653
People Ask Why Some Root Their Device and For Me This is Why (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 month ago by alkaliv2@lemmy.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml
85 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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?

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] lemann@lemmy.dbzer0.com 108 points 4 weeks ago

I'm rooted to...

  • 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

Uhh I definitely went off on a tangent, oops.

[-] Chakravanti@lemmy.ml 57 points 4 weeks ago

I'm rooting to...

Remove Google

[-] Peffse@lemmy.world 39 points 4 weeks ago

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".

[-] goferking0@lemmy.sdf.org 27 points 4 weeks ago

Then 12 or 13 also made it so there's no way to access android/data.

Ffs I want to be able to backup app data that doesn't get backed up any other way

[-] nobleshift@lemmy.world 73 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

BECAUSE I FUCKING OWN YOU (me to the phone)

[-] thegreekgeek@midwest.social 57 points 4 weeks ago

Yeah Google can play a little game of hide-and-go-fuck-themselves.

[-] lone_faerie 48 points 4 weeks ago

Tasker is the reason Android is so much better than iOS

[-] SanctimoniousApe@lemmings.world 43 points 4 weeks ago

So, PinePhone is gonna be a mature project... when? Can't be soon enough.

[-] iturnedintoanewt@lemm.ee 20 points 4 weeks ago

Never... Pine kinda throws you the thing completely half assed for the people to build the whole stack. It's a really slow process.

[-] PsychedSy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 40 points 4 weeks ago

I like being able to use my banking app. I do miss having proper control, though.

[-] aquafunk@lemmy.sdf.org 28 points 4 weeks ago

shoutout to USAA banking app that detected my root, but just showed a warning and allowed me to continue. that's how it ahould be imho

[-] FierySpectre@lemmy.world 26 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

Big fuck you to the Belgian govt who detected my developer settings being on and blocked their app from working...

[-] PsychedSy@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 4 weeks ago

That's pretty badass.

[-] autonomoususer@lemmy.world 7 points 4 weeks ago

github.com/daboynb/PlayIntegrityNEXT

load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments (3 replies)
[-] autonomoususer@lemmy.world 37 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

My computer has root. My phone must too.

[-] Valon_Blue@sh.itjust.works 35 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

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.

[-] Ok_imagination@lemmy.world 33 points 1 month ago

I've considered it for similar reasons to your own. I like using Tasker for Bluetooth and it seems most of that compatibility is removed now as well.

[-] umbrella@lemmy.ml 31 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

blocking ads. fuck ads.

[-] asexualchangeling@lemmy.ml 22 points 4 weeks ago

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

[-] Sauerkraut@discuss.tchncs.de 8 points 4 weeks ago

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.

[-] MrSoup@lemmy.zip 5 points 4 weeks ago

You can try to uninstall those apps with adb shell.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (5 replies)
[-] booly@sh.itjust.works 19 points 4 weeks ago

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.

I was under the impression that BSSID scanning was entirely passive, and that a phone that scans for beacons doesn't actually reveal itself to anyone.

[-] alkaliv2@lemmy.world 21 points 4 weeks ago

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

[-] booly@sh.itjust.works 12 points 4 weeks ago

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.

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] kratoz29@lemm.ee 14 points 4 weeks ago

TIL Tasker even worked without root lol.

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.

[-] COASTER1921@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 weeks ago

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.

load more comments (2 replies)
[-] filcuk@lemmy.zip 6 points 4 weeks ago

Well, you need Tasker because that's one of the Android equivalents of the Shortcuts app.

load more comments (3 replies)
[-] Tabula_stercore@lemmy.world 6 points 4 weeks ago

iOS open

So open that you need an app to send a file over Bluetooth....

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] plz1@lemmy.world 13 points 1 month ago

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?

[-] Shepy@feddit.uk 19 points 4 weeks ago

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

[-] plz1@lemmy.world 8 points 4 weeks ago

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.

[-] PraiseTheSoup@lemm.ee 6 points 4 weeks ago

You've now misread twice. Go back and try again.

load more comments (3 replies)
[-] Tja@programming.dev 5 points 4 weeks ago

You are right, that is impossible, but it isn't what they are doing.

They are turning it back on either manually or by some other method (cell tower for instance). This automation seems to be to just turn it off.

load more comments (6 replies)
[-] beSyl@slrpnk.net 10 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

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..

[-] autonomoususer@lemmy.world 10 points 4 weeks ago

Tasker is anti-libre software. We do not control it. It fails to include a libre software license text file, like AGPL.

[-] randomcruft@lemmy.sdf.org 11 points 4 weeks ago

Serious question, what would be a recommended alternative?

[-] somerandomname@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 weeks ago

Not as powerful as Tasker, but for some basic automation tasks PhoneProfilesPlus is a good alternative.

load more comments (2 replies)
[-] JameUwU@lemmy.ml 10 points 4 weeks ago

This feature comes without Root on CalyxOS :p

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 7 points 1 month ago

You could just not use Google Android. Lineage OS all the way with no Google apps

[-] trevor 35 points 4 weeks ago

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.

load more comments (1 replies)
[-] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 17 points 4 weeks ago

Security and Privacy are not the same thing.

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.

[-] possiblylinux127@lemmy.zip 6 points 4 weeks ago

Lineage OS is in fact not terrible for security. Other than a unlocked boot loader I have not seen anything wrong with it.

As for Divest OS is has all the same issues as Graphene OS.

[-] circuscritic@lemmy.ca 10 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

The inability to relock the bootloader is gigantic security vulnerability. It negates, or entirely voids, a significant amount of a devices physical security, including FDE.

There are other security issues with LineageOS, but that's part of the trade-off. There's nothing inherently sinister or incompetent about that, it's just the nature of the beast.

Regardless, I'm not here to chastise anyone's choice of OS, or to even imply that there is a right, and wrong ROM, there isn't.

I was just pointing out that there are pros and cons, and users should be aware of them when making those decisions.

load more comments (2 replies)
[-] MonkderVierte@lemmy.ml 6 points 4 weeks ago

Both are based on AOSP, same issue there.

[-] toototabon@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 weeks ago

ELI5 how can i root my device?

[-] steinwand@lemmy.world 27 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

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

  1. Put your phone in developer mode
  2. Unlock the bootloader (that's the part that is manufacturer/phone dependent)
  3. Use fastboot to install a replacement bootloader (I used TWRP in the past, now I use Orangefox)
  4. 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.
  5. 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)
  • https://orangefox.download/
[-] XTL@sopuli.xyz 5 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

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.

load more comments (2 replies)
[-] winkerjadams@lemmy.dbzer0.com 5 points 4 weeks ago

Depends on your device

[-] zerozaku@lemmy.world 6 points 4 weeks ago

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.

load more comments
view more: next ›
this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2024
653 points (100.0% liked)

Privacy

31220 readers
809 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Related communities

Chat rooms

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
k_o_t@lemmy.ml
tmpod@lemmy.pt
Yayannick@lemmy.ml
ranok@sopuli.xyz