What is Root for Android. What are ROOT rights and how to get them on Android

Today we will tell you about a topic that attracts the attention of many, but at the same time causes inner fear among the majority - Root rights on Android. In this material we will not talk about how to obtain these rights, how to flash firmware for certain smartphones, but will consider the possibilities of such access, its main pros and cons. The purpose of the material is to help the user decide whether it is worth taking on or not.

Today, Android from Google is one of the most popular mobile systems in the world. It provides a very wide range of possibilities for setting up and managing the gadget, but the system can’t do everything. Expand functionality Android You can by obtaining so-called administrator rights - root rights.

We will consider only 6 main, from our point of view, advanced capabilities of the system after gaining such access:

Appearance. Root rights make it possible to completely customize the appearance of the smartphone desktop - from the notification shade to the appearance of third-party applications. Custom themes can be used either completely or in layers. For example, did you like appearance some theme, but don’t like the status bar, then you can only apply a separate theme block and that’s it. Everything here will be limited only by the user’s imagination.
Google camera. If you are not satisfied with your camera, then it is possible to port the reference camera from Google Pixel to your smartphone. The main condition for this is that the smartphone has a processor from . Additionally, you can write a line of code into the system file of the smartphone, getting the HDR+ mode in the camera, the quality of pictures in this mode will significantly improve.

Here are just a few features of having root access that allow the user to become, to some extent, the creator of their gadget.

But every decision has two sides - positive and negative. Let's start, perhaps, by considering the arguments against obtaining root rights. There are several such arguments:

Now let's look at the most interesting part - the arguments for the user obtaining root rights. Administrator rights allow you to:

After obtaining such rights, the user gains full control over his device. If you don't like the selection of standard applications installed on your device, you can easily remove them. You can force restrictions on traffic on the device. The list of possibilities can be continued endlessly.
Optimizing device power consumption. Initially, Google's system provides a fairly wide range of options for managing the device's energy consumption, but with root rights these options will expand significantly. For example, some applications will allow you to control the performance of processor cores, slowing them down at certain moments so that the user does not feel it.
Possibility of forced overclocking of the device. Using various special utilities, you can increase the frequency of the device’s processor. Root rights also allow you to install less power-intensive firmware on devices.

General conclusion regarding Root rights- they open up new device capabilities for the user without additional investment. But before starting work, it is worth assessing all the risks and consequences of obtaining such rights. Here the choice and responsibility falls solely on the shoulders of the user.

When mentioning the operating room Android systems we always talk about it being an “open” system. And this “advantage” is always mentioned when compared with another popular mobile operating system iOS. For some reason, many users of the “green robot” believe that this is almost an important criterion that tips the scales in favor of their favorite operating system, in the eternal confrontation between “good and evil.” But, in this article we'll talk not about this, but about how to remove restrictions in the “open” Android OS.

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Yes, they are. And Google has hidden the ability for ordinary users to interfere in many processes. This is done to ensure that vital files for work are not accidentally deleted. But you and I are not simple users, but advanced ones. Therefore, such rights may open up some opportunities for us. We will talk about them and how to obtain “superuser” rights in this article.

“Root” is the administrator account built into the operating system. Using the rooting function, the user of Android devices can remove some of the restrictions set by the manufacturer.

What do root rights give and what are they for?

Superuser rights allow you to work with system files and processes. Having received this opportunity, the user becomes the full “owner” of his device.

Benefits of rooting:

Very advanced Android users can run on their gadgets after the rooting procedure Linux executables.

IMPORTANT: Having root rights will not give your device new functions overnight. However, this will open up the possibility of “working” with your device in this direction.

Why does Google initially block access to system files?

Editing some files of the Android operating system poses a great danger. Due to inexperience, many users can not only “kill” the device at the software level, but also at the physical level. Using incorrectly used “superuser” rights, you can increase the processor frequency. What could lead to this an important part Your smartphone or tablet will break down very quickly.

In addition, Google blocks access to some files because they are responsible for displaying advertisements in free applications. And since Good Corporation makes money from this, removing advertising from such applications is not part of the company’s plans.

How to get root rights on Android?

You can become a “superuser” on your gadget in one of several ways. There are also specialized ways to obtain such rights on smartphones and tablets from some manufacturers. Below we will talk about universal ways rooting.

