Root usb debugging

[scotty85]

not sure exactly how to reply to visitor messages,and i thot this was a good question for discussion,anyway,so here it is:

What do you think? USB debugging always on, or keep it off and turn on only as needed.

I did not want to post this anymore, since I have read over two dozen threads on the subject. But from all the posts, I can't seem to figure out which is best.

i personally always leave it on. but im crazy,and am constantly plugging my poor phones into my poor PC for something

ive not experienced any prollems leavig it on 24/7,nor have i read of any possible prollems with leaving usb debugging on constantly,but if any one has seen any,id be interested in seeing them

 

[ral]

Sorry. I thought I was sending a PM.

I have read dozens of post on this in different forums, and have reached the conclusion that there will not be any consensus. So I sent the message to you and D-U-R-X since I wanted to find out what you guys do. And like an iSheep, I am inclined to do what you guys do

• You need to enable USB debugging to root. So the questions are after rooting should you turn it on or off?
  
• Apps like Titanium back-up need it turned on. Do you keep it on all the time or turn it on and off as needed?

The answers I have seen are as follows:

1. Does not harm to leave USB debugging, and is more convenient so leave it enabled. This seems to be the most common answer.

2. Leaving enabled is a security risk. Plugging a phone with USB debugging enabled will allow a thief to get past your security lock screen.

3. The third much more interesting answer. Leaving USB debugging enable results in better battery life and less lag. There is a long Android Forums discussion here. But that was the DHD on Froyo.

I have USB debugging enabled now. Probably forever. If that is what @scotty85 does. Good enough for me.

 

[D-U-R-X]

To be honest, I have never turned it back off since I rooted (16/17 months ago) I think that, in some instances, it helps with stability. I remember seeing that it resulted in better battery life... how true that is on Gingerbread/ICS, I am not sure, but it doesn't seem to have made it worse!

My wife has a Samsung Galaxy S and I turned USB Debugging on on her phone and it went sluggish and, when I plugged it in to a computer, I wasn't able to do some stuff that I wanted... bit strange really, as I leave it on constantly with my DHD

As for security... if a theif really wants to get in to your phone, they will. OK - they may not be able to get to your data/contacts/etc, but they would be able to wipe the phone and start using it as their own. That's why you tell your network that the phone has been stolen and you can get the IMEI number blocked, rendering the phone useless.

 

[nigsy]

Nothing worse than it being switched off, then have something go wrong while you are trying to root a phone and realise you need debugging switched on - Had it happen trying to unlock a Wildfire that was password protected, just a nightmare.

Always on for me!!

 

[ral]

As for security... if a theif really wants to get in to your phone, they will. OK - they may not be able to get to your data/contacts/etc, but they would be able to wipe the phone and start using it as their own.

I think a thief would really have no interest in what I have in my phone, and I have a funny feeling they know how to reset a phone to factory even if the screen is locked.

From this it would looks like since security is no biggie, and the two other answers are both on the upside it should be a simple enough decision. Still worries me a bit in the sense that Google made is a advance setting, like there is something we should be worried about when we enable it.

Funny about the Galaxy S. My phone runs the same either way. Less hassle to leave it on. I am poking around my phone these days, and messing around a lot with Titanium Backup. Did a quick flash and gave CM 7.2 a look the other day. Very interesting. Taking my time before going to Android 4+... I am new at this so I am catching up on some history first.

 

[D-U-R-X]

I have a funny feeling they know how to reset a phone to factory even if the screen is locked.

That's what I meant... hadn't had my coffee when I replied to you!!

I find that my phone runs the same with debugging on or off, so leave it on. Don't know why the SGS was having issues when I turned it on... can't really remember what it did/why it did it. I know that when you connected it to a computer, the wife couldn't do stuff that she could when it was off. Doesn't really matter though, as she doesn't let me mess with her phone!

 

[scotty85]

bwahaha! my GF doesnt really let me mess with hers,either. hers isnt an active phone,she uses it on wifi here at the house to pay games,check email,etc. its an original incredible running stock froyo

i think it would run better if i upraded it to at least cm7,so ive been meaning to sneak and do that. i think if i put her homesscreen apps back,use the same wallpaper,and use a beautiful weather widget that looks like the flip clock she will hopefully not notice and become cross with me for messing

it is wierd that leaving the debug on had such an impact on the galaxy s. it defaintely doesnt make an htc act any different at all.

it was late when i typed,and i had responded to alot pf posts prioreek so i didnt really think of the security potential. tho i agree it isnt really much of an issue.

factory reset easily gets you into the phone. it erases your personal data, but does leave the theif with a working phone they can use. if someone steals it with intent to get at your data,they are prolly a skilled hacker that will accomplish the feat wether you have usb debugging or not

ral,i think your comments about learning history are pretty cool :smokingsomb:
cm7 is "vanilla" gingerbread,same as ARHD. running them both gives you an great comparison between sense and non-sense,you can see how much stuff the sense UI changes things. it also is a good way to tell if having a smaller simpler rom with less of a footprint in available memory makes your phone run any differently.

i got used to android on an OG droid,wich was vanilla android,no UI. when i got into romming,i pretty much just used cm based(vanilla) roms on my droid eris,as they looked like what i was used to. i have ever since had a storng preference for plain old,simple,unmolested,vanilla android. tho i am to the point that i dont hate sense anymore,it can be ok in small doses

 

[D-U-R-X]

Not sure what was up with the SGS... onyl had USB debugging on for like half an hour. The phone seemed to be sluggish and when you connected to a computer, it wouldn't let her do stuff (not sure what exactly, as it was so long ago).

To be honest, she got the SGS at the same time as I got the DHD... she wanted the DHD, but went for something else, as I had got the DHD. Think she regretted it though, as it's not a great phone in comparison! She is still on Android 2.1 (I think) and doesn't seem to be getting any updates. I've told her that I will be able to make it better if I rooted it (the phone doesn't work properly... I've told her to return it several times, but no dice).

I think she will listen to me next time, when I suggest a phone for her!! We're due an upgrade at the same time... perhaps I'll be able to get here SGS and give it a go at rooting then!!

 

[ral]

i got used to android on an OG droid,wich was vanilla android,no UI. when i got into romming,i pretty much just used cm based(vanilla) roms on my droid eris,as they looked like what i was used to. i have ever since had a storng preference for plain old,simple,unmolested,vanilla android. tho i am to the point that i dont hate sense anymore,it can be ok in small doses

I have been on Sense longer than I have been on Android. When I took a look at a Google Nexus phone almost two years ago, it did not make me want to abandon Windows Mobile.

More and more it feels irrelevant. I love many aspects of Sense. I use Peep for Twitter and a phone without the big clock on the home screen would feel so alien. But HTC keeps adding more and more Sense every year

I could sulk about not having an official ICS... or I can enjoy my phone to its fullest... ARHD lets me stay in familiar territory while learning what su brings to an Android. CM7.2 looks like I can pass the time building building my own my own overlay by mixing and matching stuff from Google Play. And than, I can take a jump to ICS or JB, maybe taking a look at MIUI on the way there.

Okay... back OT. Keep debugging enabled.

 

[D-U-R-X]

Okay... back OT. Keep debugging enabled.

The choice really is yours... I'd leave it on though

 

[ral]

If you, scotty85 and nigsy leave it enabled, I will too. Like i said, I have a bit of iSheep in me