Heartbleed bug: What you need to know

The bug could be a huge problem

This week it has emerged that a major security flaw at the heart of the internet may have been exposing users' personal information and passwords to hackers for the past two years.

It is not known how widely the bug has been exploited, if at all, but what is clear is that it is one of the biggest security issues to have faced the internet to date.

Security expert Bruce Schneier described it as "catastrophic".

He said: "On the scale of one to 10, this is an 11."

This post has attempted to round up everything you need to know about Heartbleed.

What is the Heartbleed bug?

The bug exists in a piece of open source software called OpenSSL which is designed to encrypt communications between a user's computer and a web server, a sort of secret handshake at the beginning of a secure conversation.

It was dubbed Heartbleed because it affects an extension to SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) which engineers dubbed Heartbeat.

It is one of the most widely used encryption tools on the internet, believed to be deployed by roughly two-thirds of all websites. If you see a little padlock symbol in your browser then it is likely that you are using SSL.

Half a million sites are thought to have been affected.

In his blog chief technology officer of Co3 Systems Bruce Schneier said: "The Heartbleed bug allows anyone to read the memory of the systems protected by the vulnerable versions of the OpenSSL software. This compromises the secret keys used to identify the service providers and to encrypt the traffic, the name and passwords of the users and the actual content," he said.

"This allows attackers to eavesdrop communications, steal data directly from the services and users and to impersonate services and users," he added.

The bug is so serious it has its own website Heartbleed.com which outlines all aspects of the problem.

Do I need to change my passwords?

Some security experts are saying that it would be prudent to do so although there is a degree of confusion as to when and if this needs to be done.

Many of the large technology firms including Facebook and Google have patched the vulnerability.

Confusingly though Google spokeswoman Dorothy Chou specifically said: "Google users do not need to change their passwords." A source at the firm told that it patched the vulnerability ahead of the exploit being made public and did not believe that it had been widely used by hackers.

Some point out that there will be plenty of smaller sites that haven't yet dealt with the issue and with these a password reset could do more harm than good, revealing both old and new passwords to any would-be attacker.

But now the bug is widely known even smaller sites will issue patches soon so most people should probably start thinking about resetting their passwords.

The University of Surrey's computer scientist Prof Alan Woodward told "Some time over the next 48 hours would seem like sensible timing,"  .

Mikko Hypponen of security firm F-Secure issued similar advice: "Take care of the passwords that are very important to you. Maybe change them now, maybe change them in a week. And if you are worried about your credit cards, check your credit card bills very closely."

How do I make sure my password is robust? 

The exploit was not related to weak passwords but now there are calls for a mass reset of existing ones, many are reiterating the need to make sure they are as secure as possible.

People should regularly change their passwords, said Prof Woodward, and they need to make sure that they choose something that does not relate to themselves, such as a pet's name. Words that don't appear in a dictionary are preferable as is a mixture of words and numbers.

For people whose attitude to passwords is to reset them each time they visit a site because they have forgotten them, there is help on hand.

Tools are now widely available that will store and organise all your passwords and PIN codes for computers, apps and networks. They can also generate passwords and can automatically enter your username and password into forms on websites.

Such tools store your passwords in an encrypted file that is accessible only through the use of a master password. Examples of such services include KeePass, LastPass and 1Password.

Some firms are starting to offer alternatives to passwords.

Mobile firms including Apple and Samsung are integrating fingerprint-readers which allow users to access their phone and certain functions on it just by swiping their finger on the screen.

Which sites are affected?

There are half a million believed to be vulnerable so too many to list but there is a glut of new sites offering users the chance to check whether the online haunts they use regularly are affected.

The LastPass website has compiled a list as has new websiteMashable. Meanwhile security firm Kaspersky directs people to theHeartbleed test.

While Facebook and Google say that they have patched their services, according to the Kaspersky blog, there is a long list of sites that are still vulnerable, including Flickr, OkCupid and Github.

One of the biggest tech firms remaining on the vulnerable list was Yahoo but, as of last night, it too seemed to have remedied the problem saying it "had made the appropriate corrections across our entire platform".

