Bad News of the Day: Motorola is Installing a 'Root Checker' on VZW ICS Devices

[dgstorm]

We have some mildly annoying news to share with you regarding rooted Verizon Motorola devices. Motorola, at Verizon's request, has been installing "root checker" software on all Motorola devices that run Ice Cream Sandwich. This includes the Droid RAZR, RAZR MAXX, the Droid 4, and will include the Bionic once ICS rolls out for it. This "root checker" will basically allow any Big Red employee to check to see if your phone has ever been rooted. If they determine that it has it will likely void the warranty. Here's a quote with a full description,

What is a root checker? It manifests itself as a little scorecard visible when in recovery. Devices that have never been rooted show up as 0/0, while rooted devices score a 1/1. The kicker is that devices that have been rooted and then unrooted show up as 0/1 – in other words, anyone who boots into recovery can tell instantly if a device has been rooted, even if it was returned to stock. So if you break the glass on your DROID RAZR and try to return it, any Verizon employee can boot into recovery and see if you’ve rooted – which voids your warranty.

Now, obviously, there's no guarantee that a Verizon store employee would necessarily punish someone who brought in their phone for a legitimate hardware problem that had nothing to do with the rooting; however, it puts them in the position of doing so at Verizon's discretion. We thought you would want to know.

Thanks for the tip, bsweetness!

Updated: Apparently, the root checker is already installed on ICS Moto devices.

Source: Android.net via PhoneArena

 

[tjk629]

So, that's what that thing in Recovery is.

 

[the5]

Another reason to have best buy insurance!

 

[omar908]

What about those who get a replacement used by others, and coincidently the original owner rooted and unrooted ur so called replacement?

 

[Byakushiki]

There's probably some way to reset the counter outright. Most likely though, it'll probably take a huge workaround.

Breakfast beats worrying.

 

[TatDroid]

What about those who get a replacement used by others, and coincidently the original owner rooted and unrooted ur so called replacement?

Good point. Another thing to be sure to do when buying a third party phone. 1) Check ESN. 2) Boot to recovery and check for root.

 

[BJPalmer85]

that is annoying.

i wonder if VZW will insist other Manufactures to do this as well?

B

 

[Kabilos]

So this mainly just affects us during the first year that we own the phone right? Insurance isnt through Verizon and if I have an issue with my phone it's $50 to get a new one.

If they start checking the phone for insurance reasons, I'm going to take my phone swimming with me, it's not like theyre going to give me a new one at the store anyway. I'll get a refurb factory overnighted to me.

 

[tgyberg]

OMG, "root check" this :censored:

 

[r1nstang]

yet another reason im glad I just found a Galaxy Nexus on ebay 100% functional for less than $200....and im selling my bionic. No more motorola for me...and come February no more Verizon for me either.

 

[Aixelsyd]

Kinda old news really and it was only a matter of time they start pulling this on us. Curious if anyone who has rooted has Fastbooted back to stock to see what it displays once fastbooted if you had been root prior to fastbooting.

 

[justin82]

wonders if an SBF would reset that ?? My bionic on an ICS leak already has that

 

[Nedaroth]

One more reason to hate Verizon:icon_ devil:

 

[Aixelsyd]

One more reason to hate Verizon:icon_ devil:

Lol... Agreed, but from what i gather from a few contacts i have soon we can all start hating all the carriers as this may become the new norm moving forward. Let hope this will NOT be the case tho.

 

[cjsmoove]

Smdh...

I'm so glad I got the S3:icon_ banana: