To Root or Not to Root - Android Phones

[Mike]

I've been considering taking the big step of rooting my Samsung Galaxy S3. This is because I'm obsessive/compulsive with any phone I have, constantly tweaking and changing, downloading and deleting.

I'm no longer able to sate my obsession as an unrooted addict, so I need to crank up the options and make this phone sing. The biggest cautions against rooting I've seen are because you'll void the warranty or possibly brick it. I've never carried mobile insurance and warranties on these things are pretty much useless. As far as bricking it, I've read enough to feel comfortable that if I follow a proven method of rooting closely and download Titanium Backup, I should be fine.

Has anyone rooted their Android and have good or bad experiences to share? What are your top reasons to root? I haven't found much about increases in security from hackers and viruses. Any concerns there?

 

[tim-from-pa]

I've been considering taking the big step of rooting my Samsung Galaxy S3. This is because I'm obsessive/compulsive with any phone I have, constantly tweaking and changing, downloading and deleting.

I'm no longer able to sate my obsession as an unrooted addict, so I need to crank up the options and make this phone sing. The biggest cautions against rooting I've seen are because you'll void the warranty or possibly brick it. I've never carried mobile insurance and warranties on these things are pretty much useless. As far as bricking it, I've read enough to feel comfortable that if I follow a proven method of rooting closely and download Titanium Backup, I should be fine.

Has anyone rooted their Android and have good or bad experiences to share? What are your top reasons to root? I haven't found much about increases in security from hackers and viruses. Any concerns there?

First of all, I don't have an Android phone, but I do understand what you want to do with the operating system. Android, as you know, is similar to Linux, and the fact that the user by default is not rooted is what makes it so safe from malware, and why I always mouth off here that my Linux computer don't get viruses. Windows, on the other hand, has an open door policy (actually, an open window policy :toofunny) allowing their systems files to mix and mingle with the outside and get root access. So, I guess what I'm saying is that to do so would make your Android more like a Microsoft, still not as bad, but closer to it.

Now, as you said you like to tweek, for those out there who want to know more about rooting, here's why they do it:

http://www.maximumpc.com/article/features/10_reasons_root_your_android_device

But here's the security risks:

http://www.bullguard.com/bullguard-...ity/mobile-threats/android-rooting-risks.aspx

(this second article is effectively an add for security software which I do not believe such devices really need, but they bring out good points)

Make your own choice, but next time I boast Linux does not get viruses, don't come back to me and say they do, because the "lack of rooting" is one primary reason they don't get malware. I don't run my Linux laptop here in its root directory. And that was the #1 rule amongst Linux users except if one really knows what they are doing, and do not mess with files or commands on the network with possible malware.

 

[Mike]

Dearest brother Tim,

I honestly want to learn more about the pros & cons associated with rooting. The ten listed in the first link is was good, but that list is all over the net.

As for your second link, you know that was on the site for a company that sells anti-virus software. Of course they want to create the worry and buy their product. That is a bias article to say the least.

 

[Nick]

As for your second link, you know that was on the site for a company that sells anti-virus software. Of course they want to create the worry and buy their product. That is a bias article to say the least.

Doesn't make it not true.

 

[Mike]

Well, how can I argue with that, Nick? I should start taking the same attitude when an alien abduction insurance company spams me with stats on being taken up in tractor beams. ;)

I'm not saying it's not true, but it would feel more reliable coming from a source that didn't stand to gain from it. More and more people are rooting their phones. I'm just thinking phone manufacturers and carriers profit from the consumer relying on options we pay for that we might not need to. I hardly ever talk to or read about someone who regrets doing it. It's always like, "Wow! I should have done that a long time ago!".

 

[tim-from-pa]

One guy at work said his Nephew rooted his phone --- sped the thing up but got really hot in his pocket.

Another fellow was thinking of going that route, but the issue is that updates would not go thru since they do not update in the root directory. I asked, "Could you just root the thing for a short time to tweek it the way you want and then go out again as a user for the updates?" He said that then the updates that one gets when going back would be lost if rooting again (I took it to mean that updates are meant to be in the user's directory). Plus, each update makes it harder and harder to jailbreak them. I guess that's how people end up "bricking" them after all.

So, I don't know the details then than what the guys at work told me of their experiences. They did not seem overly favorable of rooting the phone because despite the added power, one is sort of stuck there without the newer updates taking hold.