Many more sites will spend the coming days scrambling to do the same.

Bruce Schneier called on internet companies to issue new certificates and keys for encrypting internet traffic. Doing so would render stolen keys useless, he said.

What is the worst-case scenario?

The bad news, according to a blog from security firm Kaspersky is that "exploiting Heartbleed leaves no traces so there is no definitive way to tell if the server was hacked and what kind of data was stolen".

Security experts say that they are starting to see evidence that hacker groups are conducting automated scans of the internet in search of web servers using OpenSSL.

And Kaspersky said that it had uncovered evidence that groups believed to be involved in state-sponsored cyber-espionage were running such scans shortly after news of the bug broke.

Why has the problem only just come to light?

The bug was first spotted by Google Security and a Finnish security firm Codenomicon which said that it was introduced by a programming error.

Because OpenSSL is open source, researchers were able to study the code in detail which is why it was found in the first place.

But such code libraries are immensely complex so it can take some time for those who routinely examine the code to come across such problems.

Prof Woodward told "It was such an unexpected problem that it wasn't something that researchers would necessarily have been looking for".

Information Sources :- www.heartbleed.com & www.bbc.com

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Protect Your Data From Heart Bleed Bug...

It's been a while since there was a computer security bug we all had to worry about.

Unfortunately, it seems like we may all have been facing one for two years and not even realized it.

The day before yesterday, security researchers announced a security flaw in OpenSSL, a popular data encryption standard, that gives hackers who know about it the ability to extract massive amount of data from the services that we use every day and assume are mostly secure.

This isn't simply a bug in some app that can quickly be updated - the vulnerability is in on the machines that power services that transmit secure information, like Facebook and Gmail.

We've put together the following guide to the "Heartbleed bug" for those who want to understand what all the fuss is about and how they can protect themselves.

What is the Heartbleed bug?

Heartbleed is a flaw in OpenSSL, the open-source encryption standard used by the majority of sites on the web that need to transmit data users want to keep secure. It basically gives you a "secure line" when you're sending an email or chatting on IM.

Encryption works by making it so that data being sent looks like nonsense to anyone but the the intended recipient.

Occasionally, one computer might want to check that there's still a computer at the end of its secure connection, so it will send out what's known as a "heartbeat," a small packet of data that asks for a response.

Due to a programming error in the implementation of OpenSSL, the researchers found that it was possible to send a well-disguised packet of data that looked like one of these heartbeats to trick the computer at the other end of a connection into sending over data stored in its memory.

The flaw was first reported to the team behind OpenSSL by Google Security researcher Neel Mehta, and independently found by security firm Codenomicon. According to the researchers who discovered the flaw, the code has been in OpenSSL for approximately two years, and utilizing it doesn't leave a trace.

How bad is that?

It's really bad. Web servers can keep a lot of information in their active memory, including user names, passwords, and even the content that user have uploaded to a service. According to Vox.com's Timothy Lee, even credit card numbers could be pulled out of the data sitting in memory on the servers that power some services.

But worse even than that, the flaw has made it possible for hackers to steal encryption keys, the codes used to turn gibberish encrypted data into readable information.

With encryption keys, hackers can intercept encrypted data moving to and from a site's servers and read it without establishing a secure connection. This means that unless the companies running vulnerable servers change their keys, even future traffic will be susceptible.

Am I affected?

Probably, though again, this isn't simply an issue on your computer or phone itself - it's in the software that powers the services you use. Security firm Codenomicon reports:

You are likely to be affected either directly or indirectly. OpenSSL is the most popular open source cryptographic library and TLS (transport layer security) implementation used to encrypt traffic on the Internet. Your popular social site, your company's site, commercial site, hobby site, sites you install software from or even sites run by your government might be using vulnerable OpenSSL.

According to a recent Netcraft web server survey that looked at nearly 959,000,000 web sites, 66% of sites are powered by technology built around SSL, and that doesn't include email services, chat services, and a wide number of apps available on every platform.

So what can I do to protect myself?

