Is Rooting Safe?

What is Rooting?

Rooting is a process of getting administrative access in android operating system, Administrative/root privileges allows the user to modify each and every files and partitions of operating system. Rooting process adds a "su" (super user)  binary in /system/bin directory, which allows the user/applications to access root/su permissions. 

Steps for Rooting -

1. Bootloader Unlock - First step to root devices with android 7.0 or above is a bootloader unlocking, unlocked bootloader allows to flash any custom images/files in the device. stock bootloader can be unlocked with fastboot commands. First enable USB debugging and OEM unlocking in your device and give the following commands.

command -    adb roboot bootloader 

command -    fastboot flashing unlock  or  fastboot oem unlock                                                               

2. Install custom recovery - Second step to root the android device is a installing custom recovery in a device. The most popular custom recovery is a TWRP recovery. To install custom recovery reboot the device in bootloader/fastboot mode and give the following commands. 

command - fastboot flash recovery <recovery image file name with location>    

                                          
3. Install magisk/ su binary -  download and store magisk  file in your device storage and flash that file by booting in TWRP/ custom recover, this will add su binary in your device's /system/bin directory and user/allowed applications can access root permissionn in the device. 

Advantages of Rooting

       

• Android is a open source operating system which allows modifications. Rooting will allow to modify the device at higher level. 
• User can install and try different Custom Rom, exploring android distributions is a great experience. 
• User can install Custom kernel which can increase the performance in good amount. Custom kernel can used according to needs it can use more resources and give higher CPU performance which will reduce battery backup, on other side kernel can also reduce CPU performance and can give much more battery backup.

Disadvantages of Rooting

• As Rooting allows user to modify each and every file/partitions of operating system, if user modify the files/partitions incorrectly it can corrupt the operating system and device will not boot.
• Allowing root permissions to applications which are not secure/not trusted can theft the data or can modify the device automatically with scripts.
• Most of the banking applications are not work in rooted devices due to security issue.
• Overclocking the SOC can damage the hardware.

Conclusion - Rooting is safe if the User know what they are doing, and have knowledge of modifications. Otherwise it is not for normal Users, who don't know anything about it.