Gah, protected bootloader?

[nancy30]

what used to happen was people used to steal phones and root it to remove the security app from the phone but if the bootloader is protected hopefully your phone will not be rooted and prevent from acts of theft a must have feature in Android phones.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

what used to happen was people used to steal phones and root it to remove the security app from the phone but if the bootloader is protected hopefully your phone will not be rooted and prevent from acts of theft a must have feature in Android phones.

Do what now?!?

Funny, it never occurred to me that an unlocked bootloader could be a security risk, since anyone could wipe the data on it and thus clear any security settings or app I have on it...but then I realized that they could do the same even if the bootloader was locked just by flashing a stock image...

I actually don't mind if boot loaders come locked...they probably should -- but I do think the consumer should have the right to unlock it if he or she desires.

#ZombieThread #Braaaains!!!

 

[nancy30]

Hi paintdrinkingpete you mean to say that even if the bootloader is locked the phone is not safe and can be flashed.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Hi paintdrinkingpete you mean to say that even if the bootloader is locked the phone is not safe and can be flashed.

Sure -- unlocking the bootloader only gives you the ability to flash "unsigned" or custom images, but you can always flash signed factory images on even a locked bootloader.

Granted, that doesn't necessarily mean that a thief could view anything on your phone (that depends on whether you have security enabled, encryption, etc), but it does mean that theoretically, a thief could wipe your data and start from scratch.