Since the vulnerability has been in OpenSSL for approximately two years and utilizing it leaves no trace, assume that your accounts may be compromised. You should change passwords immediately, especially for services where privacy or security are major concerns.

Meanwhile, the researchers who discovered the flaw let the developers behind OpenSSL know several days before announcing the vulnerability, so it was fixed before word got out yesterday. Most major service providers should already be updating their sites, so the bug will be less prevalent over coming weeks.

Sources...:- Businessinsider & HeartBleed.com

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How to Fix Windows 8.1 Update Issues

With any new software update on any device, there are going to be small hiccups, little issues that cause users to not be able to download the update even though they should be able to. Windows 8.1, the free update for tablets, desktops and notebooks running Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system isn’t any different.

Since its release users have reported random issues with not being able to download the update. Here’s what to do when Windows tells you your Windows 8.1 install couldn’t be completed.

Before proceeding, it’s a good idea to simply close the Windows Store app by clicking or tapping on its top and dragging it to the bottom of our screen. Then trying the update again. This could fix your issue and save you from having to proceed with the rest of this process. If that still hasn’t helped then continue.

The first thing you want to do if you see the error above on your screen is to restart your Windows 8 devices and try again. Remember to save any work you’ve been doing in the background before you restart first. After you’ve restarted, don’t open the Windows Store app.

If you’re still having trouble downloading the update. You’re going to need to open the Windows 8 Command Prompt. Go to the Start Screen by pressing the Windows key on your keyboard or by pressing the Windows button underneath your device’s display.

Right-click anywhere on the Start Screen and click on the All Apps button.

Now, find the Command Prompt option in the list of installed apps. Don’t left-click on it. Instead, right-click on it and select Run As Administrator from the menu on the bottom. Tablet users should place their finger on Command Prompt and then pull down on the app slightly to see the app menu.

In the menu type ‘net stop wuauserv’ then hit enter on your keyboard.

Now type ‘net stop bits’ then hit enter on your keyboard again.

Now open a file window by going back to the Desktop. Go the following location by manually typing it into the address bar or by copy and pasting it into the address bar in a file window: C:\Windows\SoftwareDistribution. Delete everything inside that folder.

Now go back to the Command Prompt and type in ‘net start wuauserv’ then hit enter.

Next type ‘net start bits’ then hit enter.

Now head to the Windows Store and attempt to download Windows 8.1 again.

Read: 26 Awesome Features in the Windows 8.1

By now, you should be able to download the Windows 8.1 without any issues. Remember to make sure you’re on a stable internet connection and that your Windows 8 device is plugged in.

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26 Awesome Features in Windows 8.1

Microsoft has unleashed the Windows 8.1 – a glimpse of what Windows 8 users can expect this fall — now is a great time to try out the update if you have a machine that runs the operating system.

The new features in the Windows 8.1 range from changes to help users who don’t like the Start Screen, to updates for the users that do like it. It’s clear that Microsoft is moving to both make the transition to the Metro environment easier for users, while letting them have many of the comforts that they already enjoyed in previous versions of the operating system.

Windows 8.1 (Windows Blue) Is A Free Update To Windows 8
Read: How to Fix Windows 8.1 Update Issues

                                        The updated Start Screen in Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 Feature Aims to Please Tablet Owners

Though the new of features coming in this update may entice users into updating to the 8.1  today, those who don’t wish to re-install their desktop and some of their Metro-style applications might want to hold off until that final release this fall — when they’ll be able to get it free of charge. The Windows 8.1 will work on Windows RT devices like the Microsoft Surface RT, and traditional Windows devices like laptops and desktops.

Here are the features you should be excited about in the Windows 8.1 , regardless of weather you enjoy using the operating system in its current shipping form, or if you weren't too fond of the user experience on the Windows device that your purchased between now and the Windows 8 launch last fall.

START SCREEN BACKGROUNDS

For many it’s not necessarily the Windows 8 Metro design language that bothers them so much as it’s the near complete lack of customization that’s available with the operating system. One of the biggest ways users customize their Windows device or, really, any device, is by adding their own background. In Windows 8.1 users will be have their desktop background also act as the background for the Start Screen.

