Android Lock Apps

Question

I'm new here and I've searched for questions to help me but I have no clear answers.

I need to make an application to block other applications on the phone. I've seen several on the market but I want to make one. is there any way of knowing when a user tries to open an application and bring forward an activity? (to put the password).

I tried with FileObserver, but only works with files and directories (obviously). Could I make a listener that captures the Intent of the other applications before starting?

I apologize for my english and I appreciate your help!

Answer 1

No you cannot know when another application is launched without some kind of hack. This is because application launches are not broadcasted.

What you can do is creating a service running on fixed intervals , say 1000 milliseconds, that checks what non system application is on front. Kill that app and from the service pop a password input box. If that password is correct relaunch that application

Here is some code sample

    timer = new Timer();     timer.scheduleAtFixedRate(new TimerTask() {         public void run() {               List<RunningAppProcessInfo> appProcesses= activityManager.getRunningAppProcesses();         for (RunningAppProcessInfo appProcess : appProcesses) {             try {             if (appProcess.importance == RunningAppProcessInfo.IMPORTANCE_FOREGROUND) {             if (!lastFrontAppPkg.equals((String) appProcess.pkgList[0])) {             apkInfo = ApkInfo.getInfoFromPackageName(appProcess.pkgList[0], mContext);                 if (apkInfo == null || (apkInfo.getP().applicationInfo.flags && ApplicationInfo.FLAG_SYSTEM) == 1) {                   // System app                                             continue;                         } else if (((apkInfo.getP().versionName == null)) || (apkInfo.getP().requestedPermissions == null)) {                     //Application that comes preloaded with the device                         continue;                      } else {                      lastFrontAppPkg = (String) appProcess.pkgList[0];                      }     //kill the app     //Here do the pupop with password to launch the lastFrontAppPkg if the pass is correct                          }                       }                    }                  } catch (Exception e) {                   //e.printStackTrace();                 }                }                                      }            }, 0, 1000); 

And here is the ApkInfo.getInfoFromPackageName()

    /**  * Get the ApkInfo class of the packageName requested  *   * @param pkgName  *            packageName  * @return ApkInfo class of the apk requested or null if package name  *         doesn't exist  * @see ApkInfo  */ public static ApkInfo getInfoFromPackageName(String pkgName,         Context mContext) {     ApkInfo newInfo = new ApkInfo();     try {         PackageInfo p = mContext.getPackageManager().getPackageInfo(                 pkgName, PackageManager.GET_PERMISSIONS);          newInfo.appname = p.applicationInfo.loadLabel(                 mContext.getPackageManager()).toString();         newInfo.pname = p.packageName;         newInfo.versionName = p.versionName;         newInfo.versionCode = p.versionCode;         newInfo.icon = p.applicationInfo.loadIcon(mContext                 .getPackageManager());         newInfo.setP(p);     } catch (NameNotFoundException e) {         e.printStackTrace();         return null;     }     return newInfo; }