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Questions about "rooting"

A

altiris

Lurker
First off I am sorry if this is the wrong area for this. I am a linux user, I use CentOS for all of my server needs and then Ubuntu for desktop, I am familiar with the root user as well as the su and sudo commands and also SELinux however I dont know how its implemented in Android. My questions are, what are the benefits of rooting? Can you run emulators (n64/gba/snes)? Can rooting lead to virus infection? Is there a way to have a password for the root user....although this would mean a UI would have to show up everytime something wants to run as root, yes?

My biggest issue is with security, I do not want to risk getting my phone infected from malware or a trojan but I plan to move from ios to android so that I can run emulators from my favorite games (I am still unsure if I need to root to run emulators). If everything is always running as root and is never asked for a password, an app could do some malicious things (even though SELinux is implemented, yes or no)? If there is ever a leak/bug in a web browser which allowed a program to be installed through, would it be able to go into my phone because I am root or would SELinux limit the permission?

Thanks everyone!
 
Hi and welcome, firstly I'd ask what phone you have?

Secondly rooting doesn't really open up for much in the way of viruses so long as you download from reputable sites, but that goes for non root too. There it's currently an exploit in the android system which rooting allows you to stop!

However you can run emulators without root, but if you want to use a PlayStation controller, then one option using sixaxis app requires root.

You can have the superuser app request permission more than once, but in order for any app to access root permissions, it must ask through the superuser app :-)
 
altiris said:
what are the benefits of rooting?
Click to expand...

Unhindered user access to the entire file system, allowing removal of preinstalled apps. modifying the framework files to theme the UI, and the ability to install custome firmwares/kernels, amongst others.

Can rooting lead to virus infection?
Click to expand...

Highly unlikely, as by design each app runs in its own 'sandbox'.

Is there a way to have a password for the root user....although this would mean a UI would have to show up everytime something wants to run as root, yes?
Click to expand...

This is exactly what happens. Access is governed by an app, usually SuperSU or SuperUser; the user has to allow (either permanently or per-request) an app su permission within this app.
 
I really like that "superuser" or "superuser app" thing. Is that built into Android? and if not how do I go about getting it and setting it up.

To answer someone's question I currently have an iPhone 4S with iOS 7.
 
the SuperUser app is often something you download from the Play store after the ROM (stock or custom) is rooted. some root tools pre-install it as well. '

when an app needs permission it pops up an allow/cancel dialog in the same vain as Windows Vista User Account Control does and the same way Linux pops up a dialog asking for the root password--except in Android it doesn't need a password.

No, it does not come built-in. depending on the phone/tablet, it can range from a one-click method somewhere or an involved command line hack. it's generally no different than jailbreaking an iPhone except there is no DFU mode crap

Such a request will look like this:

 
nickdalzell said:
the SuperUser app is often something you download from the Play store after the ROM (stock or custom) is rooted. some root tools pre-install it as well. '

when an app needs permission it pops up an allow/cancel dialog in the same vain as Windows Vista User Account Control does and the same way Linux pops up a dialog asking for the root password--except in Android it doesn't need a password.

No, it does not come built-in. depending on the phone/tablet, it can range from a one-click method somewhere or an involved command line hack. it's generally no different than jailbreaking an iPhone except there is no DFU mode crap

Such a request will look like this:

Click to expand...
Thanks for this info. You talked about stock and custom roms? What are these? Are custom roms safe, considering if you stock which would be vanilla custom would have to be modified a person or group of persons?
 
Hi there, altiris, and welcome to Android Forums--from a fellow Linux user. :D

Once you've actually settled on the phone you're going to get, you'll find tons of helpful info on that phone's specific board, especially its "all things root" board. So let us know what you end up with!
 
The ROM is basically your phone's operating system. a 'stock' ROM is what your phone comes with out of the box. a 'Custom ROM' is a rooted and highly themed/customized ROM that you flash on a rooted phone.
 
Custom roms are safe.

Part of the rooting process involves setting up a way to do full image backups and restores, so even if you get one that's flaky, you simply revert to the previous image you liked.

And you're not required to go custom - you can root your stock rom if you like what came with the phone.
 
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