START MENU

Though Microsoft won’t be making the traditional Start Menu from Windows 7 and earlier versions available in Windows 8.1, it will be tweaking the menu that appears when users right click on the Start Screen hot-corner or the new Windows button. Among the new options is an option to shut down the device.

Windows 8.1 brings back the start button.

START BUTTON

Though it won’t be turned on by default, Microsoft gives into users and return the Start button to its perch on the Windows task-bar in the Desktop interface. The operating system automatically hides the button if users begin to use the Windows key on their device instead of the button over time.

INTEGRATED BING SEARCH

Since it first relaunched its search engine as Bing in 2010, Microsoft has been dead set on embedding the product into everything that it offers consumers. In Windows 8.1 Bing actively searches the web whenever someone uses the Search Charm and even pull all the different types of results the user might find relevant.

Bing is integrated in Windows 8.1

REVAMPED WINDOWS STORE

By most accounts, the Windows Store as it is today is a horrific miss-mash of poor user experience design and white backgrounds. The new Windows Store app for Windows 8.1 finally puts an end to the absolutely ridiculous amount of horizontal scrolling that users have to put up with today, and feature more areas for the company to showcase well designed applications.

NEW START MENU SETTINGS

The only thing that seemed to be more frustrating to users then finding where to shut down their device in Windows 8 was the seriously annoying process of navigating to the Settings app only to discover that the feature they were trying to manage could only be changed in the Desktop interface’s Control Panel. With Windows 8.1 Microsoft has moved even more of these settings to the Settings app, cutting down on the amount of time users have to waste figuring out which settings interface to use.

LOCK SCREEN SIDESHOWS

While the iPad allows users to effectively use its screen as a digital photo frame, the new Lock screen in Windows 8 hasn’t… until this release. More customization and personalization without even having to unlock the device? That’s progress.

More Start screen color options in Windows 8.1.

MORE START SCREEN COLOR OPTIONS

The only thing was more depressing than not being able to use a photo as a Start Screen background was the serious lack of color options that Microsoft included in Windows 8. Instead of limiting you to color and accent combinations, users can choose the colors that work best for them.

BOOT TO DESKTOP

After hearing a very vocal subset of users complain about Microsoft forcing them to look at the Start Screen before they had the opportunity to hit the Desktop tile, users of Windows 8.1 will be able to boot directly into the Desktop. They’ll still have to look at the Start Screen for some things but at least, this is a nice middle ground. The setting is off by default.

INTERNET EXPLORER 11

Included in Windows 8.1  another version of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer web browser: IE 11. In IE 11 users will find a rendering engine that has moved even further to support current web standards. Better standards support, plus faster rendering and the ability to open multiple instances of the Metro version of Internet Explorer to use side-by-side is well worth the upgrade to Windows 8.1 itself.

SNAPPED STATES

While Windows 8 already supports opening more than one application at a time on devices that have a display resolution at or above 1366 x 768 pixels, it currently limits the user to just two applications. Neither application can take up one half of the screen. Instead, it’s locked at a 70%/30% ratio. Starting with Windows 8.1, users will now be able to re-size the amount of screen an application takes up to their hearts content, and they’ll be able to simultaneous look at as many apps as their display supports.

Change the size of Live Tiles in Windows 8.1.

RESIZABLE LIVE TILES

Microsoft introduces two new Live Tile sizes into the mix with Windows 8.1 so that that users can put more focus on the apps they care about and introduce a little more variety into the monotony of their Start Screens. Options will include tiles that are the size of four of Windows 8’s Live Tiles and another that’s just one-fourth the size of a small tile.

HELP TUTORIALS

Supplementing the welcome tutorial on each Windows 8.1 device is a Help application that guides users through the process of learning how the Start Screen and that systems that support it work. In theory, this should seriously improve out of box experience for a large swath of users who are new to the operating system.

XBOX MUSIC APP

Like the Windows Store app, the Xbox Music app in Windows 8 has been a testament to just how unfriendly some Metro-style applications can be. Along with Windows 8.1, Microsoft completely revamped the user interface of the Xbox Music application to better allow users to focus on their collection and easily build one up using the Xbox Music Pass subscription service.

