Prevent user to disable GPS

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Hi,

I'm using the Google API (Fused Location Provider) to track a device's location but I need to prevent the user from disabling the GPS. I read a lot of answers but all I've found is: No, can't do, rooting the device or bug exploits. A friend just showed me a parental control app that accomplishes this without having to root the device. About user privacy, etc. The code will be used only in company's devices with the users being aware of this.

At least I need a way to detect if the GPS has been deactivated to notify the user, by the way I can't find any reference to this in the Google API.

Thanks a lot in advance.

Posted 16-Mar-15 9:36am

Member 10205111

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Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter · Accepted Answer · 2015-03-16T09:45:00

Solution 1

Fortunately you can't prevent from user to turn GPS on/off.
It is his/her device and his/her privacy...
What you should do is checking the current status of the GPS[^] and pop a message to ask user to turn it on if you found it off...

Posted 16-Mar-15 9:45am

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter

Comments

[no name] 16-Mar-15 15:50pm

5ed! I like to have devices do what I want.

Member 10205111 16-Mar-15 15:56pm

Check MMGuardian in the app store?

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter 16-Mar-15 16:12pm

Thank you...
See my response about MMGuardian...

Member 10205111 16-Mar-15 15:51pm

Check a parental control app called MMGuardian in the Google store, it allows to disable switching the GPS on/off without having to root the device. Also, I'm aware of privacy, users not liking the app, etc. but this is not for open commercial use but only for some field workers of a company an they are aware of this.

By the way not only we are building a tracking app but also the devices are provided by the company.

[no name] 16-Mar-15 16:00pm

Alright, that's a different story then I guess. But I can't help you with that, I'm sorry.

Member 10205111 16-Mar-15 16:05pm

I understand, thanks anyway for your time

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter 16-Mar-15 16:11pm

MMGuardian do not control the GPS!!!
"How does MMGuardian prevent texting and driving?
When Safe Driving is enabled, MMGuardian will lock the phone when it detects that it is moving at over 10 mph by using GPS based speed data provided by the phone. Once it is locked, the phone user can only take incoming calls from the Admin number(s). Any incoming text message will receive an automatic response generated by MMGuardian.So, in order for this feature to work, GPS has to be enabled on the phone. If not, MMGuardian will lock the phone every 30 seconds. To enable GPS go to: Home screen->Settings->Location (or Location and Security, depending on your phone model), then click on “Use GPS satellites”. MMGuardian depends on GPS data form the phone, so it may rarely lock the phone by mistake if GPS is passing the wrong info. This could happen if the phone is inside a building or in a place with many tall structures. To easily address this issue, you can either use the unlock command to remotely unlock the phone, or set up “Scheduled Unlock” times on the Safe Driving screen in MMGuardian to cover the times that you know for sure your kids are not driving. You can also tell your child to send a text to you using the emergency text button if this ever happens, so you can quickly unlock their phone."
Read and understand!

Member 10205111 16-Mar-15 16:16pm

Thank you for your explanation. Now, you should also read to understand, no offense. I wrote in my question "... I need to prevent the user from disabling the GPS...", in other words, once the GPS is on I need to not allow it to be switched off.

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter 16-Mar-15 16:20pm

As I explained - you can not! MMGuardian can not!
Your only option is check, and ask for...

Member 10205111 16-Mar-15 16:26pm

Ok, thank you, I mean it. I'll check again

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Mar-15 16:29pm

Why do you think that anyone did not understand it? This is you who need to understand: your "I need to prevent..." is just your opinion, not a law... :-)
Tell as the you need to deliver messages faster than speed of light...
—SA

Member 10205111 16-Mar-15 16:38pm

With all the respect, what are you talking about? I'm not enforcing a law or anything neither I meant to start an argument here. Where are those "anyone"? My employer is asking for a feature and I am just trying to deliver that's it. I'm sorry for any inconvenience.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Mar-15 16:42pm

Only Peter and myself participated; I believe we both understood your right; I just confirmed that my understanding was the same as in your comment above.
Please, no inconvenience, but your employers view is also not the law. :-)
Naturally, I do understand that you are not trying to enforce any law, I just say that "I need" is, by far, not enough.
I think your issue can be closed at this point; I don't think you will be able to solve it.
Thank you.
—SA

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Mar-15 16:26pm

Yes, it's very fortunate, a 5.
Another attempt to put handcuffs on the user is dismissed... In good companies, this is considered illegal even when applied to the employees at work...
—SA

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter 16-Mar-15 16:30pm

Thank you...
I agree - do not work for a company that thinks it has to spy on its employee...

