Ethics of Rooting

[macaranaman]

Our school is assigning us Nexus 7s for the school year. As it isn't my tablet, should I root it and unlock the bootloader with towelroot + BootUnlocker then unroot, just so after 4 years when I get the tablet I don't have to clear all data?
Android L doesn't have the towelroot vulnerability, so I'd have to take action before android I update happens.
Should I?

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

 

[Aquila]

That sounds like a terrible idea. Maybe I'm not understanding the scenario fully.

 

[macaranaman]

Ok so the tablets are technically ours, we get them once we get out of school to do whatever with and I don't want to unlock the bootloader then and lose 4 years of use, and towelroot doesn't work with android l so I would do it now with 4.4 just to unlock the bootloader then unroot so I wouldn't have to later and lose all my stuff.

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

 

[Aquila]

Ah, okay that makes more sense. If they have any proprietary software I'd be wary of it, but people who rent to own homes are allowed to paint them (I think), so this feels similar to me? I think I could argue either side, but ultimately if there is no expectation to return it, then I can't see why they would care other than unwanted software and/or access to their own, if that's an issue.

 

[Phoenix111]

Our school is assigning us Nexus 7s for the school year. As it isn't my tablet, should I root it and unlock the bootloader with towelroot + BootUnlocker then unroot, just so after 4 years when I get the tablet I don't have to clear all data?
Android L doesn't have the towelroot vulnerability, so I'd have to take action before android I update happens.
Should I?

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

Off topic, but what level of school and where is this school that you attend? I'm just curious because the fact that they are giving you a nexus 7 is amazing. Wi-Fi only I'm assuming?

 

[macaranaman]

WiFi only, and its private school (somewhat) and a Montessori school. And its for high school.

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

 

[UJ95x]

WiFi only, and its private school (somewhat) and a Montessori school. And its for high school.

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

My cousin gets an iPad every year and has been told specifically not to jailbreak it. I'd imagine it would be the same for most schools. You can ask, but unless they check periodically, you can always unroot the device before returning it.

What do you need root for?

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.4

 

[macaranaman]

I will get the tablet after school ends to do whatever I want with, and I would like to have root.

So if I unlock the bootloader now then I won't have to erase everything.

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

 

[UJ95x]

I will get the tablet after school ends to do whatever I want with, and I would like to have root.

So if I unlock the bootloader now then I won't have to erase everything.

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

Really? That's pretty cool. Most that I have seen have to return it (but they aren't private schools). In that case I'd probably go ahead and root anyway. There shouldn't be any apps that don't work with a rooted device.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.4

 

[Slashyou]

I will get the tablet after school ends to do whatever I want with, and I would like to have root.

So if I unlock the bootloader now then I won't have to erase everything.

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

Is it the 2013 version? if i where you i would Root it and install liquidsmooth or slimkat And TWRP and enjoy the "Free" nexus 7
BTW how many GB is it on? 32 16 8?

 

[macaranaman]

Well then I couldn't get android L, which is a top priority.

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Well then I couldn't get android L, which is a top priority.

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

If you flashed a custom ROM, you would still most likely get L, just not as quickly as you would stock.

 

[macaranaman]

Well I don't really like any of them except for maybe AOKP CyanogenMod or MIUI.
And I want an ota update.

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Well I don't really like any of them except for maybe AOKP CyanogenMod or MIUI.
And I want an ota update.

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

For the most part, custom ROMs do update via OTA.

 

[macaranaman]

Well yeah, I mean that's why I wouldn't install very many root tweaks.

But no one has answered my question. Should I unlock my bootloader now when I still need the nexus for school so I don't have to when it's mine and I have 4 years of data saved on it?

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

 

[macaranaman]

And yes it's the 2013 version.

Devices: Nexus 5, Nexus 7, iPod Touch.

 

[Golfdriver97]

I would leave it alone until you are done with school.

 

[p3ntyne]

I suggest leaving it. In 4 years, download Helium, save all app data to the cloud, unlock the bootloader and restore the app data.

 

[RizaHawkeye]

I suggest leaving it. In 4 years, download Helium, save all app data to the cloud, unlock the bootloader and restore the app data.

I'd suggest this too.