NEW APPS

Starting with Windows 8.1, an Alarm application, sound recorder and video editing application comes pre-installed with the operating system. First-party applications to do these things are only available in the Windows Desktop interface.

OUTLOOK RT

Every Windows RT device already includes a version of Microsoft’s Office suite of productivity applications. Unfortunately, right now the lineup of Office for Windows RT only includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. With Windows 8.1, Windows RT users will now be able to manage their calendar and email using a native version of Microsoft Outlook.

FINGERPRINT SUPPORT

Though fingerprint readers have come pre-installed on Windows devices for nearly a decade, Microsoft hasn't ever moved to support the peripheral directly in the operating system. Instead companies like Dell and HP have relied on the sometimes questionable drivers to power the feature. Not only Microsoft move support for bio-metric technology into Windows 8.1, it allows users to actually encrypt specific files and folders using their fingerprint.

DEFAULT DRIVE ENCRYPTION

Microsoft has included hardware encryption technology in the Windows operating system since Windows 7, however with Windows 8.1 Bit-locker drive encryption is now turned on by default.

PHOTO EDITING

As camera optics get better, users are increasingly turning to whatever devices they have near them to capture their favorite moments. Windows 8 included a very nice Photo browsing application that pulled down images stored on Flickr, Facebook and SkyDrive. With Windows 8.1 users will be able to capture and quickly edit photos, all from the Metro-environment.

SYNCED APPS ACROSS DEVICES

With the SkyDrive settings syncing include in Windows 8, it’s clear that Microsoft is moving to make users Windows transition to other Windows powered devices as easy as it possibly can. Now when users move between devices their applications will go with them. In effect users will be able use their apps and services no matter what Windows device they are on.

FILE EXPLORER

In another bid to encourage users to stay away from the Desktop environment, a new File Explorer application will allow users to copy, move and create files and folders straight from the Metro environment. That’s one less reason to go anywhere near that Desktop tile.

In Windows 8.1 SkyDrive is built-in.

BUILT-IN SKYDRIVE

With the Windows 8.1 update the installation of the SkyDrive Desktop app is a thing of the past. Not only will the operating system back up user’s information automatically, it’ll do so without having to maintain two separate applications for both the Desktop and Metro environment. Everything will be surfaced in the system’s file explorer and users will be able to purchase even more storage from the operating system’s settings area.

LOCK SCREEN ALARMS & ADDED DETAILED STATUS

In addition to heralding, Windows 8.1 users will now be able to specify an alarm application that will surface on their lock screen alongside the applications that they've already chosen to get alerts from.

BETTER PORTRAIT SUPPORT FOR TABLETS

Likely due in part to its support for smaller 7” inch and 8” displays, Microsoft has re-architected the Start Screen and all of the included applications in Windows 8.1 to allow for better use when tablets are used in portrait mode. That’s huge since most of these devices will likely be used in that orientation with one hand. Right now, that’s something that Windows 8 fails miserably at.

DISABLING HOT CORNERS

Now, users can trigger certain user interface elements like the Windows 8 task manager and Charms Bar by putting their mouse in a particular corner.  Starting with Windows 8.1, users can turn this off.

AUTOMATIC APP UPDATES

Though automatic app updates have been available to Android users for some time, Windows 8 didn’t ship with that feature. Instead users had to manually trigger application updates from within the Windows Store. Thankfully, like Apple’s iOS 7, Windows 8.1 will download and install application updates itself, silently.

...!!!

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4 Ways to Boot into Safe Mode in Windows 8

Are you struggling to boot into Safe Mode in Windows 8 or Windows 8.1?

Have you tried pressing both F8 and Shift+F8 and they don't work? That's because a lot has changed with the boot procedure in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. The boot has become so fast that it literally cannot be interrupted by any of your keypresses. Here are 4 ways in which you can boot into Safe Mode, that don't involve any special hacks or manual configuration.

