Root Newbie doesn't understand ROOT

[dmil]

I do NOT even understand what ROOT means. Can anyone help and is this something that needs done before anything else with my DInc that is to arrive tomorrow?

 

[Smabbage]

It's similar to jail breaking on other phones. It gives you access to protected system files and allows you to install programs that need/use those files.

 

[DonDraper]

...and is this something that needs done before anything else with my DInc that is to arrive tomorrow?

NO offense, BUT if you are asking these types of questions, you should stay in the general forum for a while. To answer your question, this is something you should do once you know what it means without having to ask, and you decide you NEED it.

 

[windycity]

The phone is set up by the manufacturer with what they think is a good, stable setup containing the software they think the phone should have. The operating system on the phone is Linux-based. In Linux, as a security measure, users are only granted certain rights to add, delete, modify, execute certain code/commands. The rest is done by the system with special permissions (super user or "root"). In desktop Linux, you can make yourself a super user and do whatever you like by assigning yourself the proper administrator account and using the "sudo" (super user do) command. However, in this cell phone, you can't just type sudo and run.

So, all of this hype is around finding a way to crack into the phone's OS and achieve a way to take total control over the locked parts of the phone using root. As a casual user, I would just advise you to take your phone and pretend like this isn't happening right now. Using root and not knowing what you're doing could expose you to security risks or potentially even brick your phone.

 

[dmil]

The phone is set up by the manufacturer with what they think is a good, stable setup containing the software they think the phone should have. The operating system on the phone is Linux-based. In Linux, as a security measure, users are only granted certain rights to add, delete, modify, execute certain code/commands. The rest is done by the system with special permissions (super user or "root"). In desktop Linux, you can make yourself a super user and do whatever you like by assigning yourself the proper administrator account and using the "sudo" (super user do) command. However, in this cell phone, you can't just type sudo and run.

So, all of this hype is around finding a way to crack into the phone's OS and achieve a way to take total control over the locked parts of the phone using root. As a casual user, I would just advise you to take your phone and pretend like this isn't happening right now. Using root and not knowing what you're doing could expose you to security risks or potentially even brick your phone.

Thanks for taking the time to explain this to me. I am not a technical idiot and can follow any instructions when someone takes the time to explain. I appreciate you doing just that. I will not mess with this for awhile and just get used to the android format coming off of my BB Curve. Again - thanks for your explanation!

 

[windycity]

Now that the "easy" way is out, this thread is probably a useful Public Service Announcement. A lot of people just got keys to their proverbial car but may not have read the Rules of the Road.