?KingRoot?

[Jr247]

Just encountered some info saying that KingRoot is spyware. Is this true?

 

[Unforgiven]

Depends on the implementation and / or where you got it.

 

[Jr247]

Depends on the implementation and / or where you got it.

Could you be a little more specific? Where could I find a trustworthy version?

 

[Hadron]

What phone/Android version do you have? Most of these things don't work on Android 6 or later anyway.

 

[Unforgiven]

Could you be a little more specific? Where could I find a trustworthy version?

Stick to the mainstream sites like here or XDA. Look for downloads that are vetted such as included in the OP of an active root thread. If you find it on a rogue site on page four of your google search, best of luck to you.

 

[Jr247]

Stick to the mainstream sites like here or XDA. Look for downloads that are vetted such as included in the OP of an active root thread. If you find it on a rogue site on page four of your google search, best of luck to you.

OK. Thanks. And, just curious, why 'Unforgiven'?

 

[Unforgiven]

OK. Thanks. And, just curious, why 'Unforgiven'?

 

[James L]

Lol, aren't most apps spying on you anyways? Cough, cough, Facebook.....

 

[Jr247]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ckom3gf57Yw?wmode=opaque

Cool video - classic! OK.

 

[Jr247]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ckom3gf57Yw?wmode=opaque

Cool video- classic, thanks!

 

[Jr247]

Lol, aren't most apps spying on you anyways? Cough, cough, Facebook.....

Really? I'm kinda new to all of this stuff. But what question comes to mind is where are all the stand up people? Surely there are still some people who are straight up developers, those that built something solid for a specific use, without all the extra, unnecessary baggage. That's what I'm looking for. Thanks for your input.

 

[Fox Mulder]

Yes some of the "universal" root apps are spyware that send your data to China. Follow Unforgiven's advice and do some research on here and XDA for the more reputable root methods for your particular device. If there isn't sufficient development for one to exist then you may want to think twice about rooting since there probably won't be any support if something goes wrong.

 

[Unforgiven]

Really? I'm kinda new to all of this stuff. But what question comes to mind is where are all the stand up people? Surely there are still some people who are straight up developers, those that built something solid for a specific use, without all the extra, unnecessary baggage. That's what I'm looking for. Thanks for your input.

Root apps are very phone specific, different that apps in the app store. That said, some publishers are to be avoided. I think I've been telling people to avoid cheetah mobile and facebook since about 2012.

 

[Dannydet]

Think twice before deciding to root.
It's much easier to disable all of the unnecessary apps that are pre-installed then to render your phone useless

 

[Jr247]

Root apps are very phone specific, different that apps in the app store. That said, some publishers are to be avoided. I think I've been telling people to avoid cheetah mobile and facebook since about 2012.

OK. Thanks!

 

[Jr247]

Think twice before deciding to root.
It's much easier to disable all of the unnecessary apps that are pre-installed then to render your phone useless

Could bloatware be removed without root?

 

[svim]

Could bloatware be removed without root?

You might be better off focusing on 'disabling' rather than 'removing'. Rooting is NOT a cure-all, magical, fix-it solution to everything. When rooted that gives you the ability to do a lot of system-level tasks but it does not necessarily give you the knowledge to do so.
If you disable a background process that turns out to be a necessary one, you can just enable it again. Delete that same process, and that might result in bricking your phone, or killing an important feature with dependencies, or require you to re-flash with a stock ROM just to get your phone working again.

 

[Unforgiven]

Could bloatware be removed without root?

As has been suggested, you may be able to "freeze" it, which essentially stops it from running and removes it from the app drawer. It doesn't erase it from storage though. In apps | settings you could see freeze, disable, or some other like term.

 

[mikedt]

Just encountered some info saying that KingRoot is spyware. Is this true?

It phones home your data to servers in China, to be sold onto third-parties, that's basically how it's monetized.

 

[Jr247]

Could bloatware be removed without root?

Thanks!

 

[Jr247]

You might be better off focusing on 'disabling' rather than 'removing'. Rooting is NOT a cure-all, magical, fix-it solution to everything. When rooted that gives you the ability to do a lot of system-level tasks but it does not necessarily give you the knowledge to do so.
If you disable a background process that turns out to be a necessary one, you can just enable it again. Delete that same process, and that might result in bricking your phone, or killing an important feature with dependencies, or require you to re-flash with a stock ROM just to get your phone working again.

OK. Thanks!

 

[Jr247]

As has been suggested, you may be able to 'freeze' it, which essentially stops it from running and removes it from the app drawer. It doesn't erase it from storage though. In apps | settings you could see freeze, disable, or some other like term.

Again, thank you!

 

[Jr247]

It phones home your data to servers in China, to be sold onto third-parties, that's basically how it's monetized.

So it sells the users data, but does it damage the device?

 

[mikedt]

So it sells the users data, but does it damage the device?

Well it does modify the firmware, which on some devices has resulted in boot-loops and bricking, and we have had posts with that happening from users using KingRoot. And if you got a device that can't be re-flashed, because manufacturer firmware isn't available, you'll be buying a new phone because what KingRoot did. or at least paying a stiff repair bill for the manufacturer to re-flash the firmware.

Same with other so called "one-click" app only exploit roots, usually Chinese. Another thing with Android 6.x, 7.x or later that usually can't be rooted and modified by vulnerability exploits.

FWIW in the early days of Android, I used to root all my devices, but found there's no need these days, and if I did a rooted smart-phone would effectively be useless to be mainly because of financial apps and transactions I use every day.

 

[James L]

Could bloatware be removed without root?

https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/