Comment 4KN4 Re: Samsung phones are not rooted OOTB

Story

Blackphone 2: improved focus on security

Preview

Samsung phones are not rooted OOTB (Score: 1)

by hyper@pipedot.org on 2015-03-03 21:44 (#47Q4)

That is the problem. My hardware. My device. Regardless of ease of rooting these days I prefer root access when it is handed over. Throw in the beefed up security and these guys meet a personal and business need. If they can provide excellent enterprise level device controls the money will roll in.

Re: Samsung phones are not rooted OOTB (Score: 1)

by axsdenied@pipedot.org on 2015-03-04 12:20 (#48YH)

The average user does not know what root access is and does not need it. I don't think that you or most of us here are average users. Hence, it does not make sense to enable root access on all handsets but it makes sense to make it easily obtained if the advanced user wishes to do so.

Re: Samsung phones are not rooted OOTB (Score: 2, Insightful)

by zafiro17@pipedot.org on 2015-03-04 12:26 (#48YK)

What I meant by that sentence is, "I feel like others have rooted my phone from the moment I first use it." The fact that Android is so closely tied into Google, has that miserable app permissions system that allow devs to simply ask for one more permission each round until they rule the world mwah ha ha ha, and is probably phoning home more than you know, kind of freaks me out.

Android is not consumer-focused, it's enterprise focused. And those enterprises need your data, your ad-watching-eyeballs, and your credit card to stay in business. Fuck that, I just want pocket computing.

Re: Samsung phones are not rooted OOTB (Score: 1)

by hyper@pipedot.org on 2015-03-09 22:29 (#4KN4)

Have a look at the permissions granted to default apps preloaded with the phone that can not be uninstalled.

App name: S Memo
App function: Notepad for android
App Permissions:
  • read phone status and identity
  • edit your text messages
  • read your text messages
  • record audio
  • precise location
  • modify your contacts
  • read your contacts
  • add or modify calendar events and send emails to guests without host's knowledge
  • read calendar events plus confidential information
  • modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
  • add or remove accounts
  • create accounts and set passwords
  • find accounts on the device
  • use accounts on the device
  • modify secure system settings
  • control near field communication
  • full network access
  • view network connections
  • view wi-fi connections
  • close other apps
  • reorder running apps
  • retrieve running apps
  • run at startup
  • prevent phone from sleeping
  • read sync settings
  • read sync statistics
  • toggle sync on and off
  • modify system settings
  • test access to protected storage
Seriously, WTF? This is an application to write notes and save the results as a file. Why would hackers bother trying to crack the operating system when they just need to find a flaw in S Memo?
Why does a note taking application require all of these permissions?
Why can't I, as the device owner, disable this application from using these permissions?

Yes. I feel like others have rooted my phone before I even used it. Perhaps a law should be passed compelling hardware and software manufactures to give users root access to all hardware and software when purchased.

Reminds me of what they have done to prevent users from accessing the computers in their car.

Junk Status

Not marked as junk