Require a password to uninstall/remove application

Question

I would like to require that a user type a password before being allowed to uninstall/remove my application. How can I implement this functionality?

Answer 1

You could do this by:

• The first time your app is installed, install a separate application/package ("watcher").
• The only classes "watcher" contains is a BroadcastReceiver that listens for ACTION_PACKAGE_REMOVED
• Add a BroadcastReceiver to your application that also listens for ACTION_PACKAGE_REMOVED
• When a intent is broadcast to one of your receivers, check if the other component is still installed. If is isn't (the user just uninstalled it), prompt for the password - if it's wrong, reinstall the other component. If it's right, uninstall yourself.

Answer 2

You can exec logcat and get the start activity intent information. You will find that before the uninstall activity is displayed, there is a text msg such as: Starting activity: Intent { act=android.intent.action.DELETE dat=package:com.comodo.pimsecure cmp=com.android.packageinstaller/.UninstallerActivity } then you can pop a activity ask for password now.