There are three types of root rights:

IMPORTANT: Some manufacturers install the function in their devices NAND lock, which limits the ability to work with the folder \system. In all other cases, the “rooting” procedure is very simple. For these purposes, special programs su (superuser) are used.

Most often used for rooting Framaroot program.

What needs to be done before obtaining Root rights?

Some manufacturers have especially distinguished themselves in this regard Sony And HTC, create additional difficulties when opening access to system files. In order to overcome them, you need to unlock Bootloader. All “problem” devices have their own methods of unlocking this. Let's see how to do this on HTC:

1. Register on the HTC DEV website

After simple process After registration, a letter will be sent to your email inbox stating that the procedure was successful. By following the link from this letter you can activate your account on the HTCdev website.

2. On the specified site, look for the Bootloader section

Find your gadget in the drop-down menu or click All Other Supported Models(if it is not on the list). Click Begin to Unlock Bootloader. And we confirm this by clicking on the “Yes” button. If everything is done correctly you will receive adb personal Identifier Token your HTC.

4.Turn off your smartphone, remove the battery from it and put it back. Then press the power button -> hold down the volume down button and the power button on the smartphone. Then, after the menu appears, release the buttons.

In the menu you need to find the Bootloader item (you move to the menu using the volume up and down buttons) and turn it on (on/off button).

5.Connect the smartphone to the PC and:

a) If you choose Adb Run, then we move on Manual -> A.D.B.

b) If you selected ADB, activate " manual entry"and the team "fastboot oem get_identifier_token"

After entering this command, a list of symbols should appear. Copy it:

And paste it into the HTC web page:

6. A file should be sent to your email Unlock.code.bin. It must be copied and moved to a folder C:/adb/progbin If ADB RUN or ADB (C:/adb)

On your smartphone, select .

8. Move to position Yes and press the button ON OFF

The smartphone should reboot. After which it can be used to install root rights.

Options for installing Root rights

There are several options for installing “superuser” rights on your Android device. This can be done using the Framaroot utility or special programs for a desktop PC.

Installing root using Framaroot without a computer:

Download Framaroot and save apk file this application to your gadget
Install the Framaroot file downloaded to your device’s memory
Let's launch the application. A list should appear on the device's home screen possible actions. This will include obtaining and removing root rights.
After which the system will ask you to install SuperSU or Superuser (there is no difference between them)
Select and install. After which a message will appear on the screen indicating that you have successfully obtained root rights.
We reboot the device and use it taking into account the rights of the “superuser”

Installing root using PC

Not all devices support the Framaroot utility. It is best to install root rights on such devices using special applications for a personal computer. The most popular of them are: Kingo Android ROOT, VRoot And SuperOneClick.

The principle of obtaining such rights is identical for all programs. Below, we will describe it.

To begin, go to the settings menu and select "Developer Mode". Then turn it on USB debugging.
We launch the application that must first be installed on the PC

IMPORTANT: If an antivirus is installed on your PC, it may “swear” at this program. Therefore, it is better to turn it off while working with it.

We connect the turned on device to the PC using a USB cable

We enable the “Install from unknown sources” modes on your smartphone or tablet, "USB Debugging" and uncheck the USB connection With "Camera (RTR)" And "MTR".
After the program detects the device, press the button "ROOT".
A message should appear stating that “superuser” rights have been obtained.
Disconnect the device from the PC and reboot

How to check for Root rights on Android?

When buying a smartphone second-hand, after repair at a service center or in other cases, an Android user needs to find out whether his device is rooted or not. You can do this using one of two options:

Go to the folder using the file manager /system. There you need to find a folder /xbin and find the file in it su. If this was possible, then “superuser” rights are installed on the device
Installing the utility Root Checker. With its help we determine whether root rights are installed or not

How to remove Root rights from Android?

Having root rights sometimes results in “glitches” in the operation of the device. The system may freeze, spontaneously reboot, etc. It must be said right away that the presence of “superuser” rights cannot negatively affect the operation of the device, but their incorrect use can lead to problems. They need to be resolved not by removing root rights, but by restoring the system.

As for removing root rights, very often this solution is resorted to when a device that is under warranty breaks down. The presence of “superuser” rights will void such a guarantee. Therefore, before sending your gadget for repair, you need to remove root rights and forget that they were once installed.

