Why NOT to root?

Open Heart of an Android

Yesterday I tried too desperately to root my friend’s Galaxy Note 2 on android 4.3 (apparently he promised me free pizza), still I could not root it and was unsuccessful in installing a custom recovery (sort of a bios of a smartphone). Every time there was a warning from Samsung that some malicious service had tried to gain access to system files and that it had successfully averted it.

The plan was to wipe the phone and install a custom Rom on it. After my failed attempt and while introspecting while in my bed a thought incurred in my mind- is it really necessary to root our smartphone and go berserk installing Custom ROMS on it? I am sure you would have read volumes on all time high memory optimizations and reduced battery drain as primary benefits of messing with your phone but have you ever tried googling why not to root your phone?

Well here it is-

1. Security-

Rooting necessarily means exploiting a security flaw and gaining elevated permissions. An application can be installed to manage the root permissions.

Now this can work both ways. A rouge application which could not previously use root permissions can now use it and cause all sorts of troubles. If you do not use too many apps that require root, do not root it.

2. Stability-

This is the most annoying problem I had in my experience of installing Custom ROMS. A ROM from a developer (like cyanogenmod) can never be as stable as from the OEM (like Samsung) period. They have all sorts of development forums and quick solutions to all the bugs and glitches, its appreciated but believe me your Stock ROM is the most stable ROM you will ever have.

3. Warranty-

Rooting voids the warranty and you even can’t have your failed hardware replaced, thus it is advisable not to root it during warranty.

4. Updates-

Updates on Custom ROMS are not like OEM updates. However many of the ROMS give you an option of Over the Air (OTA) updates still manually wiping and flashing is advised. However OEM updates are always OTA updates.

I have tried to bring out the risks and disadvantages involved in rooting and in no way want to discourage or scare you. Gaining control over your smartphone and flashing an OS of your choice will be one of the greatest contentment you will ever have!