I have previously nervously rooted phones I've owned (Samsung S2, S3) as I wanted to be able to use AdAway ad-blocker, effective not just in browsers (e.g. AdBlocker) but also in other apps. I say nervously because I always found the mode in which these modified ROMs are offered (websites such as XDA developers) a bit dodgy/flimsy. Nevertheless, this has worked well in the past, but I am aware that I might just have been lucky, as those forums abound with bad experiences, i.e. bricked phones, or at the very least tons of wasted time trying to at least make your phone work again even in its stock let alone rooted firmware.
Now I have a new phone, the most expensive I've owned so far (S7 Edge), and browsing these same websites again, I feel just as edgy performing this risky operation. For instance, the S7 Edge section of the XDA-devs website has several rooted ROMs available, however without spending hours and hours it is not obvious what the differences between them are. To name, just a few doubts:
1) how are 'recovery' firmwares different from ones just called 'Kernel' or 'ROM'?
2) in what way does each of those ROMs differ from the CyanogenMod, which I've happily used in the past but for which there is no S7 Edge version released from what I can see? Incidentally, I used Odin to install CyanogenMod on my old phones, rather than a 'recovery'.
3) are there major differences in how the S7 Edge will operate with such a rooted firmware/ROM as compared to the stock one? Specifically, will it be any more vulnerable to exploits etc, given that no-one can really tell whether these ROMs have e.g. built-in trojans?
Given all these concerns about Android rooting, is there any way that adblocking can be performed without rooting? If not, what is the least-intrusive and least-risky way to root an Android (in this case an S7 Edge)?
Answer
It would be better if you split your question into three individual questions, but since they are linked to each other, I'll answer them here for you.
1) How are 'recovery' firmwares different from ones just called 'Kernel' or 'ROM'?
They refer to different things altogether.
Recovery :
Recovery refers to the dedicated, bootable partition that has the recovery console installed. A combination of key presses (usually power + volume up) or instructions from a command line, will boot your phone to recovery, where you can find tools to help repair (recover) your installation, install official OS updates and/or custom ROMs and other stuff.
Recovery firmwares contain a custom recovery file that enables you to do a lot more additional things than what the stock recovery offers. This can include options to re-root your device, a file browser to browse through your files, format individual partitions and more.
Kernel :
Kernel is the core of the operating system that handles requests to and from the hardware, memory and process management and all the low-level stuff that is necessary for Android to be able to run. It is based on the Linux kernel with a few modifications to suit it to Android versions.
Kernel firmwares contain a kernel that, when installed, replaces the existing kernel and modifies the low level stuff in order to tweak the software to make better use of the hardware. Better battery life, higher performance, increased signal reception, etc. are some things a custom kernel can do.
ROM :
A custom ROM replaces your device's Android operating system — normally stored in read-only memory — with a new or modified version of the Android operating system. A popular custom ROM is CyanogenMod, which gives you a host of new options as compared to the original firmware.
ROMs may contain a different Android system altogether or might also include a kernel and/or a recovery. It's best to read the OP on those threads to find out what it contains.
2) In what way does each of those ROMs differ from the CyanogenMod, which I've happily used in the past but for which there is no S7 Edge version released from what I can see? Incidentally, I used Odin to install CyanogenMod on my old phones, rather than a 'recovery'.
This is subjective to the ROM you are referring to. Some ROMs use the RRO-Layers engine for theming, while others use the CyanogenMod theme engine. Some ROMs might have additional features over those present in CyanogenMod, others might have a different user interface altogether.
As to the unavailability of an S7 Edge version of CyanogenMod, this is because official builds aren't made yet or are in the works.
3) Are there major differences in how the S7 Edge will operate with such a rooted firmware/ROM as compared to the stock one? Specifically, will it be any more vulnerable to exploits etc, given that no-one can really tell whether these ROMs have e.g. built-in trojans?
Again, these are subjective to the ROM you choose. Basically, some offer better performance, others offer better battery life, and a few more offer a mix of the two. It depends on which ROM you choose.
There are a few ROMs that might be more vulnerable to exploits than others. Therefore, it is recommended to go for an official build of a popular custom ROM, as they are tested and checked so that they would not contain malware.
Given all these concerns about Android rooting, is there any way that ad-blocking can be performed without rooting?
As @xangua said, Adblock Plus will filter WiFi traffic, but needs a proxy server configuration.
If not, what is the least-intrusive and least-risky way to root an Android (in this case an S7 Edge)?
Rooting is device-specific. There are different ways to achieve root access on different devices. In the case of an S7 Edge, you could try Kingo Root, it has been claimed to work on an S7 Edge. However, be careful, one wrong step can brick your device.
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