How to Root (or "Jailbreak") Android OS based Devices

These days you should have smartphone, right? It may run with either Google Android or Apple iOS operating system (sure Microsoft's Windows Phone should not be ignored, hah). You might have already heard people talking about "rooting" or "jailbreaking" their phones or tablets. Well, before we go to the topic, allow me to quickly explain "root" & "jailbreak".

Disclaimer: Android rooting may be illegal in some countries, do it with caution!

Root vs Jailbreak

Gaining root access is sometimes compared to jailbreaking devices running the iOS operating system. However, these are distinct concepts. In the heavily secured iOS world, Bypassing all these restrictions together constitute the expansive term "jailbreaking" of Apple devices, overcoming several types of iOS security features. In contrast, while many Android devices have locked bootloaders, the ability to sideload apps is common and usually permissible without root permissions. Thus, it is primarily the third aspect of iOS jailbreaking relating to superuser privileges that correlates to Android rooting.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Rooting Android

Pros: simply put - you are the BOSS. After rooting Android, it’s your device which you paid your hard earned money for. And you are not letting the shitty default installation ruin the experience for you.

Cons: some manufacturers assert that rooting voids your device’s warranty. However, rooting will not actually damage your hardware. The process is fully reversible.

Root Your Android Now Step by Step:

1. Prepare a Windows (XP, Vista, 7 etc) PC, download and install the Java JDK and Android SDK on your computer before continuing. Note: Java must be installed before the Android SDK.
2. Enable USB debugging mode on your Android. Take HTC T328d (the mobile phone I am using) for example, go to "Settings" -> "Developer Options" -> and enable "USB debugging (Debug mode when USB is connected)"
3. Connect your Android to your computer using its included USB cable. Don't mount the device's SD card on your computer – just plug it in.
4. We'll be rooting with SuperOneClick here. It's a single-click way to root that supports a wide variety of different devices and should work for most people. After downloading it from its official website, run the SuperOneClick.exe application.
   
5. Click the Root button in the SuperOneClick window and SuperOneClick should do the rest.
   
6. The process will take a few minutes. Restart your Android after rooting it.
   
7. Note: SuperOneClick automatically installs the SuperUser binary, which is also available from Google Play. Whenever an app on your device attempts to gain root permissions by calling the su command (just like calling the su command on Linux) you’ll be prompted to allow or deny the request.
   
8. Finished! Congratulations.

Tip: make sure you back up your data before you perform the procedure. If you do face data loss, see if you can use an Android data recovery software to help.

Important Note (for United States visitors) - as of January 26, 2013, the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) has prohibited the act of circumventing digital locks placed upon mobile telephones by wireless carriers in the United States. This new regulation applies to all phone purchased after January 23rd of 2013. To my readers who have recently purchased an Android smartphone and were hoping to root it, you can get away with doing that through legal means up to 90 days after your purchase. You just need to call your provider and get their permission.

For further reading:

• Android Rooting - wikipedia 
• Howtogeek.com - root Android (thanks for the guide) 
• Rooting Android is now illegal?

AWS Launches CloudHSM App To Bolster Data Security In The Cloud

In an effort to boost data security in the cloud, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has just launched a new service called AWS CloudHSM, designed to help its customers meet strict regulatory requirements without sacrificing their cloud application’s performance.

AWS says that the new security feature is aimed at customers whose regulatory requirements prevent them from running apps on shared infrastructure, which has been one of the key hurdles in the way of its efforts to win over the enterprise. Previously, companies in that position have been compelled to keep their most sensitive data – or at least, its encryption keys – buried within on-premise servers to meet those requirements, preventing them from fully migrating to the cloud. Now, AWS is hoping to do away with that need.

Read more at http://siliconangle.com/blog/2013/03/27/aws-launches-cloudhsm-app-to-bolster-data-security-in-the-cloud/

How to enable USB Mass Storage mode for Samsung Galaxy S2/S3, Note II

Just bought a new Samsung Galaxy S II/III or Note 2 and tried to upload my photos to the PC, and to your surprise this was no longer available? Found the USB Mass Storage (UMS) mode gone?

Normally for an Android based phone, you can mount it as a drive by trying steps or similar: Settings -> Wireless&Wifi -> USB Tools -> Connect USB mass storage and then plugging your Samsung Galaxy device into the PC. But what's wrong out there with Samsung Galaxy S3 or Note 2?

The fact is – it seems Samsung has disabled the option for some reasons (probably because of security concerns). The device now uses MTP (Media Sharing Protocol) and PTP, which aren't very useful for everyone. For example, for Samsung Galaxy S III, instead of USB mass storage, it only features MTP, which is not as easy to use and fast, so many prefer UMS instead.

Then how to enable UMS mode for Samsung Galaxy S2, S3, Note 2 or whatsoever...?

Steps to Enable USB Mass Storage mode

First of all: you'll need to root your Samsung Android. Here is a step by step Android Rooting guide which you can follow for the Samsung Galaxy S2/S3 or Note 2.

For Samsung Galaxy S3

1. Download the apk file here. 
2. Copy the apk to your device and disconnect it from your computer. 
3. Then install the app on your device and follow the instructions given by the app. 
4. Once the app is installed, you can open it and select the option you prefer for file transfer, which is very easy.

For Samsung Galaxy Note 2

1. Download SGS3 Easy UMS here. 
2. Then you will have to launch the app, grant it root access when you're asked for it, and choose the way you want to mount your device on the PC. 
3. It's very easy and you will only have to tap one button to switch from one mode to another.

Kind note: before starting the procedure, make sure you've backed up the data on your Samsung Galaxy, just in case. If you do encounter data loss during or after the procedure, check here (photos & videos) or here (text messages) for recovery solutions. Android backup options can be seen in this article.

Good luck!

Secure Your iPhone 5 by Setting a Password Lock

For security purposes it's a good idea to set up a Passcode on Lock Screen for the Apple iPhone 5 or any iOS device like the iPad, previous iPhones and the iPod Touch.

This requires the user to enter the Passcode before the user can reach the iPhone's content. Without the Passcode, no one can reach private data on the phone.

Let's say I accidentally put my iPhone down at work and one of my coworkers wants to prank me by messing up settings or changing the name Siri calls me which can embarrass me. The lock keeps that prankster from getting the best of me. Obviously, it also keeps bad guys from getting my banking information or passwords stored in apps like Lastpass password manager.

Watch this following short YouTube video for the step by step guide!

Thanks Kevin Purcell for the nice tip.

How to Make a Windows Repair Disc for HP NetBook without CD Drive

The Issue: 

I recently bought a new HP Netbook (running with Windows operation system) which is not equipped with a CD drive. Now I want to make a Windows repair disc just in case any emergency. So how can I make it without a disc drive?

Resolution: 

Well, one way to get the job done is to buy an external CD/DVD drive that reads and records. It connects to one of the netbook's USB ports. While this method does involve dropping some more money into a computer that may have cost only quite a bit to begin with, it does give you the ability to do other things with it. For example, you can install programs from a disc that aren’t available as software downloads or back up your HP's files to a record-able disc.

If you don’t want to pay for an external drive, another alternative is to make a bootable U.S.B. recovery drive for Windows 7. Note: Hewlett-Packard has instructions for creating a recovery disc on a flash drive on its site. Learn more from this HP support article.

Note: if your HP is running Windows XP or Linux, and you want to upgrade systems. Microsoft has made it possible to install Windows 7 on a netbook computer in ways that don’t require discs. For instance, you can download the system as an .iso file that can be copied onto a flash drive with the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download Tool and used to install Windows 7 without a disc drive.

Also see: how to fix a slow HP Mini netbook.