T-Mobile's Latest Android Phone Comes With Free Freedom-Destroying Rootkit
from the get-yours-now! dept
Lots of folks have been highlighting the news that T-Mobile, for whatever reason, has decided to include some sort of "rootkit" with its latest Android phone, the G2. Despite the fact that one of the key selling points of an Android phone is the openness of the phone, T-Mobile has apparently decided that it's way too open. So, the little bug watches if you modify the phone, and then automatically reinstalls the default Android version -- including "all of the carrier settings and restrictions." Of course, T-Mobile is free to be as dickish towards its customers as it wants to be, but those customers can simply decide to go elsewhere.
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Mobile Phone Sleaze
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No vendor-locked phones for me, thanks
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It was discovered last week that it is NOT a rootkit but just a recovery partition like you find on 90% of consumer PCs. On boot, the OS on the active partition is compared to the recovery partition; if they don't match it uses the 'safe' recovery one.
The phone has already been rooted, it's just that the changes are reverted when the phone resets. It won't take long to gain access to the 'other' root.
As to 'little bugs' watching what you... Please. Grow up. HTC / Tmobile are contractually obliged to release the source code for their Android phones. There's nothing fishy going on there, just bad reporting.
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The phone has already been rooted, it's just that the changes are reverted when the phone resets. It won't take long to gain access to the 'other' root."
That's all fine and dandy, but what about if I want to change the OS, like I am supposed to? I'm supposed to make some crazy-ass hack? No thanks, I'll switch to some other Android that isn't as retarded.
"HTC / Tmobile are contractually obliged to release the source code for their Android phones."
I don't think they are. The Apache license allows them to modify Android and distribute it under a different license, as long as they keep any copyrights, patents and other yadda yadda intact, which technically means they don't have to release the source for their own applications (the little bug watching you for example) or modifications they do to Android. I could be wrong however. Licenses confuse the heck out of me.
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There are many different licenses in the code that makes up Android. For instance the kernel is Linux, released under the GPL. For GPLed code they must release their changes.
I believe that you are correct, though, about the Apache licensed code. They don't have to release their changes for code under that license.
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GPL V2
Hence why GPL V3 was created. To make that term clear so that legal pursuit against infringement is clear cut.
Read about what TiVo did with GPL code. It's that kind of deal.
Back to the topic, it's quite easily feasible that a patch and a single kernel parameter could make automatic restore from a partition impossible. Therefore making rooting simple.
The Linux community is the sole controller of how Linux works. Not HTC and not T-Mobile. Something they and other manufacturers will learn the hard way if they persist to try to add restrictions to GPL licensed code.
If the restore feature is solely to prevent disaster, then that's OK and it won't hurt them to provide a manual over ride switch. But if it's to restrict user's freedoms, then they are wasting their time. The GNU GPL V2 provides us enough freedom to deal with them, which is only limited by our programming skill.
Plus there's a whole community of hackers who actually get off on challenges like this.
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And I thought DroidX was bad
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That is not true in Asia or Europe why it is different in the U.S.?
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Living with their heads in the clouds
The first cellular company that actually listens to everyday normal people and makes changes geared to what we really want, will become the number one cell phone company. Too bad they only listen to other cell phone companies and not the consumers.
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Re: Living with their heads in the clouds
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Training Wheels
Can anyone confirm that unlocking it will also take off the training wheels? By this I mean when T-Mobile unlocks the phone..?
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Re: Training Wheels
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im sure jobs loves them for this trick
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Anyways, that is why others will get more business, to the layman this is no different from a virus or something bad, people will trust their neighborhood geek that will tell them that T-Mobile is bad.
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T-Mobile and Android
T-Mobile will unlock any of their phones that you own 3 months after you buy it. I still plan to buy a G2 to replace my G1 very soon. If I find I don't want this I will get rid of it in three months.
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Personally I don't see why any kid should have a cell phone, you wanna talk to your friends get off your fat ass and actually go socialize with them. Want a cell phone? then get a damned job, learn some personal responsibility, and gain some independence.
"But my kids has one for emergency uses...." Well guess what genius, they make phones specifically for that purpose only, no monthly fees no annual contracts, just $20 and "they're safe."
The only reason companies continue to make such useless piece of shit products is because you, the consumer, will gobble them up every opportunity provided. Same reason morons run the country, you elect them. Same reason all our tax dollars are lining the wallets of wall street brokers and bankers, we allow it. Perhaps instead of throwing away money on a device that can do exactly the same thing your last one did, but threw in an extra bell and whistle, you could actually invest it in something worthwhile - like planning for retirement instead of just expecting a handout when you turn 65. OR hell... getting your child a real education.
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Maybe they have less need, but that's not a reason NOT to have one.
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I am surprised
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T-Mobile's Latest Android Phone
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