What Does It Mean To Root Your Android

http://www.android.com/devices/images/device/nexus-4/large/0

As most people know the iPhone has the ability to " Jail Break " which gives the users more freedom and allows certain programs to be installed. However many people do not know what it means to root their Android Device. Since many people understand Jail Breaking I will explain using that. When you jailbreak your phone you are allowing yourself to run any code that was restricted by Apple hence why it is called " Jail Breaking". Now rooting on your Android device is similar in the sense of you breaking free.

What Does Rooting Allow Me to do?

Well since we established that this would allow you to break away more what does this do for you. The answer is simple you will practically be able to do whatever you want to your phone. You can change what OS you are running some people have done this with success you will just have to get one that is supported by your phone. It will allow you to give super user privileges in programs that require it. Such as avast! Mobile security which requires you to root for you to use the firewall. They are not trying to force you to root but it needs to access certain files in your system that it can't do unless you root and let it. Rooting is a very common practice by IT professionals, but unless you are tech savvy I recommend that you don't bother with it.

Are There Risks?

There are risks not legal issues which Google and all carriers are fine with rooting the risks come into what it is you change when you root your phone. Many people have turned their phones into bricks, which is essentially a paper weight that has no use. This is the danger with rooting a device however there are programs that say they can un brick your phone. You can root brick your device by downloading some malware app or installing a bad firmware. All that they do is attempt to factory reset your phone, so you will lose all of your contacts' photos, apps, along with anything else you have on there. But on the bright side you will get your phone back to a usable state.

Summary 

There are plenty of benefits to rooting your device but you should not do it unless you are tech savvy or have a friend who knows how to do it and can explain to you what it is you should/should not do.