Cydia Impactor is a GUI tool for working with Android devices from computers running Windows or Mac OS X. It can be used to reboot the device, enter fastboot mode, access the shell, scan for USB drivers for your device, and a bit more.
But its key feature is to provide root access to many Android devices by exploiting of the Android “Master Key” vulnerability, and if it does not work falling back to a different signature verification bug. There are other tools (e.g. unlockroot, Moborobo,…) or methods to provide root access, but if those do not work or you have troubles installing drivers, Cydia Impactor may be worth a try.
I did try on MK908 and T428 mini PCs in a Windows XP netbook, but for some reasons the software could not detect the USB connection (with USB debug enabled in Android), although Moborobo did. But Benjamin, who tipped me about this application, told me he successfully rooted a Mediatek MTK6577 based phone, as well as a tablet powered by Rockchip RK3066.
If your device firmware has been patched against the two bugs used for the root exploit, you won’t be able to root the device. Currently three device/firmware combinations are known to not be rootable with Cydia Impactor: Motorola Atrix 4D 4.1.1, Huawei Ascend Mate 4.1, and HTC One 4.2.2.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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“but for some reasons the software could not detect the USB connection”
I got the same issue with a Sanei A10 N90 tablet. I suspect this is the windows ADB driver made by Kouch not including the device in the list.
please tell me how to use cydia impactor. I know it will work with my device, but how do I use it? thanks.
After connecting the phone to your computer via a USB cable, a screen will pop up on your phone asking if you want to allow USB Debugging. Press ok and then run Impactor by selecting the first option (start with #drop) and then click Start.
I tried same but still some reasons the software could not detect the usb connection even i tried allow usb debugging then also its same notification@Anonymous
Just got root on a Cubot P9 (MT6572 based).
BTW the title of this post is a bit outdated, since there are linux-32 and linux-64 versions. I had to fix the symlink of libudev to make cydiaimpactor working, but otherwise works great.
@zooba
Did you get the signature bugs unavailable error?