B3nny

Can an Android application be programmed to set up a security policy on android OS?

Security policy example that i want:
app1 needs to be running to be able to run app2 or app3.

And then let app1 detect if app2 or app3 is being started.
If yes then: pop up on screen and ask for authentication.

(the policy should only be editable with the pin code of the user.)

jiminaus

An app can always "run" another app. It's just a question of starting an Intent that can be fulfilled by the other app.

If you haven't written the other apps, I don't know about being able to intercepting the startup of another app. At best you might be able to listen for a broadcast that an app is starting. I haven't investigated this.

B3nny

No, I have not written the other apps. to give you an image: examples for the other apps can be Facebook/Twitter.

The problem is: smartphone users don't want always to enter their password for apps like facebook/twitter. Therefore they use the remember password option, but this obsoletes the security aspect.

I want to create application that gives users the ability to choose a different way of authenticating an user. (for example: facial recognition)


So when an user starts facebook. Then my app will sort of lock the phone until it has the correct authentication. (Users face infront of the camera)
And in the background, facebook can do the login proces with the rememberd password option enabled.

Is this possible for an android app? and how? or where can i find the solution? =)

Last edited by B3nny; February 1st, 2012 at 08:54 AM.

jonbonazza

The Android OS does not broadcast any intents on app startup. FOr security purposes, one app cannot interact with another app unless both apps are explicitly programmed to provide such functionality.

In other words, if you didn't program the other app, you can't do what you wish to do.