Is Motorola's Droid X in danger of self-destructing?

For many of us, Android is all about openness: You can use your phone the way you want, and if you're feeling adventurous, there's practically no limit to the amount of tinkering and hacking you can do.

It's no surprise, then, that there's been a bit of an uproar among Android enthusiasts as word has spread that Verizon's new Motorola Droid X may prohibit some of the more advanced types of modifications.

That brings us to this week's Android Power reader question, which comes from customization-curious Android fan Chris J.

Chris writes:

Is it true that you can't install custom ROMs on the Droid X? I heard the phone will brick itself if you try.

What Chris heard is something spreading like wildfire around the Web right now: a rumor that the Droid X has a feature called "eFuse" in its processor that renders the phone useless if you try to install a custom ROM. A custom ROM, if you aren't familiar with the term, is a kind of specialized firmware for your phone. It can give you enhanced performance, an alternate interface, and any number of features not available within the system's default software.

(To be clear, we're talking about a specific type of modification typically performed by a subset of advanced users. This is nothing like the kind of basic feature restrictions you'll find on AT&T's Android phones; the Droid X allows you to perform all standard Android functions without limitation.)

The Droid X lockdown buzz seems to have started with a forum posting at MyDroidWorld.com. A user there published a remark suggesting that the eFuse technology within the Droid X will "blow the fuse" and fail to boot the phone if it detects a change in the system's firmware.

Here's the thing to remember: No one has confirmed this yet. People from the Android hacker community are actively working with the Droid X, but it's still too soon to say anything for certain. The original forum posting, according to its writer, was based on "a bit of conjecture."

That said, a few points to consider:

1. This isn't the first time we've seen this sort of security.

The gang from Boy Genius Report uncovered evidence suggesting that the eFuse technology is present in other Android phones, including the original Motorola Droid and its non-American equivalent, the Motorola Milestone. BGR speculates that the Droid X may be most similar to the Milestone in its setup, a sentiment echoed by Android ROM developer Steven Bird.

"The security on the Droid X is most likely the exact same as the Milestone," Bird writes on his Web site. "Will your Droid X explode from unauthorized tinkering? Probably not."

2. Motorola says the whole bricking thing is a myth.

According to Engadget, Motorola itself has downplayed the idea of the phone blowing itself up if you go under the hood. From a statement published Friday:

The Droid X and a majority of Android consumer devices on the market today have a secured bootloader. In reference specifically to eFuse, the technology is not loaded with the purpose of preventing a consumer device from functioning, but rather ensuring for the user that the device only runs on updated and tested versions of software.

If a device attempts to boot with unapproved software, it will go into recovery mode and can re-boot once approved software is re-installed. Checking for a valid software configuration is a common practice within the industry to protect the user against potential malicious software threats.

3. The game is only beginning.

Remember what hacking, by its very definition, actually is. Android hackers remain optimistic they'll find a way to circumvent the challenges on the Droid X and enable the ability to fully unlock the phone. Even Steve Kondik -- better known as Cyanogen, one of the most famous names in the world of Android software modification -- does not appear overly concerned.

"The Droid X has the same protection as the Milestone and whoever started this made bad assumptions," Kondik said via Twitter. "I still wish they would have made it like the Droid, but someone will hack it, I'm sure."

This story is from the new Android Power blog at Computerworld. Follow @AndroidPower on Twitter or subscribe via RSS to make sure you don't miss a beat.