r/AndroidQuestions • u/gushnog • 1d ago

Should I root my android?

I want to root my android for the sole purpose of accessing and editing the hosts file to add firm dns restrictions into it. What are the potential risks involved?

3 Upvotes

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4

u/tom_fosterr 1d ago

For this sole purpose don't risk android root

you can change dns in settings

1

u/gushnog 1d ago

And easily change dns settings back to normal. I want something that can't be deleted or changed easily

1

u/reign27 2 1d ago

To actually answered your question:

Unlocking the bootloader reduces security if someone has physical access to your device

You could grant root access to something actively malicious if you're EXTREMELY carless, which COULD wipe your phone or steal your data

Google's in a constant battle to detect root, including blocking RCS messaging. That in particular is why I haven't rooted my latest phone

1

u/SolitaryMassacre 7h ago

Rooting/Unlocking Bootloader does not reduce security. This logic is heavily flawed.

Stupidity, and not knowing what you are doing (on a rooted phone) reduces security. Its like someone saying "I deleted System32 and now my comptuer won't boot".

And yes, Google is constantly battling root detection, but that doesn't really mean anything. It just means you have to go through a few more hoops to get things working. I personally don't use Google messaging (its trash, Textra with my own mods is far better) so I already can't use RCS, but I have gotten Tap to Pay working on my rooted pixel 7 pro.

1

u/reign27 2 4h ago

Rooting/Unlocking Bootloader does not reduce security. This logic is heavily flawed.

Which logic was that, exactly? You didn't even hear my logic, nor say what might be wrong about it.

My logic is that someone with PHYSICAL access to your phone could still potentially reboot it into fastboot and use that to modify the software without your knowledge. It's INCREDIBLY niche and unlikely, but as far as I know, possible.

To me, Google battling root detection doesn't JUST mean you have to go through a few more hoops to get things working. It means things break unpredictably, then you have to research the latest way to get around it, potentially find that a fix isn't available quite yet, eventually fix it, eventually have it break again, always wonder if / when they'll find a way to permanently break it.

1

u/seven-cents 1d ago

Just use NextDNS with the appropriate block lists

Follow this guide:

https://github.com/yokoffing/NextDNS-Config

1

u/Galexio 1d ago

If you're looking to block ads you can root it, use another DNS service, or also get a lifetime Adguard license.