That depends on which files you want to access/modify using your file manager.
I assume they find ways, independently of the fact if a device is rooted or not.
sure, but it’s much easier with root for them and all the other bad guys
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sure, but why doing this on a booted rom. you can use TWRP file manager without rooting your device
EDIT: How often do you need access to a system file and why ??
That assumption sounds logic so you may be right. Still i assume the most successful and most used ways are the ones that work most often. And I’m sure there’s only a very small fraction of devices with enabled for access…
That’s correct. So I agree that the need for that can be discussed.
But if you look at that from a developer or tools (here file manager) side I still think it gives sense to implement a root access option to give the user the freedom to decide. This is why I don’t agree that a file manager should not offer that option.
Oh, I never has said something like that.
I just want everyone to think not just 1x but 3 times about whether they need root or if there are alternatives. And if root, then forever or just for a short time, for a backup or something.
I think that many people are routing their phone without knowing why or for what. I hate it (@archie new ‘hate’ for your list 
) that in many HowTo’s on XDA or other sites it says - unlock bootloader - wiping - flashing - rooting. This is crap !!
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well… long story short: replacing a system app (like google play service) is not possible without root.
I assume, you never tried to install microG manually. Lucky you. I was a “poor” (maybe better call it stingy) young man, I didn’t spend a lot of money on phones. and therefore always had crappy ones, whitout lineageOS-Support, and back then “MicroG for Lineage” didn’t exist yet. On my first android phone I had to erase the bloatware in order to be able to install more than 5 apps at a time. apps2sd increased the amount of installable apps up to 20, yay! both just impossible without root.
anyway, I also researched a little about spyware (e.g. FinSpy a.k.a. Bundestrojaner). thank you @harvey186, for getting me to do that. I learned something and I think I will unroot my devices as soon as I am done with the root-dependent job (if even needed). they’d probably still get into my device, but at least they have to work a little harder. according to kaspersky.
explanation:
ootb: out of the blue. (German: “ohne weiteres Zutun”)
edit: just realized, some people also understand: out of the box. same meaning.
Good to hear that I was able to make it a little clearly.
By the way. On most devices I don’t gave installed microG (or google play service). If an app won’t work without microG I’m searching for an alternative. If there isn’t one I have to find a workaround. If there is none, OK, no Problem. I can live without.
Browsing YouTube with the Tor Network might be a good solution in the future for privacy (though the Tor Browser for Android is still in its infancy, so I gather it doesn’t yet keep people anonymous.) Also, it currently requires Orbot, but the plans for the future are to have the Tor Browser for Android run independently.
Regardless, even now, I still think it is a good option. So, to install, do the following:
- Install and then open F-Droid. Select “Settings”, then tap on “Repositories”. You will see an option to enable “Guardian Project Official Releases”. Enable this.
- Within F-Droid, find Orbot. Install it. Now find Tor Browser. Install it (don’t bother with TorFox or the Tor Browser alpha, the former is old and the latter, I think, is the same).
- Open Orbot. Go through it’s guided set up, and turn on VPN Mode. At some point, you’ll be presented with a list of apps which you can make into “Tor-Enabled Apps”. Select “Tor Browser”. (If you’re not given this opportunity during the set up, then just click on the “Tor-Enabled Apps” menu item at the very bottom, which will present you with a list of apps which you can enable for Tor, and then select “Tor Browser”.) Start it (press the onion logo thing).
- Now, fire up Tor Browser, which will take a bit of time to connect to the Tor Network. Once it does, open YouTube, and watch videos, knowing that you’ve made it harder for them to track you.
To test it, just try some site that gives you your IP address (from a quick search I found whatismyipaddress.com). Check it out and see if the site knows where you’re from. When I used the regular browser, it correctly reported the IP address and location of my device. When I used the Tor Browser, the IP address and location was completely different (it was reporting on another device within the Tor Network).
well, you’re also not able to uninstall google play services without root. (but you could use adb root I guess). Maybe you can “deactivate” them, but I don’t think so. Using an alternative OS you don’t have google play preinstalled, though.
You can remove everything without root via TWRP file manger. Deactivating doesn’t work for it. I’m building my own eOS without he default apps.
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@harvey186, I’m not sure if I find your comment amusing or not. But well, I only noted it on my internal quote list, not on the public one, because I like to heed the admonitory words of our community leader and avoid personal attacks wherever possible. But if a confontation cannot be avoided, then it will be carried out communicatively.
When I read the word “hate”, whatever the context, I immediately have the so-called “hate debate” in our country in mind. The constantly growing contempt - hatred of society and fellow human beings - and how we deal with it.
Powerlessness generates anger, anger generates hatred. Since I do not feel faint, I do not feel a sore throat and therefore no hatred is generated.
We must finally stop arrogantly lecturing dissidents “from on high horse” and presenting them as retarded and stupid.We must watch our language.
don’t be such grumpy. enjoy the life. be happy. Love and peace all over the world 
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I’m everything but grumpy, only critical, like my native language and pay attention to what I say.
It has ORBOT inbuild. When starting the Browser it will connect to TOR network via ORBOT. So if you are using a different VPN like TrackerControll you can’t use it. Or you can use TrackerControll
@Anonyme and @harvey186, here is a screenshot of the description of the Tor Browser that I installed. It’s version 68.3.0. Seems your version is a bit newer.
Anyway, the description from the version I installed (coming from F-Droid, via the enabled repository of the Guardian Project) does clearly say that “for this release, you also need to install Orbot”.
I’m curious where you got your newer version from.
I have installed the version in the afternoon. When I have started it, I have gotten the Orbot screen with the button ‘connect’. Don’t you get that screen ??
Yes, I get a screen with a connect button, and it does seem to work whether or not Orbit is also running. I was just going by the description (as shown in the screenshot I provided). So, perhaps Orbit is unnecessary. Still, I wonder why the description of the apk states Orbit is necessary.
Conversely, with Orbit, one can be in the Tor Network using just the regular browser. But yes, it appears, despite what was said in the description, that using the Tor Browser does not require Orbit.