Member 10205111 16-Mar-15 16:45pm

Guys, please, chill. What about a rental company that installs tracking devices in their assets, I don't see anyone complaining about this. This is not "handcuffing" anybody but protecting our devices too. We recently saved a tech from paying for a stolen device because we were able to track it and recover it.

If you consider this is something you guys consider you can not or should not answer then just let it be and stop making assumptions thinking you know everybody.

Again, I respectfully apologize for any inconvenience.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Mar-15 17:38pm

It's just a matter of view and ethical priorities. If you think this is protection I called "handcuffing", I consider it handcuffing excused under the name of "protection". And I don't see that anyone is overly emotional to need a chill. And you have nothing to apologize about, this is just normal discussion. Only I would advise you to take into account that this is free community; anyone is free to comment on any other posts, even if someone may not like it. You are free, too. At the same time, we try not to move discussion to personal issues. Isn't it reasonable?
—SA

Member 10205111 16-Mar-15 21:05pm

I take Code Project as a place for a free and friendly exchange of ideas and collaboration, that's why I apologize if I think that someone may be offended for any mistake I may incur while trying to communicate. What started as a programming question was quickly turned into a "discussion of personal issues" like "Another attempt to put handcuffs on the user is dismissed... " just to mention one. How that is related to my CODING question? Now another guy who clearly didn't read thoroughly, telling me I need to learn ethics. None of you have the slightest idea of the context. We are free and not like what others post but we can be a little more polite and professional.

Sergey Alexandrovich Kryukov 16-Mar-15 21:22pm

Sorry if you feel uncomfortable about that, but I think that this is a opinion about your work, which should be considered acceptable (how else?), not about you as a person.

Also, I don't call programming and software engineering "coding". Our topics are wider. All aspects of particular works or opinions should be the subject of criticism. And I don't think that any of us crossed to line and conducted our arguments in personally incorrect way. You, too, carried out your arguments quite correctly, on a personal level, did not do anything inappropriate or rude; I really appreciate that and think that you don't need to apologize for your posts; everything if fine.

—SA

[no name] 16-Mar-15 20:07pm

This is not what you said earlier. Your boss and you may need to learn about ethics. Just because he rents somebody something does not give you guys the legal or ethical right to track the renter's activities. You were the one who posted the question and others have given you the advice you asked for.

Member 10205111 16-Mar-15 20:54pm

And you may need to learn about reading. I never said we rent anything, I gave an example and nobody have given what I asked or at least declined politely like the first guy who answered.

[no name] 16-Mar-15 21:15pm

Fair enough. I did misread that reply but my answer does not change much and revolves around ethics. Many types of questions are posted here. Some are about hacking, spying or viruses for example. The correct answer in these cases is similar to the responses to your question - sometimes harsher.

Member 10205111 16-Mar-15 21:32pm

I understand and I wasn't trying to be harsh so I apologize but as I commented before, the context, that none of you know has nothing to do with any hacking or anything like the sort. Nevertheless, I understand that the issue I raised might be alarming for everybody, I give you that. But if I were to answer a question I would ask for clarification or ignore it before jumping into conclusions.

I can only tell you that our company hires technicians and we provide them with all the tools, uniforms, cars, lodging and a tablet to work for free and they DO know about the tracking in the tablet, not only they know but my question was about a feature they suggested out of some bad experiences they have had in the field.

After witnessing all the non programming answers to my programming question I realize that if anyone posts a solution somebody may use it to do harm intentionally. So, I understand.

Seriously guys, if this was a troubling question just tell me how to close and I will. I meant no harm.

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter 17-Mar-15 0:36am

I believe that now you already understood, that there is nothing personal in these comments...
The fact is that there are - not too much but there are - questions that if properly answered, the answer can be used to make harm. Sometimes it is much clearer and sometimes it a bit hidden...
The most common response to such a question is to dismiss it and tell OP how it is wrong...But it is nothing personal...
In any case you need no apologize, as you were not offending no-one...
You also need no close the question, as the answer is there and the answer will no harm no-one - I hope so :-)
So to conclude it: I have solution (other than no) for you - you can compile your own version of Android for those devices you have and in that version you can control the GPS in anyway you want...