[APP][2013-03-08][root][GNex/Dev] BootUnlocker for Nexus Devices -- version 1.3.1

---

BootUnlocker for Nexus Devices -- Unlock your bootloader without fastboot.

This application REQUIRES a Galaxy Nexus (maguro, toro or toroplus), Nexus 4 (mako), or Nexus 10 (manta), with root.


You've rooted your Galaxy Nexus, Nexus 4, or Nexus 10, and you are trying to decide between the security of relocking your bootloader (with stock recovery and USB Debugging off), and the flexibility of leaving it unlocked.

You know that in order to prevent an unauthorized user from accessing your data by flashing a custom recovery, "fastboot oem unlock" wipes your data. This also means that if you relock your bootloader, you will need to do a full backup-and-restore whenever you decide to unlock it again.

BootUnlocker for Nexus Devices lets you have the best of both worlds by using root privileges to unlock your bootloader from within Android, without wiping your data. This allows you to keep your bootloader locked for security, with this application safely protected behind your lockscreen password. Whenever you want to unlock or relock your bootloader, just unlock your screen and run BootUnlocker.

Note: Nexus 7 is not supported. See this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2068207 for an alternative.


License
BootUnlocker for Nexus Devices is Open Source Software, licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0:
http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html.
You can redistribute, reuse, or modify this software as permitted under this license.

Source code is maintained on Google Code, along current and previous versions of the complied application:
https://code.google.com/p/boot-unlocker-gnex/

Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. See the License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations under the License.

For support, please leave a comment on this thread, or open an issue on the Google Code project page.

Downloads

• Download application from Google Play: http://play.google.com/store/apps/de...1.bootunlocker
• Download application from Google Code: http://code.google.com/p/boot-unlocker-gnex/downloads

How It Works

---

BootUnlocker for Nexus Devices avoids using "fastboot oem unlock", with its associated "userdata" wipe by writing directly to the "param" (or "misc") partition of your device's internal storage. On the Galaxy Nexus, the PRIMELA03 bootloader stores the lock status at position 0x000007C (124 decimal) of this partition: fastboot updates this when locking and unlocking the bootloader.
On the Nexus 10, the MANTALJ12 bootloader uses position 0x0000224 (548 decimal).
On the Nexus 4, the MAKOZ10l bootloader uses position 0x0004010 (16400 decimal) of the "misc" parition.

BootUnlocker uses root privileges to write to to the appropriate location directly, bypassing fastboot. This allows you to lock and unlock your bootloader from within Android, without wiping your "userdata" partition.

The technique used was discovered through the efforts of several contributors on another XDA thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...650830&page=13

Special thanks go to those who posted raw images of their "param" partitions for analysis (Archpope, AdamOutler, efrant, NCguy, Raftysworld, and others) as well as to the beta testers of this application (efrant, Mach3.2, Meep70, and others). This application could not have been written without their contributions.

To learn more about how this app works, and plans for future functionality, follow this project on Google Code: https://code.google.com/p/boot-unlocker-gnex/

ChangeLog

---

Version 1.3.1:

• Adds android.permission.ACCESS_SUPERUSER permission

Version 1.3:

• Adds support for "mako" (Nexus 4)

Version 1.2:

• Adds support for "manta" (Nexus 10)
• Adds status area (bottom-left) to display information about the device and app.

Version 1.1:

• Adds support for "toroplus" (Sprint Galaxy Nexus)
• Corrects multiple-su-request issue for users of ChainsDD's Superuser app

Version 1.0:

• Initial Release

Known Issues:

• Some users may experience a race condition where the display does not immediately update after locking or unlocking the bootloader. Changing device orientation or restarting the app will update the display.
  
• Users whose phones are in "Tablet Mode" using a custom ROM such as Paranoid Android may be unable to download from the Play Store. Switching back to Phone Mode should resolve the issue.
  
• Nexus 7 is not supported. See this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=2068207 for an alternative.
  

thanks for this OP. sweet app

- deleted now that Play Store link is live -

Excellent application. But a question:

Does this now also mean that a tech-savvy thief would be able to unlock the bootloader without wiping data? Assuming that my phone is rooted and I don't place a PIN on the lockscreen.

I had to backup my ROM before I jumped in feet first. Tested a lock and a unlock and I can now say it worked without a hitch. Thanks to everyone involved in the production of this APP.

Originally Posted by LoveNFC

Excellent application. But a question:

Does this now also mean that a tech-savvy thief would be able to unlock the bootloader without wiping data? Assuming that my phone is rooted and I don't place a PIN on the lockscreen.

Yes, if your phone was rooted and you had no PIN/password the thief could use this to unlock the bootloader without wiping data. But if you were rooted with no PIN, you've got bigger problems than this app.

For example: a thief (or even a "visitor") could run Titanium Backup and then copy the backup off the device.

Originally Posted by LoveNFC

Excellent application. But a question:

Does this now also mean that a tech-savvy thief would be able to unlock the bootloader without wiping data? Assuming that my phone is rooted and I don't place a PIN on the lockscreen.

If your phone is already rooted and you don't have a pin then the thief doesn't need to unlock, he can just walk in and help himself.

Segv11, congrats!

If the google play GNs use this to relock their bootloaders will a fastboot unlock do a wipe or will the play store devices still fail to wipe?