[Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] masterjx9:
Hello XDA Forums,

I have been a guest on the website for a while now when looking for android knowledge and I usually grasp a good amount of whatever I am trying to accomplish. However, the issue I am currently having I feel is considered IMPOSSIBLE to fix and I want to confirm that by this community.

Phone: Blu

Model: NEO XL N110U

Android build version: 6.0

Custom build version (It’s a stock a downloaded, ill explain in a sec)” BLU_N110U_V10_GENERIC_MARSHMALLOW 05-08-2016 16:30

What happened is that about a year ago or so I updated the android version from lollipop to marshmallow using the OTA update (which is the wireless update). Worst decision ever as I found out that this update gave me 4 specific viruses that sends my information over to a Chinese server. Here are links on the virus:

https://www.droid-life.com/2016/11/15/blu-security/

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/cybercrime/2016/11/mobile-menace-monday-adups-old-and-new/

https://android.gadgethacks.com/new...be-affected-by-adups-chinese-spyware-0175014/

With this problem, I thought “I can just root my device and delete the files… right”? I never rooted a device before, but I have jail broken iphones, modded psps, and ds so I felt like this would be easy……Turns out its impossible if you already updated to that wireless update with marshellow. I also tried unlocking bootloader and that failed super hard as well! Here is what I tried:

1. Tried Kingroot app – failed

2. Tried kingroot on pC – failed

3. Went into developer options and enabled usb debugging and oem unlocking to TRY and unlock the bootloader. – that part worked……HOWEVER

4. Went into the recovery and choice reboot to bootloader. Then connected my Blu phone to my PC, went into Command prompt and typed, “fastboot oem unlock” (I believe I had to download fastboot and adb tools first). – This was painful for me. It gave me the option to unlock the bootloader using the up and down volume buttons. I need to press “Volume up” on my phone to confirm the OEM unlock……..HOWEVER THAT HAS BEEN COMPLETELY DISABLED. The buttons work, but when I need to confirm the oem unlock, it doesn’t allow me to do this. THIS I BELIEVE HAS BEEN PURPOSELY DONE.

5. I downloaded a stock version of my phone’s rom but at a lower android number (5.1) and tried to flash it to the phone using SP Flash tools. – Failed. It would stay illuminated black and the intro sound would come on but I wouldn’t see anything. I looked into that and I believe that is because there is something called version binding where if I update the version build, I can’t downgrade to use the same exploit.

6. Since the phone was bricked, I wanted to try to bring it back to life by downloading the stock rom for my phone at the same virus build version I’m at now and flash it to the phone. – It worked with viruses and all.

7. I Then thought, “Can’t I use open the rom file and delete the viruses I want, then flash it to the phone?” So I tried that by using mtk extractor which allowed me to open the system.img file for the stock rom which contains the android data. From there I went into the apps folder and deleted the 4 virus apps. Then I packaged the system.img back together into one file and then used that system.img when I used sp flash tool to flash the rom onto the phone. – It was stuck on the logo……I can still access the recovery fine and still doesn’t allow me to oem unlock.

This is where I have given up. At this point, I feel like I would need to learn more about the system.img file and what it looks for in the beginning. I just want to fool it into booting without those apps. I know there is something stopping it from booting because when I go into the recovery part and select the option to do a “root integrity check” it tells me those specific apps are missing. Is there any way to change the root integrity check to not look for those apps?

So I know this a lot of information but I need to write this down for all the steps I toke. I hope that this thread can help anyone with a Blu Neo XL device come to some information. If I can confirm from this forum that there is nothing that can be done. I feel then a law suit with Blu is in order and everyone should throw out there compromised phones. I have seen numerous other posts on this subject and so far NO ONE HAS ANSWERED EVEN ONCE. One pore guy had to keep bumping his thread of months until he gave up; atleast tell me its not possible! Here are the link I saw on this from here:

https://xdaforums.com/android/help/tried-to-root-sort-blu-neo-xl-t3559702

Here are my main questions:

Is it possible to access the root (either via pc with command prompt or linux with terminal or even on the device itself) without rooting or unlocking the bootloader (since both seem to be impossible).

Can you extract a system.img file, modify it, then put it back to get together to flash it to a device without unlocking bootloader?

Infact can you modify any part of the rom or .imgs and flash it to spflash tools? (Or maybe I was doing wrong?)

Is there anyway to figure out how to modify the tamper bit if I have to find a way to get around the virus bug on my device that doesn’t allow me to use the “Volume up” button to confirm that I want to unlock the bootloader? (I’m not even sure if this phone has that, I just saw that for this oneplus and thought maybe it can be on all phones in a different way?) Here is a link on that-

https://xdaforums.com/oneplus-one/development/mod-reset-unlock-tamper-bit-t2820912

The goal is get rid of the virus that sends my data back to Chinese servers. Also, the goal is to get an answer from the community here to put this to rest.

If you need any information on this or want me to upload anything please let me know.

Thank you for your time!