3/23/2014
Android rooting - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
executable permissions with the chmod command. A supervisor application, like SuperUser or SuperSU, can then regulate and log elevated permission requests from other applications. Many guides, tutorials, and automatic processes exist for popular Android devices facilitating a fast and easy rooting process. The process of rooting a device may be simple or complex, and it even may depend upon serendipity. For example, shortly after the release of the HTC Dream (HTC G1), it was discovered that anything typed using the keyboard was being interpreted as a command in a privileged (root) shell. Although Google quickly released a patch to fix this, a signed image of the old firmware leaked, which gave users the ability to downgrade and use the original exploit to gain root access. By contrast, the Google-branded Android phones, the Nexus One, Nexus S, Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4 and Nexus 5, as well as their tablet counterparts, the Nexus 7 and Nexus 10, can be bootloader unlocked by simply connecting the device to a computer while in boot-loader mode and running the Fastboot program with the command fastboot oem unlock.[10] After accepting a warning, the boot-loader is unlocked, so a new system image can be written directly to flash without the need for an exploit.
Industry reaction
Until the early 2010s, the response of tablet and smartphone manufacturers and mobile carriers had typically been unsupportive of third-party firmware development. Manufacturers had expressed concern about improper functioning of devices running unofficial software[11] and related support costs. Moreover, firmware such as CyanogenMod sometimes offers features for which carriers would otherwise charge a premium, such as tethering. As a result, technical obstacles such as locked bootloaders and restricted access to root permissions have commonly been introduced in many devices. For example, in late December 2011, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com, Inc. began pushing automatic, over-the-air firmware updates, 1.4.1 to Nook Tablets and 6.2.1 to Kindle Fires, that removed users' ability to gain root access to the devices. The Nook Tablet 1.4.1 update also removed users' ability to sideload apps from sources other than the official Barnes & Noble app store (without modding).[12][13] However, as community-developed software began to grow popular in the late 2009 to early 2010,[14][15] and following a statement by the Copyright Office and Librarian of Congress (US) allowing the use of "jailbroken" mobile devices,[16] manufacturers and carriers have softened their position regarding CyanogenMod and other unofficial firmware distributions. Some manufacturers, including HTC,[17] Samsung,[18] Motorola[19] and Sony Ericsson,[20] even actively provide support and encourage development. In 2011, the need to circumvent hardware restrictions to install unofficial firmware lessened as an increasing number of devices shipped with unlocked or unlockable bootloaders, similar to the Nexus series of phones. Device manufacturer HTC has announced that it would support aftermarket software developers by making the bootloaders of all new devices unlockable.[11] However, carriers, such as Verizon Wireless and more recently AT&T, have continuously blocked OEMs, such as HTC and Motorola, from releasing retail devices with unlocked bootloaders, opting instead for "developer edition" devices which are only sold unsubsidized, off contract. Similar in practice to Nexus devices, but for a premium and with no contract discounts.
Legality
Rooting a device involves circumventing its technological protection measures (in order to allow root access and running alternative software), so its legal status is affected by laws regarding circumvention of digital locks, such as laws protecting digital rights management (DRM) mechanisms. Many countries do not have such laws, and some countries have laws including exceptions for rooting.
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