On the MyDroidWorld forums, site founder p3droid has recently shared some new and disheartening information about the Droid X. While we reported that the Droid X is locked down with an encrypted bootloader, it now seems Motorola has taken an extra step to ensure no one starts tinkering under the hood.
In the event that the bootloader, kernel, or ROM are noticeably compromised, your Droid X will try to brick itself.
How does it work? While p3droids technical explanation will be far more informative than my brief summary, the technology at work here is known as eFuse. It has a simple purpose: to check the version of the bootloader, kernel, and ROM of your phone against those which eFuse is programmed to look for.
If the check fails, eFuse corrupts your bootloader, rendering your phone completely useless (well, it might make a good paperweight). To fix it, you must take your phone to a Verizon store, and presumably they would have to ship it to a Motorola facility where the necessary hardware exists to resuscitate your device.
This has major ramifications for those who would attempt to find a way to unlock the Droid X; one wrong move could destroy hours, days, or weeks of effort. It would also be likely that Verizon (or Motorola) would also charge for this service, since you are likely aware that trying to unlock the phone will void your warranty.
Facebook
Twitter