Right to root access
medhir.com
Right to root access
1–10 of 428 posts
Re: Right to root access
#2Author seems to want 'hardware-level locks' regulated, i.e., allow the government to get into your encrypted devices.
Re: Right to root access
#3Author seems to want 'hardware-level locks' regulated, i.e., allow the government to get into your encrypted devices.
That is absolutely not what the author is saying here, just that users should have the ability to install their own software on their own hardware, and that locked bootloaders and the like should not be allowed.
Re: Right to root access
#4> Root access refers to the highest level of privileges a user can be granted to a computer system.
This is no longer true. You might have root access on your smartphone, but you still don't have access to the TEE (on ARM this is implemented using the "TrustZone" "feature").
Also, AVF is coming to Android, and protected VMs won't work with unlocked bootloader.. so expect the situation to deteriorate further once manufacturers make use of pVMs..
Re: Right to root access
#5For some, the absolute locked down-ness is a selling point. Why should those who want to buy something that can't be messed with not be able to?
If you don't want to buy something you can't install whatever you want onto, don't buy it. 100% the ability or inability to modify the firmware of a device should be disclosed, but if it's disclosed the seller should be able to set the policy to whatever they want
Re: Right to root access
#6For some, the absolute locked down-ness is a selling point. Why should those who want to buy something that can't be messed with not be able to? If you don't want to buy something you can't install whatever you want onto, don't buy it. 100% the ability or inability to modify the firmware of a device should be disclosed, but if it's disclosed the seller should be able to set the policy to whatever they want
This is an extremely weak argument, and I'd like to stop seeing it perpetuated. If you don't want an unlocked bootloader, just don't unlock your bootloader. Why should we remove the ability to unlock the bootloader entirely just because some people don't want to use it?
Re: Right to root access
#7> Root access refers to the highest level of privileges a user can be granted to a computer system. This is no longer true. You might have root access on your smartphone, but you still don't have access to the TEE (on ARM this is implemented using the "TrustZone" "feature"). Also, AVF is coming to Android, and protected VMs won't work with unlocked bootloader.. so expect the situation to deteriorate further once manu…
The TEE is where both the device encryption keys (not DRM) and Widevine keys (DRM) are stored..
Re: Right to root access
#8> Root access refers to the highest level of privileges a user can be granted to a computer system. This is no longer true. You might have root access on your smartphone, but you still don't have access to the TEE (on ARM this is implemented using the "TrustZone" "feature"). Also, AVF is coming to Android, and protected VMs won't work with unlocked bootloader.. so expect the situation to deteriorate further once manu…
There's not nearly enough awareness of this. Even with root access, on modern Android you have to set up a virtual USB connection just to get at the files in the data folders of android apps if you want to, for example, sync the savegames between your mobile emulators and your desktop emulators. It's fucking disgusting. With every new edition they shave off a little more user agency.
Re: Right to root access
#9> Root access refers to the highest level of privileges a user can be granted to a computer system. This is no longer true. You might have root access on your smartphone, but you still don't have access to the TEE (on ARM this is implemented using the "TrustZone" "feature"). Also, AVF is coming to Android, and protected VMs won't work with unlocked bootloader.. so expect the situation to deteriorate further once manu…
There's not nearly enough awareness of this. Even with root access, on modern Android you have to set up a virtual USB connection just to get at the files in the data folders of android apps if you want to, for example, sync the savegames between your mobile emulators and your desktop emulators. It's fucking disgusting. With every new edition they shave off a little more user agency.
What do you mean "a virtual USB connection"? With root access I can see all the files on my Android phone.
Re: Right to root access
#10not sure if your in the US, but we can't even get net neutrality. Unfortuantely the likelyhood of this is a hell freezing over situation.
I would start with, laws should be logical and informed and go from there... the number of prerequisite changes required to come mildly close to this is unreal. Including but not limited too: copyright law, insurance law, patents, contract law, federal vs state law, an agency competent enough to enforce this, lobby from the most powerful companies in the world, and more.
In dream land I support you though.