Android 4.4 KikKat blocks rootkits

[TopWargamer]

http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/android/317698-android-kitkat-blocks-rootkits-but-at-what-cost

 

Google has beefed up security in Android 4.4, KitKat to block malware from taking over user devices, but some of these changes may pose challenges for users who like to take control of their own security destiny.

The combination of two security features in KitKat will block malicious apps from gaining root access over the device, said Bogdan Botezatu, a senior threat analyst at Romanian security company BitDefender. In his analysis of Android KitKat, he determined that these features will also potentially make it harder for users to load custom firmware on the latest devices.

Users currently have to gain root so that they can flash the bootloader and install a custom ROM, such as CyanogenMod or Paranoid Android. Even the US military reportedly uses its own hardened version of Android on handsets deployed to its personnel.

"For security, the new features are absolutely critical. For users trying to update their devices on their own, the new features make things challenging," Botezatu said.

 

So this essentially means no more rooting on Android 4.4 KikKat...at least not for a while. Hopefully the tinckerers of the Android OS will find a way around this, because this really does suck and is no bueno. I know Google added in this feature to protect people from malware, but I'm sure they could have done it without blocking rootkits.

[_ASSASSIN_]

how would this affect current rooted phones?

[TopWargamer]

how would this affect current rooted phones?

Like if your phone is already rooted and you're upgrading from 4.3 or lower to 4.4? No idea. Hopefully it doesn't mess up your phone.

[Hirad123]

aaaaaaw and I'm getting a nexus 5 soon and was planning to root it :'(

[Hazy125]

CoD ghosts also had a stupid limit, I doubt it will take that long for someone to go and reverse engineer and get around this. Although it doesn't affect me too much, I use stock android

[_ASSASSIN_]

aaaaaaw and I'm getting a nexus 5 soon and was planning to root it :'(

same lol

[dlf]

Then let us remove the bloody UNWANTED apps. I do NOT care what so ever about NASCAR, or FM RADIO, Friend stream, peep, NOVA, qik video, sprint zone, sprint tv, sprint football live, sprint hotspot. What a god damnw waste of space those apps are.

[Giddyguy]

I'm sure you might still be able to root the device but certain apps might not get the root access. Still though, it is up to google to decide which apps are malicious. I also believe Cyanogenmod is working on a new version for 4.4 so i think we'll still be able to root it.

[stevv]

...

 I know Google added in this feature to protect people from malware...

 

HA!

 

oh google, I didn't know you cared  :rolleyes:

[Agons]

The real problem is a phone cannot tell the difference between malware and someone trying to get Super User access to root their device. And google in reality cant either. It really is an all are allowed or none are world.

[EChondo]

People always find a way around this kind of thing.

 

Don't worry, rooting is still going to be around.

[jrfox87]

This doesn't look to be effecting rooting at all, the Nexus 5 was rooted pretty much immediately and its pretty easy to do.

[Derangel]

HA!

 

oh google, I didn't know you cared  :rolleyes:

 

With the "post what you want" nature of the Play Store malware is a problem on Android phones and with people storing more and more information on their phones security in general has become a big thing for phones.

[qwertywarrior]

chainfire already gained root on the nexus 5 before its even released

dont worry guys

[SirReallySam]

D:

[martinrox1568]

All this said, and I'm typing from a rooted nexus 7 running 4.4 kitkat

[rashdanml]

Just to make sure people are aware, a rootkit isn't the same as a toolkit used for rooting phones. 4.4 has already been rooted. It's possible the nexus 5 has also been rooted.

[wachw]

As long as your phone comes with an unlocked/unlockable bootloader everything will remain the same, all this will do is make it much harder, if not impossible, to get root on phones with locked bootloaders because those types of exploits are what's blocked off now. With the nexus 5 you'll be able to do whatever you want with it.

[FrankGrimes]

the nexus 5 was already rooted

 http://www.xda-developers.com/android/how-to-root-and-unlock-the-google-nexus-5-xda-developer-tv/

[LogicDeifying]

Like if your phone is already rooted and you're upgrading from 4.3 or lower to 4.4? No idea. Hopefully it doesn't mess up your phone.

It will remove the root kind of like when you upgrade from iOS 6.whatever to 7.0.

Don't ask me how I have a iPhone 4 I found it.

[mgsstar]

I think I heard that Google devices still allow rooting but on other devices running 4.4 it will block rooting (not entirely sure about this).

[zeros]

Nah wont stay like that for long. There are people out there that will find this challenging and be disappointed at how easily they bypassed it.