There are several ways to remove such rights:

By flashing the device via a computer. After which you need to reset to factory settings
If you installed root rights through SuperSU, then remove the “superuser” rights through the settings of this program
By using Root utilities Browser Lite. Can be downloaded from Play Master

The last method is the easiest. Download and install the application Root Browser Lite. Go to the section /system/app. Delete the application SuperSu.apk or other application files with which you installed root rights.

Now you need to find the folder bin, which is located in the system folder. If it contains files busybox or su, then delete them. Go back to the system folder and go to the folder xbin. If it contains files or folders busybox or su then we delete them too.

Reboot and go to the SuperSu application. Click "Remove Root".

Android 7 Nougat and root rights

In the seventh version of the Android operating system, becoming a “superuser” will become even more difficult. And if previously blocking extended access to a device in Nougat was more of a rumor, then the other day everything was confirmed by one of Google engineers Sami Tolvanen. On the pages of his blog, he announced that the company he works for will take the installation of third-party software more seriously. And in case of suspicious activity, the device will simply be blocked.

Video. 3 ways to get ROOT rights on Android

First, a little materiel. Just a little, don't worry. The word root in a Linux environment is an account that has certain privileges in accessing files. It is also called the superuser. The closest comparison is the administrator profile in Windows, but a password is usually not needed. However, this depends on the device, and now we will not talk about full-fledged Linux, but about its offspring of the mobile format called Android.

So, imagine that your computer is accessible through an administrator profile. You can edit system files, play tricks with the registry, mess with the cache and do other operations that, at a certain level of hand curvature, can lead to your PC turning into a photo frame with a permanent BSOD on the screen. So, it’s even harder for a superuser in Android, because more mistakes can be made, and simply reinstalling the OS on it is not an easy task. To summarize: superuser rights allow the owner of a smartphone to access system files, and, more importantly, change them and save these changes.

It would not be amiss to inform you that there are three types of root rights. Full Root provides the user with permanent access to superuser capabilities, Shell Root is a trimmed version of Full, that is, changing the /system folder is not available, and Temporary Root gives full access only until the smartphone is rebooted. And now:

Flaws

The warranty period for most types of electronics ranges from six months to two years. During this time, it is possible to identify post-sale defects, the responsibility for which lies with the manufacturer. If he is really at fault (which is easy to check), repairs and replacement of components will be carried out free of charge at special service centers. But if the so-called warranty conditions are violated, you will have to do everything at your own expense. So, getting a superuser account violates the terms of the guarantee in 99% of cases. This is the same as opening the security seals on a TV in order to try to fix it yourself, but having failed in this, sending the device to a service center. The warranty conditions are violated, the manufacturer does not know why the breakdown occurred - its fault, or yours. And no one will take words on faith.

Therefore, I formulate the first and main disadvantage for the average user: Gaining root access will almost certainly void your smartphone's warranty! True, there is an option that can hide such actions with a certain chance - rolling back to the factory firmware, but only those who have already dealt with access to the system at a low level are able to do this. Although the likelihood of an error for such users is close to zero, the “counter” of roots, if the manufacturer has inserted it, may not be reset to zero. Well, if the warranty for the device has already expired, then there is no point in being afraid of this particular drawback.

In my article about mobile viruses, I mentioned that with the opening of superuser rights, the smartphone receives an additional set of vulnerabilities. But this concerns not only the fact that even a simple virus can easily crap into the holy of holies - right into the heart of a pocket friend. People are naturally curious. Having received unprecedented freedom in working with a smartphone, they try to do things, studiously avoiding studying the hardware. Their self-confidence is amusing, but the result is not very good. With a careless movement of the hand, a multifunctional phone turns into a so-called. "brick" that doesn't even turn on. This means that a man-made grain of sand got into the perfectly running mechanism and stopped the work of the gears. For the average user, the matter is resolved exclusively service center, flashing and loss of all data (!) that was on the phone, with the exception of those on the memory card and SIM card. And the SC, in turn, will demand money from you for this service, because the warranty has expired (see paragraph above).

This leads to the second drawback: if there is an error in working with superuser rights, you can disrupt the operation of the OS, up to irretrievable loss of data. You can avoid this by doing the following: before doing anything, you need to know the consequences - there is probably at least one person on the Internet who has already taken a risk and posted their thoughts in an accessible form. Next - always have it on hand backup copy, and not just one. I'm not talking about gallery files or contacts, but about a full backup of the entire system - the so-called recovery. We will discuss how to do it later.

