Bad News of the Day: Motorola is Installing a 'Root Checker' on VZW ICS Devices

[Aixelsyd]

Corporations check for rooted devices too. Good For Enterprise, MobileIron, etc. can be configured to determine if your device is rooted, and subsequently deny you access to the Corporate network.
Some Corporate SysAdmins consider rooted devices to be security-compromised devices and disallow them on their Corporate network.

And this one of the reason why there is more and more security and devices being locked up. For them to sell to Enterprise customers they ( enterprise ) are demanding more security on the devices moving forward. That said I've heard from my contacts over the course of the next yr or so ANY deviec that will be sold or for use to Enterprise customers will require new security checks to be in place that will in turn force the mfgs & carries to have the device locked and new added security to kernels as a safety net.

That said my one contact said you want freedom down the road at some point your only option will be to buy a Nexus otherwise be ready for lockdowns and no custom ROMs or kernels

 

[kodiak799]

^^^all these measure are primarily geared toward the enterprise market.

It didn't get much attention, probably because most don't use 3rd party mail widgets, but Google has way cranked-up security on the Corp Email and Gmail api's so that 3rd party developers can't really access them. It basically rendered my favorite widget - Pure Messenger - useless. And with the integration of Google Wallet it's only going to get worse.

There are some hacks you can use as a work-around for the Gmail (corp. email apparently doesn't have enough demand). Now that GV will use the default message app, Pure is like the perfect widget to see all your texts, voicemail, and mail (plus FB and Twitter, if you choose). Frustrates me to no end that Google STILL hasn't made a satisfactory universal message widget for Android.

 

[en28so]

yet another reason im glad I just found a Galaxy Nexus on ebay 100% functional for less than $200....and im selling my bionic. No more motorola for me...and come February no more Verizon for me either.

You are my new best friend! I bet Verizon has treated you like they treated me. Signed, a disgruntled Verizon customer.

Sent from my DROIDX using DroidForums

 

[Mike.757]

Corporations check for rooted devices too. Good For Enterprise, MobileIron, etc. can be configured to determine if your device is rooted, and subsequently deny you access to the Corporate network.
Some Corporate SysAdmins consider rooted devices to be security-compromised devices and disallow them on their Corporate network.

I have a generic WiFi-only rooted ICS 4.0.3 tablet for rooted Android activities. Lol!
Can't beat those things for under $100

Sent from my unrooted DroidX using Tapatalk

You are absolutely correct. I just installed Good for Enterprise (GFE) and it detected that my phone was rooted and slicked the GFE software. I unrooted and reinstalled the software. No problems. I have tinkered with ICS but do not mod my phone so it is not too much of a loss for me.

 

[skennelly]

They're not telling you what to do with your device. What they are telling you is that if you root yourdevice ............ you void the warranty.

So, if after rooting, you begin to have issues with your device (issues that you hadn't had before because you would have returned it), don't come to Verizon or Motorola wanting a replacement. This has to be covered with your own dime.

This makes no sense to the comment I made. If you had read the quote, you might not have even posted.

Sent from my SCH-I535

 

[skennelly]

I agree.



I can see where you are coming from but i disagree slightly.

The difference with a laptop and cell phone, in most cases anyway, is that a lot of people get a cell phone at a subsidized price, where as you generally buy a laptop at full price. If you pay the $200 dollars and sign the contract for 2 years so that you can get that better price. I agree with VZW 100% on this then. They want to make sure that they aren't getting screwed over by people messing up their phones because they are modding them.

On the other hand, if you pay full price for a phone than in my opinion there should still be some sort of warranty coverage for it even if you do mod it. Like in the case with most cars, there are some modifications the dealership/manufacturer will still warranty. It should be the same way for people who buy phones at full price and want to mod them.

B

Not true. Even though you pay a "subsidized" price, you pay the difference of retail and "subsidized" in your monthly payment. Which is exactly why there is an early termination fee that decreases the further into the 24 month contract you get.

Sent from my SCH-I535

 

[bemenaker]

They're not telling you what to do with your device. What they are telling you is that if you root yourdevice ............ you void the warranty.

So, if after rooting, you begin to have issues with your device (issues that you hadn't had before because you would have returned it), don't come to Verizon or Motorola wanting a replacement. This has to be covered with your own dime.

