People who download the applications from the play store can easily take the APK files for the application using Astro Manager, and other related apps. These apk's are further decompiled to get all the Resources files and codes of the corresponding applications by following a series of steps.
My Question is : How to stop my application by being backed up with Astro Manager. ( I dont want that anyone should take a backup of it)
It is not possible actully that filemanager is not taking a backup of apk.
Android System is take the backup of apk when the app is downloaded and we are able to copy that apk in other folder in sdcard by following some steps but we are not able to delete that apk from the android system as it is prevented by the system.
To restricate the decompiling of apk you have to use ProGaurd see this Prevent Decompiling and also other method are availbale but that are also not 100% perfact.
And apk which is Shared via bluetooth by using MyAPPSharer type app to avoid that application to work in device than you have to use Application Licensing that will check that app is downloaded from playstore or not if not than it will show a dialog as with message pasted by us that you are using illegel version of application etc...
By using Link2SD or other app, you can converse the app in system app. At this stage will not be visible anymore for Astro file manager.
Also, I have tried this:
1. I have installed and run the apk file on SD card;
2. I have installed an encryption app on the SD card (Encryption
Manager); 3. I have encrypted app libraries on SD card (apk file
itself can not be encrypted, otherwise the app will not launch and
run). Launching the app still works, no probs whatsoever. By
deleting the encryption app (Encryption Manager) from SD card, the
encrypted libraries remains still encrypted, and I can still launch
the apk file. Apk file is still visible for Astro file manager, but
can not be backed up/cpoied. When trying this, a message occur: App
protected, will skip back up.
Related
I'm distributing my android application (apk) along with some encrypted audio files in SD card. After installing the apk on the android phone, i want the apk to be deleted automatically. Actually I dont want the apk to be copied by others.
Is there any solution such that apk cant be installed or copied by others?
By distributing it on an SD card you're making it very easy for people to copy. What's to stop them from just copying the card? Even if you come up with a way to prevent this from being done on Android, they could just insert the card into any other type of computer.
i want the apk to be deleted automatically
Automatic deleting no , you can prompt the user for for that at max.
I do not why you want to do this but you can definitely make your app inactive, implement :
x times run policy or implement run for x days only depending on your need but then again when they reinstall the app will work.
So add an online activation module and keep phone details to avoid reactivation
I have developed an android .apk file and I need to put it on my website for OTA installation (For some reasons, I cannot put it on Android Market). The idea is, I will send sms with the link of .apk file to the android device and by clicking the application should start download and installation process.
At the moment, when I try, it is a two step process -
1. it downloads the .apk file
2. I need to click on .apk file to install it.
Is there anyway to remove step 2 (click on .apk file to install it) and by clicking on url of .apk file, it gets downloaded and installed (of course by asking all the necessary permission from user so it is not a security threat to user).
I have done similar thing on Blackberry/Symbian/Winmo and it is just one step process (clicking on the link downloads and runs the installer) so I thought there should be a way on android as well.
Any help would be appreciated.
Regards
Simple answer: No.
If you already have an application running on the user's device, you could register for a special URI and download and open the file yourself. Android itself does not have such an option (for obivous reasons).
I have an application that uses files stored on an the SD card.. I want to release new "modules" which are just data files on the sdcard (but no separate application). I want to used the market to manage install/uninstall/updates.
is there a way with the APK files to create a "files only" installer?
I do have the main app which will place the "default module" files in the Asset folder, and then copy them to the SDcard when executed the first time, but this requires an app to be actually run. I want the "modules" to place files on the sdcard directly..
is this possible?
Looks like APK Expansion already does what you want. It says that the expansion files are unzipped to the shared storage, which I believe is the SD Card.
Google recently revealed "Smart App Updates" for Google Play. This allows users to only download the changes with that update, rather than the entire APK. I have yet to publish an app in the Play Store, but this should be covered in their submission process.
http://developer.android.com/guide/google/play/expansion-files.html
From my android app, I'm downloading an apk from the web, storing it in application's private storage (openFileOutput(FILENAME, Context.MODE_PRIVATE))
and trying to call the android package installer for this downloaded apk by,
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(f), "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
startActivity(intent);
but I'm getting an error which says
Unable to open zip: /data/data/com.test/files/abc.apk : Permission denied
in the LogCat
and,
Parse Error: There is a problem parsing the package
on the phone screen.
Is it happening because the apk file is in application's private storage so the Android package installer can't access it? If yes, is it somehow possible to still get the apk installed (with user's permission of course.) or Am I doing something wrong?
PS: Please don't assume the phone to be rooted.
In addition to Mark Allisons comment, my GUESS is that since you have the file saved to private storage with mode_private, only your application has read/write permission. But you are trying to have the package installer read it which means that the file must be accessed by an External application and therefore should either be MODE_WORLD_READABLE or MODE_WORLD_WRITEABLE.