Safe Mode in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1

Safe Mode in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 is not too different from the Safe Mode found in earlier versions of Windows.

The operating system still loads only the most basic drivers and services, so that it can display a minimal useful interface. The only important difference is that the minimum screen resolution used by Safe Mode has risen from 800x600 pixels to 1024x768 pixels.

1. Use the System Configuration Tool (msconfig.exe) - works in Windows 8 & 8.1

The easiest method for booting into Safe Mode is to use the System Configuration tool, also known as msconfig.exe.

Go to the Boot tab and, in the Boot options section check the box that says "Safe boot". Then, click or tap OK.

You are informed that you need to restart your computer. Click Restart or Exit without restartdepending on whether you want to restart now or later.

At the next restart, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 start in Safe Mode.

2. Use Shift + Restart - works in Windows 8 & 8.1

Another method is to press the Power button at the Windows login screen or in the Settings charm. Then, press and hold the SHIFT key on your keyboard and click Restart.

Windows asks you to choose an option. Press Troubleshoot.

In the Troubleshoot screen, press Advanced options.

In the Advanced options screen, press Startup Settings.

You are informed that you are about to restart in order to change several Windows options, including enabling Safe Mode. Press Restart.

Your computer or device restarts again and displays nine startup settings, including Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking and Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Press the F4 key on your keyboard, to enable Safe Mode, F5 to enable Safe Mode with Networking and F6 to enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 now boot according to the setting you selected.

3. Boot from a System Recovery CD/DVD - works only in Windows 8

In Windows 8, but not in Windows 8.1, you can create a system recovery CD or DVD.

Once you have that disc created, boot from it. When asked to press any key to load its content, do so.

First, you are asked to choose your keyboard layout. Press the layout you want to use. If you want to browse through the available options, press "See more keyboard layouts" until you find the one you want to use.

Then, the Choose an option screen is shown.

From here on, the steps are identical to those shown for method 2.

4. Use F8 or Shift + F8 (doesn't work when using UEFI BIOS & SSDs)

In Windows 7, you were able to press F8 just before Windows got loaded, to open theAdvanced Boot Options window, where you could choose to start Windows 7 in Safe Mode.

Some websites advise you to press Shift+F8, just before Windows 8 or 8.1 starts loading so that you make it start the recovery mode, from where you can boot into Safe Mode. The problem is that, most times, Shift+F8 and F8 don't work, even though they are correct commands, supported by Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.

This official blog post from Microsoft (Designing for PCs that boot faster than ever before) explains that this behavior is caused by their work in designing a very fast boot procedure. Both Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 have the fastest boot times ever. To quote Steve Sinofsky:

"Windows 8 has a problem – it really can boot up too quickly. So quickly, in fact, that there is no longer time for anything to interrupt boot. When you turn on a Windows 8 PC, there's no longer long enough to detect keystrokes like F2 or F8, much less time to read a message such as "Press F2 for Setup." For the first time in decades, you will no longer be able to interrupt boot and tell your PC to do anything different than what it was already expecting to do."

If you have modern PC with a UEFI BIOS and a fast SSD drive, there's no way you can interrupt the boot procedure with your keypresses. On older PCs, with a classic BIOS and no SSD drive, pressing these keys might still work though.

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Apple Macintosh: 5 Most Important Evolutions Of The Mac

Apple’s been on an innovating spree ever since the company was founded in 1976. Today, we will even get to experience Apple’s foray into the television market. But it all started with the Mac – an invention that led to the computing

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Top 10 Reasons to Root Your Android Phone

Android is one of the most open, versatile, and customizable mobile operating systems out there. You may think you don't need to root your phone, but you'd be surprised at how much more you can accomplish with a little work. Here are 10 reasons rooting your phone is worth the hassle.
P

10. Unlock Hidden Features and Install "Incompatible" AppsP

SEXPAND

Sometimes, even Android isn't open enough to give you some of the features you want. Either an app is blocked by carriers, hacks into Android's system files, or otherwise isn't available. Luckily, rooting can help with that: you can install carrier-blocked apps, get features from the latest version of Android, make incompatible apps compatible, power up your hardware, get features like Beats Audio from other phones, or emulate exclusive features like those on the Moto X. Whatever you want, rooting gives you the power to do a lot more.P

