Android Rooting : Advantages And Disadvantages

The Android phone that you are using is running an operating system that 
was designed for commercial and private use. Like most any operating 
system, several features have been disabled, either for future use or to 
prevent the casual user from causing permanent damage to the operating 

system. Smartphone have different operating systems and different name 
for each process used to gain access to the phone's full functions. For 
example, Nokia Symbian is called hacking, Apple iOS is called jail breaking, 
and for Android which is our main focus is called ROOTING.

 What is Android Rooting?

"Rooting" is the process in which the limitations are removed and full-access 
is allowed. Rooting your Android device involves adding in a small Linux 
application called "SU". It stands for SuperUser, and allows applications 
and commands to run with elevated permissions. Once rooted, the Android 
phone owner will have more control over many settings, features and performance 
of their phone. Basically, "rooting" means to get to the root of the operating system 
and to have the ability to make global changes."

Why would I want to root my phone?

Good question! Maybe you don't. Everything in a Linux system is a file, or 
is treated as a file. Since Android runs on top of Linux, it acts the same way.
Most of the files you will need to access or change are available to you without
having elevated permissions. When you want to do things that affect or change
the core software of your device--like updating the version of Android on your 
phone, installing a nice piece of software  from another device- you'll have to do 
it as root. Rooting also gives you access to some handy software that you couldn't
use otherwise. Things like a complete system backup or ad blocking software
require you to root your device. Don't root your phone just for the sake of rooting 
your phone, but if you come across something you feel you could use or would like
to have, then consider it. You will find that the open source community is usually 
pretty helpful and encouraging new people to do new things is common. 
And when you get to the point where you can lend a hand to the new folks, pay 
it forward. 

Advantages of Rooting

"Rooting" your Android phone does afford you numerous benefits, including:

==>Running special applications-Superuser is an app that can only be
run on a rooted Android phone. This allows you to control which apps
have access to the "root" system. Another popular application that
"rooting" affords is the ability to tether a computer to your Android
phone so that the computer can access the Internet using the phone's
data connection. Another program can allow your Android to be used as
a WiFi Hotspot without having to pay your provider for the feature.

==>Freeing up memory-When you install an app on your phone, it is
stored on the phone's memory. "Rooting" allows you to move installed
applications to your SD card, thus freeing up system memory for
additional files or apps.  

==>Custom ROM's-This is the most powerful feature of "rooted" phones.
There are hundreds of custom ROM's that can do anything from speeding
up the processing speed of your phone to changing the entire look and
feel of your phone.

Disadvantages of Rooting

There are two main disadvantages to rooting any Android phone:

==>Rooting immediately voids your phone's warranty- Once rooted, don't
try to bring your phone back for service or warranty work. You are on
your own!

==>Rooting involves the risk of "bricking" your phone- In essence, a
"bricked" phone is no better than carrying around a brick in your
pocket. The phone is dead when it has been "bricked." 

Consideration:

==>Poor performance- Though the intention of "rooting" a phone is to
give the phone more performance, several users have found that, in
their attempts to speed up the phone or add additional features, that
their phones lost both performance speed and features. Remember that
when you "root" your Android phone, you are making changes to the
stock operating system.

==>Viruses- Yes, even phones can get viruses. A common practice that
people do with "rooted" phones is to flash their ROM's with custom
programs. Whenever you make changes to the code of a software, you run
the risk of introducing a virus.  

Conclusion

The decision to "root" your Android phone is one that should not
be rushed into. Though the allure of having an unlocked phone is
powerful, having a "bricked" phone is, trust me, not very much fun. 

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