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Geohot is back - This time with a root tool for nearly every Android device out there

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 17 Jun 2014 7:35 User comments (10)

Geohot is back - This time with a root tool for nearly every Android device out there

George Hotz (aka geohot) is back with a vengeance, releasing a new root tool that can be effectively used on all Android devices including the "unrootable" Samsung Galaxy S5 for Verizon and AT&T.
Geohot became famous for being the first person to unlock the original iPhone, and later for creating the limera1n jailbreak tool for future versions of the iPhone. The hacker then gained notoriety when he exploited OtherOS for the Sony PlayStation 3, opening up the ability to add homebrew (and play pirated games), causing Sony to disable the feature entirely and sue the young hacker.

Gaining root access to an Android device allows users to make system-level changes, and gain great apps like Titanium Backup. You can also flash different ROMs, like CyanogenMod, if you just hate the bloat of your Samsung, LG or HTC device.



Dubbed "Towelroot," the new tool requires you to download and install an APK directly from Geohot's site, and run it. That's it. All devices running Android 4.4.2 or lower can use it, leaving out just a handful of phones including the Nexus 5 and Moto X.

While the tool is great for users who want the easiest access to root, ever, it is unfortunate for Google since Towelroot is based on a Linux kernel vulnerability. Android 4.4.3 appears to have blocked at least part of the exploit, but it does not appear to be solved yet in its entirety. With over 97 percent of Android users on 4.4.2 (or older) Google may have to work a bit harder on the exploit.

If you want to try out Towelroot, get it here at the official page. Due to the nature of the APK, Afterdawn must recommend that you not download it from anywhere else.

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10 user comments

118.6.2014 12:30

Also a lame scene hacker for stealing his colleagues work,
jumping the gun and using it as his own ip.

those of us who follow the scene still remember Geocunt, go crawl back under the rock you slinked out from.

218.6.2014 12:39

WTF?? No Moto X love? All I want is ROOT so I can use the many backup programs. If I would have known no one was going to exploit the X I would have purchased the Developer Edition!

318.6.2014 13:18

Originally posted by brian480:
WTF?? No Moto X love? All I want is ROOT so I can use the many backup programs. If I would have known no one was going to exploit the X I would have purchased the Developer Edition!
It works on the Moto X as long as you have not updated it to 4.4.3 :)

418.6.2014 13:21

Is this only AT&T and Verizon?

518.6.2014 23:58

Originally posted by DXR88:
Also a lame scene hacker for stealing his colleagues work,
jumping the gun and using it as his own ip.

those of us who follow the scene still remember Geocunt, go crawl back under the rock you slinked out from.

What is this about stealing his partner's work?
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 18 Jun 2014 @ 11:59

619.6.2014 08:21

Originally posted by brian480:
WTF?? No Moto X love? All I want is ROOT so I can use the many backup programs. If I would have known no one was going to exploit the X I would have purchased the Developer Edition!
This root method works using a exploit in the linux kernal that android is using now. This is why it works on so many different devices but he did state that some Motorola and HTC devices where immune to this technique. You might see some other sites calling this exploit a security risk for malware. Stating that if you install an unsafe app it can be then used to steal user information.

720.6.2014 11:07

Looks like a donation is mandatory but I can't blame the guy for doing so..........assuming I'm correct.

I would totally donate 5 bucks to this person.

If indeed this works then PROPS to the dev.

820.6.2014 12:38

Worked like a charm on my new LG G Pad 8.3. Also, @7, no donation is mandatory, just click the lambda for the download.

921.6.2014 09:47

what's the lambda? Nevermind, I know what 'tis now

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 21 Jun 2014 @ 9:50

1021.6.2014 21:05

Towel Root does not work on Nextbook tablets.....

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