Listen for app installed / upgraded broadcast message in Android

Question

Using Lookout app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lookout), I see every time I install or upgrade app, it'll automatically scan this app to ensure it's not malicious.

Follow Lookout, I write a simple app which listen broadcast message whenever each app is installed or upgraded. AFAIK, there are some type of IntentFilter for broadcast message, it is:

• Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_ADDED
• Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_CHANGED
• Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_INSTALL

I hope Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_ADDED is the answer but it's wrong (ACTION_PACKAGE_ADDED: A new application package has been installed on the device. The data contains the name of the package. Note that the newly installed package does not receive this broadcast.) while ACTION_PACKAGE_INSTALL is deprecated.

Can anyone tell me a better way? Any help is welcome.

Answer 1

You can try this receiver and permission. (But this seem only work in /system/app)^^"

<receiver
    android:name="com.your.receiver"
    android:enabled="true"
    android:exported="true" >
            <intent-filter>
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.PACKAGE_ADDED" />
                <action android:name="android.intent.action.PACKAGE_REMOVED" />
                    <data android:scheme="package"/> 
                </intent-filter>
 </receiver>
 <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BROADCAST_PACKAGE_REMOVED" />

Answer 2

Android won't send your a broadcast that you're being installed, but Google Play will. This won't help if your app is loaded through Amazon or through the debugger, but it does allow you to run code if your app is installed through Google Play: https://developers.google.com/android/reference/com/google/android/gms/tagmanager/InstallReferrerReceiver