Well some Laptop companies tried to do this if you installed linux on your laptop. Guess what, they were sued, and LOST.

 

[jroc]

The difference with PC, laptops and phones is....with PC's and laptops.....you can easily install another OS. You can even get a PC and laptop with no OS at all. We dont have that option on phones. Even with Nexus phones....you still have to unlock the bootloader.

Thats the point about the warranty. No phones comes already rooted and the bootloader unlocked.

 

[Spyder5157]

As far as I know/thought. Motorola could/can tell the instant that the phone is rooted, BUT, this information is not provided to Verizon. I have Def. Proof of this. I made a tech support call (My Razr was Glued in Fastboot, long story, but I tried EVERYTHING). Verzion Tech II support, went thru everything, and offered a Warrenty Replacement....Then last ditch effort, got me in touch with a MOTOROLA tech support guy, he told me that he could see on the screen that the device was rooted.

I told him NO...I never did any of that, and LUCKILY, he attributed it to a "False Positive" for all mess up w/ fastboot, etc....Put me back to Verizon and I asked them about it since Motorola already "Cleared" it as false Positive, Verizon Tier II guy told me that no they couldn't see that on their screens.

SO...I'm Guessing all this is, Verizon getting something that Motorola already has had, but couldn't share w/ Verizon due to privacy issues I guess??

Overall, yes it stinks....But just FYI...all along from day 1, Motorola knows when you root, period....But who cares as long as Verizon does not, but this looks like it puts an end to that...UGH...
Just my 2 cents....S

 

[Goddessmiamia]

Verizon is out of control - if you don't want someone to root the phone then why give them the capabilities to do so? Oh wait that's right, Verizon has no say what the phone makers do, but apparently they're the global phone police on customizing etiquette and can do whatever they want even though they're restricting the capabilities of the phone (which they don't make...). If someone who roots their phone messes it up, then he/she should be smart enough to fix it or come to this forum and get help.

I fail to see why someone who rooted his/her phone would go to Verizon for an illegitimate reason other than for something unrelated to a root go bad, so why does Verizon care? I think the benefit of buying a Droid is so that you can treat it like a computer - why take that fun aspect of rooting and customizing away?

If Verizon didn't have the best service in my area, I would dump them, however, EVERY single person I know except for 2 people has it, so all my calls are free..... A catch 22 as they say.

 

[1linuxfreak]

Take the ads and bloatware off, or allow me to uninstall the bloatware and block ads.
My phone, I don't want ads or bloatware on it, my choice, not VZW's.
The only reason I root is to get rid of the junk VZW places on my phone, allow me to remove without rooting and I will be happy.
VZW imposes the bloatware and then tries to make it impossible to remove, NOT COOL!
I smell a Class Action Lawsuit coming.

 

[darksidesh007]

After reading the entire string, I don't think the real issue is with Verizon or Motorola, but how to CORRECT this unfair policy. Damage is done and none of us like it, let see what can resolve and reset it to a pre-rooted state. Pre-rooted state meaning Verizon nor Motorola can tell if the device was ever rooted.

I dont know enough about this "counter" but surely someone much smarter than me can figure out a "reset" patch/software?... My 2 cents.

 

[Theron]

Is it annoying? Yes, very. But Verizon, as the person who is offering you the warrenty, has every right.

Look at it this way. If you borrow someone's car, and they tell you not to eat in it and then you do, can you be mad at them for checking the carpet for crumbs?

I want to be clear. I don't support this. I wish Verizon would just get over it. However, I do understand where they are coming from.

 

[Icesnake]

Yet another reason...

Why I jumped off Verizon to Consumer Cellular, after being with Verizon (and previously Airtouch) for over 15 years. :angry:

 

[MissionImprobable]

Well some Laptop companies tried to do this if you installed linux on your laptop. Guess what, they were sued, and LOST.

You're correct that the policies in place are probably challengeable in court, but as of yet no one has seen fit to do so. Perhaps in time someone will, but with companies like HTC, Samsung and Sony not jumping on this bandwagon the market will likely take care of this on its own to some extent. Could end up coming down to courts eventually though. Warranties cannot be denied unless it can be shown that direct action by the customer was the cause of irreparable failure, and unless whatever occurred was the result of rooting or flashing then anyone's warranty should still be good.