You might have seen once or twice some "phone hack" being shared on social media about how to make your phone work faster or use certain apps that are usually not available for your device.
Oftentimes than not, it is a step-by-step instruction on how to root or jailbreak your device to customize its operating system code.
Let me tell you now if you don't know what you are doing, better stop right now. Here are five reasons why:
1. More Susceptible to Malware
Rooting or jailbreaking unencrypted phones means it is very vulnerable to getting their data stolen or receiving malware.
Accessing the device's operating system also includes bypassing its security system to allow non-native software and apps to operate in your device.
If you don't know how to encrypt or secure private user data on your phone, it might not be the best idea to suddenly expose your device to unknown programs.
Also Read: How to Secure Your Personal Data on Google Chrome
2. Difficulty in Receiving OS Updates
Since you are also changing some parts of the phone's operating system, it might be more difficult to install recent OS updates from the device's manufacturer.
This is more common with Apple products as the iOS and macOS updates are not always compatible with custom operating systems.
It means you might not receive important security updates to possibly fix major vulnerabilities within your device.
3. Unusable Apps on Rooted Devices
While some apps like Pokemon GO may benefit from a rooted or jailbreak phone more apps are sure to be unusable once you customize your operating system.
Depending on the root app used, live service apps like Netflix and Amazon Prime will not work when opened.
Online wallets, such as Apple Pay and Swap Wallet, are a no-go too. At least, most apps that have SafetyNet Hardware Attestation will not work.
Instead, you will be notified with the message: "We have detected that you are using a rooted phone. Please be aware that Swipe does not support rooted devices."
4. Performance Issues
While rooting Android phones might have been recommended in earlier versions, it is not so much as today. In fact, it is rarely encouraged unless you want to install custom ad blockers.
This is because changing the operating system of modern phones makes its ROM capacity much lower.
Lesser ROM space can mean that the device will not work as well as it did before, especially if you have multiple big files downloaded or installed.
5. Risk of Deleting Personal Files
Finally, the most crucial part of rooting and jailbreaking devices is the risk of deleting your own personal files.
Devices need to undergo factory reset when being rooted or jailbreak. So if you don't have any backup file for your phone, it will be more difficult to recover it.
Related Article: Google Play Store Malware AbstractEMU Can Steal Your Banking Data, Other Private Information: How to Protect Yourself