Also, for a user who has tasted the delights of root for the first time, the following news will be sad: interference with system files will take away the smartphone’s ability to automatic update, that is, to receive new firmware versions. Yes, yes, you won’t see KitKat if you are on older versions of Android and decided to play around with the superuser. However, there is no question of reliability here - the update may arrive, and even install, and even work! But if this happens to you, consider yourself to have won three lotteries in a row, because this is a colossus with feet of clay, and your OS runs on files that are not designed for this. Therefore, disadvantage number three: after receiving root access, you can forget about auto-updating the smartphone OS, unless you are a very lucky person. If you really want a new one Android version, you will have to do everything manually. It's not easy, but once you have received root access, if you please, live up to this title!

A serious disadvantage of root rights is the variability in obtaining them from device to device. Let's start with the fact that not every smartphone provides such an opportunity. If your device has a feature (although I would call it a “crutch”) called NAND lock, you don’t have to dream about rooting. About Full Root, to be precise. The remaining two options are available in most cases. Yes, there are ways around this software gimmick, but be prepared to spend extra hours poring over instructions.

There's no complete list of devices with NAND lock, but even if your smartphone doesn't prevent root access, don't expect it to be easy. There is no single recipe for obtaining superuser rights. Each new product will be studied by Internet experts for the first few days before a sequence of actions appears on Western forums. You shouldn’t even think that it will be simple - there may be more than 20 steps, and each of them includes desktop computer, Internet, third party programs, stubs and God knows what else. Conclusion: due to NAND lock, not all smartphones have the opportunity to get Full Root, but for most devices where this option is available, it exists separate instructions, which you need to search for a long time and strictly follow. And if something didn’t work out on the way to your goal, there is a high probability of getting a technological “brick” at a reasonable price.

And the last one, but very important fact. Any experiments with obtaining root rights, changing the firmware, creating a backup on a PC or creating a recovery must be carried out ONLY through the NATIVE USB cable, which must be plugged DIRECTLY into the computer case, bypassing any hubs. The fact is that various Chinese crafts of any price and value, with the exception of branded peripherals, are buggy at the most important point, or simply cannot cope with such tasks. This is not a recent phenomenon - even Siemens phones were only flashed via native USB, which, by the way, cost a lot of money and was quite rare. As a result, you can make a smartphone an expensive brick in the process of obtaining, say, recovery, which should protect the user from such situations. Be careful!

Advantages

The freedom of action. Having received Root rights, you, as a smartphone user, will acquire full control over the device. Don't like standard applications? Remove them completely! Tired of standard shortcuts/icons? For God's sake, change them to whatever you like! You can remove the screensaver when starting up and shutting down the device, you can make the native flash dance during a call, you can put artificial restrictions on Internet traffic, remove advertising from applications, hide the notification panel or navigation menu, and much, much more. Of course, such changes require appropriate programs.

I don’t want to mess around with individual elements, but standard view frankly bored with the shell? There is a solution! With root rights no one will bother you install the real custom firmware. The leader in this field can be considered the CyanogenMod project, within which software builds are released daily for dozens of popular devices... But there are also MIUI, Illusion, ParanoidAndroid and many others. After getting acquainted with them, you may want to go back to such a familiar and understandable factory firmware, but not everything is not so simple, and the specifics specific device will not be long in coming. Down with doubts! The possibilities of individual ROMs are simply breathtaking.

For example, the main advantages of CyanogenMod are its original purity (no unnecessary pre-installed programs), ease of use, minimal settings, the ability to quickly switch profiles, and excellent optimization. Among the shortcomings, it is worth highlighting a small set of settings, as for custom firmware, as well as general instability in operation. A MIUI firmware is positioned as a hybrid of Android, iOS, and, in fact, is a hodgepodge of best elements both platforms. There is no majority in it installed applications, but there is a large number of themes and widgets, and most standard ones for Android applications either removed or replaced with “lighter” analogues.