Or you could save it to external storage where it is world readable by default.
Ok, for now I've figured out a workaround (and which helped me confirming the exact problem also- the problem was that installer couldn't access the apk file). Now, I'm using MODE_WORLD_READABLE instead of MODE_PRIVATE while saving the file in internal storage, and the android installer is able to access the apk and can install it without any error.
Actually, for me the main purpose of using internal storage was that users shouldn't be able to copy the apk file directly (assuming a simple threat model in which a user doesn't have rooted phone, but can browse through the SD card to find the apk and copy it). Though I'm still not sure whether the file is visible to a user now or not? I mean I'm (almost) fine if the downloaded apk can be accessed from an app in the phone, but can't be copied directly by the user.
Would be helpful if someone knowing the exact scope of MODE_WORLD_READABLE could elaborate on the same, specifically whether a file saved in this mode can be browsed in the (unrooted) phone. Also, is it possible to have a better strategy to safeguard the apk while still allowing the installer to access it?
MODE_WORLD_READABLE does say that it can be accessed by whole "world on the phone" so other apps can get it including file explorers. Some programs like es-file manager let you see contents on device private storage even if you are not rooted but don't let you change those files. Why don't you just delete apk file immediately after installation ? Also since you are downloading apk file in your application I am guessing you don't want to use play store but if that is not an issue see Licensing options for your app on: http://developer.android.com/google/play/licensing/overview.html since there is probably use case that covers your requirements.
How can I install an application without any developer tools (Eclipse, Android SDK tools)?
I've compiled and created an .apk file. Now I am gonna send this apk file to my friend.
He is not an Android developer; he doesn't know how to use Eclipse or the SDK.
And I don't want to publish my application to android market.
Is there a way to launch the application on a real device without publishing it or having access to a machine with the SDK?
You can deploy the .apk file on your local server(apache or jboss) with a static IP to make the file available for download. Now just open the download link of the apk file in your mobile browser. The device will automatically start the installation after the download completes.
The way I usually do this is:
Plug in my USB cable to my PC and mount my SD card on my computer
Get the APK file somewhere on my SD card on the phone
Unmount the SD card on my PC, allowing the phone to see the SD card contents again
Use Astro File Manager or some similar app to browse to that file on the SD card and select it, which will prompt you if you want to install the app on your phone.
You should set
Settings -> Application -> Unknown sources
to allow installation from non-Market.
Then, once your application is published somewhere, you can download it an install it.
Also you can use 'adb install ' to install apk's to your device.
Though this approach requires you to have adb available on your computer and adb is part of the sdk.
Another, easier approach, is using DropBox. This enables you to save the apk in the dropbox/public folder, create a URI from there and supply this to your friend. Then have him download the apk. Android will notify him when it's done, so he only has to click the notification and Android will ask him whether or not he wants to install this software.
Try DeployGate. With the service you can generate a download page like this:
https://dply.me/7hmric
Then it will guide your friends to install your app and you can see how is going, e.g. which version is installed or updated, or app is crashed, in realtime.
Though it's a very common question, there were no simple way to achieve it. Even if we can send people an APK file through whatever, they have to change the "Unknown Sources" setting before the installation. We have to take care of this kind stuff everyday. It's simply a waste of time. So we made DeployGate, a tester-friendly private app distribution service to help the developers just like you. :)
Disclaimer: I'm a developer of the service.
Hopefully you will find the answer from here Install Android application on Android Device
Add your APK file to your device SD card and run it, you must allow to install non-market application on your device before you going to install.
Go to Setting -> Application Setting ->Unknown Source and tick check box which will allow to install non-market application on your device
what i usually do is:
1. Through mail: i send the .apk to their mail id.
2. do open his mail in his mobile. and download the attached .apk.
3. it will ask for installation and do run.
If doing from a windows based server with IIS 7.
Setup a website, with a page named default.asp
Add this line to the asp page;
Setup a mime with extension '.apk' and MIME type 'application/vnd.android.package-archive'
When you connect to the page http://yourUrl.co.uk, it will automatically start the download, and include it in the download manager so it can be selected from the drop down menu using default installer.
If the MIME isn't setup correctly then you will have to use a file explorer to open the apk with an installer.
Step-1 : Run Application in AVD First, then Close it.
Step-2 : See in bin/ folder contain AppNm.apk file.Just right click and copy it.
Step-3 : Now Connect Your Phone with Pc and Turn USB Storage on from your phone.
Step-4 : Now go to in your SD card Location and Paste it any location. just remember that location.
Step-5 : Eject/Remove Your phone from pc and check your file in SD card
Step-6 : Now click on it and install....