Skip to main content

The AT&T and Verizon Galaxy S5 has been rooted, $18,000 bounty claimed by Geohot

The phone-hacking community has finally rooted the Galaxy S5 for AT&T and Verizon, unlocking the full power of the device. Thanks to the skills of a developer by the name of George Hotz (Geohot) on the XDA-Developers forums, owners of the flagship smartphone from Samsung can now finally utilize dozens of powerful applications with the help of a special administrative mode for Linux-powered devices like Android.

(To learn more, read our How to root your Android guide and our favorite apps for rooted Android phones.)

Recommended Videos

The root method, called towelroot, is available now on geohot’s website made specifically for the Galaxy S5, though the exploit he found apparently works for a variety of devices, including the Note 3 and Nexus 5. In an interview with Digital Trends, Hotz revealed that the exploit used is actually a vulnerability at the kernel level of Linux, which he ported into the Galaxy S5’s environment in order to establish root access. The vulnerability was patched for desktop Linux users but Android devices like the Galaxy S5 still have the opening to use for getting root access on the device.

gs5rootIf the name Geohot sounds at all familiar, it’s because he’s the developer behind the Limera1n exploit that helped jailbreak iOS devices back in 2010. He was also sued by Sony for getting Linux to run on the PS3 after it was removed by a firmware update. These days, he makes exploits for Android devices. According to Hotz, he recently developed a root for the Galaxy S4 Active, and moved over to Android from his iPhone because of the small screen size. It’s a wonder he discovered the root at all. Currently, he’s focusing more on freestyling than developing root methods for Android.

What’s also noteworthy about this root is the prize that comes with it. While developers usually try to accomplish root methods like these for the good of the community, in the case of the Galaxy S5 there’s $18,000 of bounty money to be collected from the gracious users who offered it up. Unlike an Indiegogo or similar crowdfunded campaign though, the money is not in a single place for him to collect. Instead, each user will have to reach out to Geohot and donate to his Bitcoin address or PayPal account. This means that some of the money might not come if the users refuse to cough it up, but several users have already made their contributions with photographic evidence on the XDA-Developers forums – some as much as contributing $500 to $1000 each. Needless to say, today will be like winning the lottery for Geohot.

Congrats to the Galaxy S5 owners over on AT&T and Verizon, and enjoy all the awesome rooted apps now available to you!

Joshua Sherman
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joshua Sherman is a contributor for Digital Trends who writes about all things mobile from Apple to Zynga. Josh pulls his…
Don’t miss these killer Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus pre-order deals
The multitasking screen on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus.

If you've decided the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is the right model for your S24 upgrade, there are some fantastic deals to help save you money. Shop quickly, because preorders end on January 30. We've pulled the best deals on unlocked phones, and well as some deals from carriers that require you to upgrade your plan or add a new line. Check out our exhaustive list below before you rush into your new Galaxy S24 Plus purchase.
The best unlocked Galaxy S24 Plus pre-order deal
The Samsung Galaxy 24 Plus is a pretty special phone with its 6.7-inch screen offering 2,600 nits of peak brightness, variable 120Hz refresh rates, and a quad HD+ panel. Great camera lenses and smart AI features, it’s a great all-rounder that’s likely to make it one of the best phones around. Samsung is the best place to buy from with the retailer offering up to $650 enhanced trade-in along with a free storage upgrade to 512GB and $75 Samsung credit too. Students gain 7.5% discount as well. Order through our link and you’ll also gain an extra $50 Samsung credit which is pretty irresistible.

The best Galaxy S24 Plus pre-order deals at T-Mobile
If you want to buy one of the best Android phones locked to T-Mobile, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus is great value. You can enjoy up to $1,000 trade-in credit via 24 monthly bill credits depending on the age of the phone you’re trading in. That requires you to sign up to a Go5G Plus or Go5G Next plan, with up to $500 off when you trade in towards a ONE, Magenta, or Go5G plan.

Read more
Don’t pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S24 at Amazon
A person holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra using the Circle to Search feature.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 line of smartphones has been announced, and time is running out to get a pre-order. The phone is officially available January 30, so these phone deals are only available for another day. One of the more tantalizing and obvious offers is at Amazon, where you can get a $50, $150 or $200 Amazon gift card when you buy the S24, S24+ and S24 Ultra, respectively. Sounds like free money, right? Maybe, but there's a better deal on Samsung's site. Let's break it down.

Why you should pre-order the Samsung Galaxy S24 at Samsung
Buy something from the Samsung Galaxy S24 range and you’re scoring one of the best phones out there. That’s going to be good at any price but why not save even more by buying through Samsung?

Read more
Don’t buy the Samsung Galaxy S24 — 5 reasons to wait for the Galaxy S25
The Samsung Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 Ultra seen from the back.

Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus (left) and Galaxy S24 Ultra Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Samsung’s next Unpacked event has come and gone, and it revealed the next generation of its main flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S24 series. Whether you're interested in the base Galaxy S24 or the flagship Galaxy S24 Ultra — or want to go right in the middle with the S24 Plus — all three phones are worth checking out.

Read more