9. Automate EverythingP

You've probably heard of Tasker, the awesome app that automates just about anything on your phone. You don't need to root your phone to use it, but if you're rooted, it can do a whole lot more. Certain tasks, like toggling 3G, GPS, changing CPU speed, turning the screen on, and others require root access. So, if you want to get the full benefit of an app like Tasker, you'll definitely want to root your phone. For more automation inspiration, check out your best Tasker actions, as well as our most recently featured Tasker tricks.

8. Boost Your Phone's Speed and Battery LifeP

You can do a lot of things to speed up your phone and boost its battery life without rooting, but with root—as always—you have even more power. For example, with an app like SetCPU you can overclock your phone for better performance, or underclock it for better battery life. You can also use an app like Greenify to automatically hibernate apps you aren't using—perfect for those apps that always want to run in the background when you're not looking.

7. Block Ads in Any AppP

Look, we of all people understand the need for occasional ads—it's how we make money. But ads can also get in the way and use up data. If you want to block ads in certain apps or on certain devices, rooting is by far the best way to do so. AdFree, AdBlock Plus, and Ad Away are all great options. Of course, if you aren't rooted, going into airplane mode works in a pinch too.

6. Back Up Your Phone for Seamless TransitionsP

When you move to a new Android device—or restore your device to stock for any reason—you can make your life a lot easier by backing up your apps and settings first. That way, you can get your entire setup back in just a few taps. If you aren't rooted, you can back up a few things like apps and data, but you won't necessarily be able to backup system apps and their data, or automate the entire process as well as Titanium Backup can. 

5. Remove Preinstalled CrapwareP

Titanium Backup is good for more than just backups, too. It can also uninstall that annoying, battery-draining, space-wasting crapware that comes preinstalled on so many phones these days—and, sadly, this feature is root-only. Freeze them first to make sure your phone operates normally without them, then delete them completely to free up that space. You'll be glad you did. P

4. Tweak the Dark Corners of AndroidP

If you're the kind of person that likes to fiddle with every little feature—both on the surface and under the hood—rooting is for you. Whether you want to customize your keyboard layout with something like Keyboard Manager or give yourself faster scrolling, improved multitasking, and extra themes with Pimp My ROM, rooting gives you the power to tweak just about any corner you can think of. If you want to do it, chances are someone over on a forum like XDA has created a mini-app or tweak that will help.

3. Flash a Custom KernelP

Some of Android's most under-the-hood tweaks require a custom kernel, which you can only flash with a rooted device. The kernel is responsible for helping your apps communicate with the hardware of your phone, which means a custom kernel can give you better performance, battery life, and even extra features like Wi-Fi tethering (on unsupported phones), faster battery charging, and lots more. You can flash kernels manually or simplify the process with something like Kernel Manager.P

2. Flash a Custom ROMP

Okay, so you probably already know about this one—but it's one of the best benefits of rooting. A custom ROM is basically a custom version of Android, and it truly changes how you use your phone. Some merely bring a stock version of Android to non-stock phones, or later versions of Android to phones that don't have it yet. Some add a few handy features, some add lots of really unique features, and some change your operating system from head to toe. No matter what phone you have—even if it's a Nexus—we highly recommend checking out the custom ROMs out there. You won't be disappointed. Note: As some of you have noted, you don't actually need root access to flash a custom ROM—though you will need to unlock your bootloader (a process that sometimes comes bundled with root access). Still, it requires freeing your device from manufacturer lockdowns, so we've kept it in the list despite this technicality!P

1. Truly Own Your DeviceP

In the end, all of this boils down to one thing: you own your device, and you should be able to do with it as you please. Certain manufacturers and carriers try to keep that from happening, but with root access, you truly own your device and open yourself up to all the possibilities other parties try to block. Sure, there's some risk involved, and we don't usually recommend rooting other people's phones, but in the end, you can't put a price on true openness and control.

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