Geohot releases universal root method for Android devices

Developer Geohot, known for the PS3 hack and iPhone jailbreaks, among other things, has released a universal root method for Android devices. The root method should work on any Android device with a kernel prior to June 3.

The method is called Towelroot and works by installing an apk file from the Geohot site. Although according to the developer almost all devices should work, he mentions that the “latest devices” from HTC and Motorola do not work because the /system partition is protected.

Towelroot takes advantage of a vulnerability in Android, but Geohot doesn’t list which one. The June 3 date for the kernel indicates that the vulnerability no longer exists in any case. In the topic on XDA, many users mention that it doesn’t seem to work for their specific device.

The 24-year-old George Hotz, with Geohot as nick, is known for hacks of the PS3, and his jailbreak for iPhone OS and iOS. For a long time, Sony threatened to file a lawsuit against him, but the Japanese company and the developer reached a settlement before the case started.