Why No Root Access?

[Rayj00]

I am brand new to the world of Android and I just got my TF101 B70 and really like it.
I installed the DroidSSH app and can remotely access it just fine but I see I can't cd into /root for instance
or other directories. Why is Android created this way? I believe as owner of the device, I should have
access to everything! I do on Windows and any Linux I install.

I happen to be an IT security engineer. If I wanted to perform a security audit on this device in order
to authorize usage for a company network, I could not perform it! I don't know anything about Apples iPad.

Is there a simple way I could gain root access?

What am I missing here?

Thanks,

Ray

[Detection]

There is a way to gain root access, it is a process on Android devices called "Rooting" all be it, not without its dangers as one member found out today.

With your device as it is a B70 there is one definite way of gaining root, and another possible way which works on "some" B70" devices but not the majority.

Razorclaw is the rooting tool, but be aware, OTA updates will no longer work once you have rooted, and getting back to stock in order to repair OTA updates will require you to completely wipe the tablet clean by flashing a stock ROM.

Again, because of your TF being B70 - this method will more likely need to be done via a custom recovery called ClockWorkMod that you need to flash in place of the stock recovery. (Make sure you flash ClockWorkMod after rooting to avoid being stuck with a damaged ROM if root fails)


So with all that said, if you still want root access, here is the link to the tool

http://www.transformerforums.com/for...orclaw-v1.html

ClockWorkMod Recovery installer
http://www.multiupload.com/F7TZAEJKT2

Instructions on flashing back to stock
http://theunlockr.com/2011/11/28/how...s-transformer/

[Rayj00]

There is a way to gain root access, it is a process on Android devices called "Rooting" all be it, not without its dangers as one member found out today.

With your device as it is a B70 there is one definite way of gaining root, and another possible way which works on "some" B70" devices but not the majority.

Razorclaw is the rooting tool, but be aware, OTA updates will no longer work once you have rooted, and getting back to stock in order to repair OTA updates will require you to completely wipe the tablet clean by flashing a stock ROM.

Again, because of your TF being B70 - this method will more likely need to be done via a custom recovery called ClockWorkMod that you need to flash in place of the stock recovery. (Make sure you flash ClockWorkMod after rooting to avoid being stuck with a damaged ROM if root fails)


So with all that said, if you still want root access, here is the link to the tool

http://www.transformerforums.com/for...orclaw-v1.html

ClockWorkMod Recovery installer
Multiupload.com - upload your files to multiple file hosting sites!

Instructions on flashing back to stock
How To Unroot and Remove CWM Recovery on Asus Transformer | TheUnlockr

So there is no user ID equivalent to the Windows administrator? No "root" user ID?

I find this very bizarre.

Why is Android designed this way?

Ray

[Detection]

SU = Superuser

That is what the root tool installs - Android is give or take, Linux and needs the SU command to run things as root.

Im not so sure it is Android that is locked down like this, the manufacturers add a secure encryption boot key to prevent root access - the rooting methods either bypass this or have the key in the coding of the program used to root

[Frederuco]

I think that the reason there is no root access is legacy from the phones and that the manufacturers want to have control over part of the device.

I have no idea how many people I have helped who messed up their Windows PC because they had root (administrative) permissions and not knowing the downfall of these permissions.

Not to mention the number of users who have rooted their device and caused issues due to not knowing what they are doing.

[Rayj00]

SU = Superuser

That is what the root tool installs - Android is give or take, Linux and needs the SU command to run things as root.

Im not so sure it is Android that is locked down like this, the manufacturers add a secure encryption boot key to prevent root access - the rooting methods either bypass this or have the key in the coding of the program used to root

Why couldn't I just load this "SU" script into one of the /bin directories?

[Detection]

Doesn't work like that - you need root access to install that Superuser app to begin with in order for it to give root access to other apps

The Razorclaw tool uses an exploit technique found in a new app that the latest firmware has called "App Backup" using this method it is able to "restore" Superuser as if it were installed to begin with

The other method uses APX Mode and NVFLASH to install the Superuser app - but this only works for the model TFs that the secure boot key was found for

[ebrowne72]

Part of it is to protect against malicious apps. Apps can't access other apps' data. And part of it is to fight piracy. You can't access app data to keep you from copying an app off your device and uploading it to the net.

[Rayj00]

Part of it is to protect against malicious apps. Apps can't access other apps' data. And part of it is to fight piracy. You can't access app data to keep you from copying an app off your device and uploading it to the net.

None of what you say should be the reason to turn off root SU access.
Windows does no such thing. Neither does Linux (Ubuntu, Red Hat, etc.).

I would think that building some sort of copy protecting into apps should not
be that hard to do.

Ray

[Detection]

None of what you say should be the reason to turn off root SU access.
Windows does no such thing. Neither does Linux (Ubuntu, Red Hat, etc.).

I would think that building some sort of copy protecting into apps should not
be that hard to do.

Ray

Probably originally to lock the phone to the provider, Android started life as a phone OS