Illusion stands out for its completely transparent interface, auto-hiding status bar, and excellent notification functionality, which can be configured separately. ParanoidAndroid is generally a sandbox with customization that will be respected by individual Linux distributions. This includes scaling EACH individual program, the status bar can also be customized as desired, as can notifications, and general scheme The interface can be changed from a smartphone to a tablet, and PIE Control combines all the main shortcuts into one convenient diagram.

But there is even more customizable firmware - AOKP. Personally, it reminds me of the times when Siemens phones ruled the roost, as you could do incredible things with them. With AOKP, your vibrating alert will start singing along to your favorite song, instead of loading there will be a photo of your favorite girl, and the Ribbon interface will eliminate the need for launchers. And that's just short review what universal ROMs are capable of. But there are also firmwares for individual devices that correct the most unpleasant errors without turning the design upside down. Often they are almost in no way inferior to stock ones. But also nice little things, like a built-in boot menu, the ability to record screencasts or change the screen density in dpi through general scaling. ATTENTION! The last function is extremely dangerous and can lead to the smartphone becoming bricked.

Root rights or superuser rights allow you to get unlimited access to the gadget’s file system on Android platform, including access to system files and folders. An already open and customizable system, if these rights are obtained, becomes even more changeable.

What are the types of root rights?

Full Root means full root; these are permanent root rights that open up absolutely all the capabilities of the operating system and device to the owner of the device.
Shell Root is the same rights as Full Root, only with them access to the System partition is denied, that is, there is no way to write and overwrite this partition.
Temporary Root - means temporary root, that is, the rights disappear after the device is rebooted.

Getting root rights

The rooting process may differ slightly depending on the device used, but in essence it is the same and boils down to adding several files and the Superuser or SuperSU application to the system folders.

To become a superuser, you usually need to go through the following steps:

Preparing your device. For example, on some smartphones and tablets it is necessary to unlock the bootloader, transfer files to a memory card, etc.
Launch of a special software directly on the device itself or on the computer to which the device is connected.
Copy the su executable, which is installed in /system/xbin/su. He is the one responsible for root.
Setting access rights to files and directories using the chmod command.

The most necessary programs for root users

List of must-have programs opens the file Root manager Explorer. It will allow you to seamlessly operate system files, making your smartphone or tablet even more personal. For example, it will be possible to transfer programs, cache and other data to a memory card even if this option is not provided.
If you want to remove unused system applications, you will need Root Uninstaller. Be careful when deleting - some supposedly unused applications may actually be vital important elements systems.
Frequently performed tasks can be automated using the most powerful app in the category - Tasker. The slightly confusing interface is more than compensated for by the rich functionality and practicality of the program.
Greenify is another landmark solution for a rooted phone. Allows you to “freeze” the work of programs in the background and thereby saves precious percentages of battery power.
Busybox – makes it possible to use familiar Linux commands to control your smartphone.
Titanium Backup – allows you to back up your system, including contacts, SMS messages and application data.

Having superuser rights at your disposal, you can change the system boot loader, install alternative menu recovery and custom firmware.

Superuser to manage a rooted device

To ensure that the full power of the new rights is not used for other purposes, but for selfish purposes, control measures are needed to limit the use of these rights. The main management of a rooted phone falls on the shoulders of special programs, most often Superuser. It allows you to grant and restrict access to super rights for various applications. For example, during the first launch of the same Root Explorer A window will appear where you will be asked to grant root rights to the file manager, and if you refuse, the application will not gain access to hidden elements of the built-in memory.

The Superuser interface is intuitive: main screen is a list of installed applications that, in principle, may require root rights and displays what powers a particular program has. When you select a program from the list, a permissions menu will open where you can grant extended rights temporarily, permanently, or completely prohibit their use.

What are the disadvantages of rooting?

Loss of warranty on the performance of the device, if it is still valid.
Loss of the ability to update the operating system over the air (OTA update), but not on all firmware versions.
Disabling branded features of some manufacturers.

conclusions

If you are still thinking about whether to get root rights or not, then our answer is clear - do it now. Superuser rights will be useful to any owner of an Android smartphone, because they turn your customizable device into a truly limitless field for creativity and practical solutions. The risk of receiving an inoperable device if all instructions are followed is almost as minimal as the probability of the device spontaneously “bricking.” In addition, at any time, if desired, you can unroot, that is, remove root rights.

Go ahead and use your device 100%.

