People Ask Why Some Root Their Device and For Me This is Why
I am a Tasker enthusiast and when I can automate something simple on my phone I like to. I set a simple task to turn off WiFi when my home network is not detected so my phone doesn't scan and report my location to businesses. However, this functionality is now nonexistent and the developer has to ask people not to one-star their app because it doesn't work. My phone is my phone and killing my ability to use it as such for whatever security theater Google is playing at is why I root my device. Anyone else still rooting for similar reasons?
backup & restore my apps as I please (as well as scheduled backups to my SD card)
BMS control to keep my battery in good health
Automation app for automating stuff (like Tasker)
revoking typically unrevokable permissions from system and Google apps
To actually feel like I own my device.
If I wanted a heavily curated (and somewhat locked down) experience, I'd be in the Apple ecosystem - don't know why Google thinks it's a great idea to force this ideology onto practically all Android users...
Similar situation with that additional warning for sideloading apps - there's already two warnings and Play Protect typically uninstalls these apps anyway, without the user's consent - in one case deleting KDE Connect from users' devices if installed with F-Droid
I went into a near seething rage when I found out Android 12 let OEMs decide bloatware was completely immune to ADB disable commands. root's the only method to get to the non-disable xml files and remove that "functionality".
It's not even just banking apps anymore. Tons of libraries just check by default before allowing apps using them to run. I can't use my local transit agency's app with root, not can I order a fast food burger.
And now, even when your WiFi is off they still turn it on to "help with location tracking." And they're talking about taking away the ability to turn Bluetooth off.
Part of me wishes my Samsung note 20 would die already so I could replace it with something cheaper, less powerful, but that I actually can do what I want with, I'm never getting a phone I can't root ever again
The issue is I only want it if it also has expandable storage, so many modern phones suck
Same. Here. I have a s21, but it is frustrating how little control I have over the device. Garbage apps like chrome are taking up a huge chunk of my storage space, but my phone won't let me uninstall them.
If it's a modern US Samsung model originally provided by a carrier, you can't. A long time ago, people used to find/use security exploits for Samsung phones, but I think they just don't care much anymore since you can buy international versions or other bootloader unlockable phones.
It was in response to the Naomi Brockwell post she did on Twitter about businesses using WiFi, Bluetooth and Location Services to track you in public locations. You can Google it directly "NBTV Advice from Defcon" or this link: https://nbtv.substack.com/p/advice-from-defcon-turn-off-bluetooth
I get how it works with wifi connections, and Bluetooth scanning (since that's a peer to peer protocol that needs to broadcast its availability), and obviously the OS-level location services, but I'm still not seeing how seeing wifi beacons would reveal anything. For one, pretty much every mobile device OS now uses MAC randomization so that your wifi activity on one network can't be correlated with another. And for another, I think the BSSID scanning protocol is listen only for client devices.
Happy to be proven wrong, and to learn more, but the article linked doesn't seem to explain anything on this particular supposed threat.
Also, why do we even need tasker to do that? iOS allows you to do that with its Shortcuts app lol, this is a weird moment when Android is becoming more closed and iOS open (in system wide features).
Well, that is why I chuckle when people say there is no reason to root nowadays... Heck, not even banking apps will prevent me from rooting my phone, and my next android purchases are gonna be based in whether it can be rooted or not.
Come on, you know what I meant, compare pre iOS 7 with whichever Android was at that time... You can see nowadays the release updates are switching and iOS is implementing more features (or features that it should have had since the beginning lol) and Android is closing down more (Google's fault and no root ofc).
It barely works for Android 14+ without root. Macrodroid has much better compatibility for whatever reason.
Unfortunately rooting while passing safetynet verification is very hard or impossible lately depending on the device. If apps didn't unnecessarily check safetynet status this wouldn't be a problem, but since so many now the rooted phone effectively becomes a brick. I really miss the days of custom ROMs and full device automation without stupid workarounds. Unfortunately, I don't think there's any going back without app developers getting on board with an alternative to Google-verified security on Android.
How does it detect your home wifi if it has turned off wifi? I don't know Android, but the logic there seems odd. Are you using location services to drive it?
You've misread that. When he leaves his home network, he has it switch off wifi to prevent it being picked up by other networks. Probably has it being switched back on by cell tower / similar location option
I don’t think I did. I just assumed it would be impossible to detect the home network automatically once WiFi was automatically switched off. Unless off isn’t actually off. Or the “auto on” part was location based.
Just have your WiFi turn back on when you get back to your home, you can do location based stuff with tasker, I used to have it on my old phone and made it turn my phone on silent and turn off the WiFi when I got to work, but as soon as I got home it put my phne back to normal.
I use macrodroid instead, though I have also paid for Tasker.
I just find macrodroid much easier to use. I learned to use Tasker, then was not using it for a few months, went back to it to implement something and god damm, what a horrible UI. I had forgotten how to use it. Decided to try macrodroid and it is just so beautiful and easy..
Rooting a device is a process that depends on the phone and manufacturer. On some devices it is flat out impossible, on other it is trivial (those tend to be increasingly rare). The steps usually go something like this
Put your phone in developer mode
Unlock the bootloader (that's the part that is manufacturer/phone dependent)
Use fastboot to install a replacement bootloader (I used TWRP in the past, now I use Orangefox)
Once you have a good bootloader, youll be able to install apps from outside Android. This will enable you to give those specific app root access.
Install Magisk or superSu or whatever app that gives you root access once booted back in android.
Keep in mind that you can 100% brick your phone doing this and that it'll most likely void your warranty. Do not root your device following this post alone. I tried to answer an ELI5, not a Teach Me How To Do It Like I'm 5.
More information:
bootloader : that's like the BIOS of your phone. It's software that is used right before your OS (android) launches
fastboot : that's a mode you can set your phone in that will enable you to run commands via a computer to which your phone is plugged by usb. You can upload custom code to it this way (such as a replacement bootloader)
Steps 2-3 are sadly impossible on most devices. If you have one of the bad ones, I'd recommend making some searches before you choose your next device.
Google has a disproportionate and overwhelming say in AOSP. What do you think Lineage OS is based on?
When Google makes API changes to Android, it hurts AOSP too. Can the devs try to maintain the legacy API on their own? Sure, but it's extra effort, so it's usually not something you can count on.
Stock Google is absolutely a hit to ones privacy, but LineageOS is a often big hit to device security.
If you don't have a Pixel, and therefore can't use GrapheneOS, check and see if your device is compatible with DivestOS.
However, neither will offer root support for reasons that both devs have decent write-ups explaining within each project's documentation.
I do realize that not everyone places security above all other factors when deciding on their smartphone OS, but I think they should be aware of the trade-offs so they can make an informed decision.
I am a root user, yes but I only use it for migrate, a custom rom backup & restore tool.
Coming to Tasker, I tried so hard to figure it out but couldn't do it for my use case of having custom gestures. I like to have profiles depending on whether I am home or outside, will give it one more shot for this.
People still use Tasker? That makes me smile. I remember using it way back in the day and it was just incredible seeing the things other people came up with. Tasker allowed for so many features that took iOS and Android years to implement.