crap on the phone as the MFG.
I don't always upgrade if it's available. I want to know what else is the upgrade or update going to do besides security.

Google has had a couple of slips, the last being the format of the EXT SD card. I'd prefer to wait until the bugs are out of the update before bothering.
 
If Google releases a bare bones unrootable Vanilla Android that is accepted by all major Carriers that would be OK with me.
What concerns me are the derivations of Android ie TouchWiz, HTC Sense, CyanogenMod for that matter, Oxygen and so on.
Will Vanilla Android become a specialist item? I think Google sees this and is preparing to conform.
 
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