Surely many have heard about administrator rights in phones and tablets based on Android OS, called Root access. But not everyone knows what they are for and how to use them correctly. Moreover, trying to gain administrator rights without the necessary knowledge can be fraught with problems. We suggest you figure out what they are and also find out how to use them correctly.

Root access, or as it is also called, superuser, can be obtained for any smartphone based on the Android OS. Rooted devices have greater capabilities for customizing personalization and managing system files/processes. In normal mode, the user works with the mobile phone as a guest. You can watch videos, listen to music and surf the Internet, which is already enough for most people. However, only with administrator rights does it become possible to radically influence OS processes, modify system files, etc.

Every coin has a downside, and Ruth rights are no exception. Along with the expansion of functionality, the user will lose the opportunity to officially update the firmware and branded features from the manufacturer. This is one of possible reasons, why don’t developers provide root access to their devices upon purchase.

Why are they needed?

As mentioned above, administrator rights significantly expand the user’s basic capabilities for working with the OS. To the most significant functions that appear in rooted devices are worth mentioning:

The ability to freeze and backup the current firmware on Android smartphones and tablets.
Remove built-in advertising from applications installed in memory.
Remove system (originally built-in) ringtones and programs.
Add applications and ringtones to the system.
Wide range of customization options: changing the design of application icons and backgrounds.
Ability to edit .apk files, system programs.
Extending battery life by optimizing energy saving parameters.
The ability to increase performance and smoothness of work by disabling unnecessary system processes and tasks.
Overclocking and lowering the clock frequency of the central processor and video accelerator.
Creating your own versions of Android firmware.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, the main features that are unlocked when you gain administrator rights. For each of them separately, there are several simpler ones that can be useful for many users. If you still don’t understand what administrator rights provide on Android, we recommend watching the training video below.

How to use?

Without the necessary knowledge, you will not be able to benefit from administrator rights on your mobile phone. To remove ads, change application properties, etc., you will need special application, for example SuperSU. There are also several different types of root rights for Android, differing in duration and functionality. Let's look at everything in order, and start with preliminary preparation.

What to do before receiving

Before you get root rights in Russian for your mobile phone, you may need to unlock the bootloader. This operation will be required for devices: Sony, Lg, Huawei, HTC and some other popular brands. At the same time, you cannot do without a computer and special proprietary programs. When performing the operation in the official way, be also prepared for the loss of all data in the phone’s memory.

Types of Root rights

Depending on your need, you can get different types Root access rights:

Full Root. This is the most full view
administrator rights. They are not deleted randomly or after rebooting the phone. With their help, the user gets full access to system files and processes, as well as the ability to write to the system partition.
Shell Root.

Like full root, this type of rights is also not deleted after a reboot and opens up wide opportunities for the user. However, in this case there is no possibility of writing and rewriting to the system partition.

Temporary Root. Represents a temporary type of administrator rights. This root access disappears immediately after the system is rebooted.

How to check their availability?
Another frequently asked question by users: how can I see if I have administrator rights on my phone? There are two options for checking this:

You need to open a file manager, for example ES Explorer, and go to the /system/xbin section. If there is a SU file in this directory, then Root rights have been installed successfully.

We download the Root Checker application, which is available in the Play Market, and through it we check whether administrator rights are available on the phone.

For verification methods, see the training video below.

After you have downloaded and installed SuperSU on your phone, the program begins to monitor and manage system processes that request Root access. As soon as any application accesses a particular process, a superuser request is displayed on the screen. In this case, you can also set a reminder to repeat the request through any convenient time. You can study the history of such requests in a log specially created for this purpose. It contains all requests from the moment SuperSU started operating, opposite which the status (received or not received), time and date are displayed.

The first tab of the SuperSU utility work menu is dedicated to applications that have administrator rights. They can be configured in more detail or removed from this list by disabling the corresponding permission. The last tab in the utility, which can be opened by swiping sideways on the screen, is settings. Here you can set the following parameters:

Enable re-authentication to confirm access to administrator rights every time the applet is updated.
Set permanent access to root rights by default for all programs on the phone.
Set the waiting time for a response before automatically refusing to provide Root rights for the selected application.
Configuring log recording parameters.
Changing visualization, graphic background and interface language.
Activate survival mode.
Using the utility as a system program.

A separate clause includes modification of the user firmware, if the user uses it.