You must have some people talk about “rooting their phones” so they can run more third-party applications, gain better access to the Android OS, or so they can get more internet usage on their phones. But what does it really mean? What are the benefits and the risks? Let’s find out together.
What Is Rooting?
The goal of ”rooting” your device is to grant you what is known as ”root access” to the device. This allows the user to access and alter the root system files and sub-structure of the Android operating system that runs the device. In some ways, rooting an Android phone is a form of cell phone hacking.
You may compare it to how User Accounts work on a Windows computer. While the standard Windows user (or Guest) is able to use the applications and programs on the computer, only Administrator-level users have full access to change system settings or install certain programs and operating system files.
Android is based on Linux and a user needs certain administrative permissions to perform certain actions. Rooting provides those permissions.
Four Reasons Users Root Their Phones
1. Run Unauthorized Applications
Although it is illegal, some users root their phones in order to install pirated apps and software. Others simply want to install applications that have not been authorized by the Google Play Store, some of which can’t be installed on the phone unless it is rooted.
However, some Android smartphones already allow the ability to “side-load” the app files (.apk) directly, even if the application was not originally offered through Google Play.
2. Remove Unwanted Applications
Phone manufacturers may pre-install certain applications on a smartphone that cannot be removed by the user through the default settings. Rooting can allow users to remove these applications.
3. Install Custom ROMs
By gaining root access on an Android smartphone, the user can then install custom, special or unauthorized versions of the Android operating system called ROMs. These can replace the official updates provided by the manufacturer.
For example, if updates on a smartphone stopped at Android 4.2 Jelly Bean, and the user wishes to install Android 4.4 KitKat, he or she may need to root the phone in order to do that. Cyanogenmod is one of the most popular custom Android ROMs that are freely available on the Internet
4. Hardware Adjustments
To get additional performance out of their smartphones, users can also have their processors overclocked and tweaked. Root access is required to make these kinds of unauthorized changes.
Three Risks of Rooting
1. Increased Risk of Malware
One of the reasons why restrictions are put in place by manufacturers in the first place is to protect the user against viruses and other damaging software. By opening root access to the phone, a user may make it easier for root-level attacks by hackers and criminals.
2. Loss of Warranty
Without reverting it back to a factory state, a rooted phone is not eligible for warranty, repairs and services (even within the warranty period).
3. Risk of Irreversible Damage
The process of rooting an Android phone carries the risk of “bricking the device” during the process itself. Should something go wrong during rooting, the phone may be rendered inoperable forever. Even in cases where the phone is not completely compromised, it may still suffer from significant software problems, crashes and errors.
How to Root an Android Phone
The exact instructions for rooting an Android phone varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, device to device. As such, users who are interested in rooting their Android phone will need to look up the specific steps and software needed to root their specific device.
MEGATechNews published a three-part guide to rooting Android phones, which covers several devices from different companies.
Typically, specialized rooting software is needed. This is installed on a computer to which the Android phone is connected via a USB cable. The phone must also have USB debugging mode enabled, and this can be found under the Developer Options section of the Settings menu. The rooting software can then be run.
See Also: When is Your Phone Getting the Latest Android 6.0 MarshMallow?
