Block Android device's Hardware Access Programatically

Question

I have to write an application that would work as 'Device Hardware Admin'. The user should be able to enable or disable any feature of hardware according to his preferences. I am adding the screenshot of application UI below:

These settings are stored in a local database of application. What I have managed to do is as follows:

Step 1: I have registered broadcast receiver for detecting all these actions.

<receiver android:name=".HardwareActionListener" >
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.CAMERA_BUTTON" >
        </action>

        <category android:name="android.intent.category.LAUNCHER" />
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.media.action.STILL_IMAGE_CAMERA" />
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.hardware.action.NEW_PICTURE" >
        </action>
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.media.action.IMAGE_CAPTURE" />

        <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT" />
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.UMS_CONNECTED" />
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.intent.action.UMS_DISCONNECTED" />
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.bluetooth.adapter.action.STATE_CHANGED" >
        </action>
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.net.wifi.WIFI_STATE_CHANGED" >
        </action>
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.net.wifi.WIFI_STATE_CHANGED_ACTION" >
        </action>
    </intent-filter>
    <intent-filter>
        <action android:name="android.hardware.usb.action.USB_DEVICE_ATTACHED" />

            <meta-data android:name="android.hardware.usb.action.USB_DEVICE_ATTACHED" />
    </intent-filter>
</receiver>

I am getting broadcasts for Wifi and bluetooth properly. I am not getting broadcasts on Camera action or USB connection and disconnection.

Question 1: Is anything wrong in intent filters I have used for Camera and USB detection?

Step 2: I want to block the user from using these hardwares. I managed to disable bluetooth or wifi just after user started it by detecting the action in my receiver class's onReceive() method.

if (intent.getAction().equalsIgnoreCase(
                "android.bluetooth.adapter.action.STATE_CHANGED")) {

    int extraBTState = intent.getIntExtra(BluetoothAdapter.EXTRA_STATE,
                    BluetoothAdapter.ERROR);
    switch (extraBTState) {
        case BluetoothAdapter.STATE_CONNECTING:
            BluetoothAdapter mBluetoothAdapter = BluetoothAdapter
                        .getDefaultAdapter();
            mBluetoothAdapter.disable();
        break;
        case BluetoothAdapter.STATE_ON:

            BluetoothAdapter mBluetoothAdapter1 = BluetoothAdapter
                        .getDefaultAdapter();
            mBluetoothAdapter1.disable();
        break;
        case BluetoothAdapter.STATE_CONNECTED:

            BluetoothAdapter mBluetoothAdapter2 = BluetoothAdapter
                        .getDefaultAdapter();
            mBluetoothAdapter2.disable();
        break;
        case BluetoothAdapter.STATE_OFF:
            Toast.makeText(context, "Bluetooth access not allowed",
                        Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
        break;
    }

} else if (intent.getAction().equalsIgnoreCase(
                "android.net.wifi.WIFI_STATE_CHANGED")) {
    int extraWifiState = intent.getIntExtra(
                    WifiManager.EXTRA_WIFI_STATE,
                    WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_UNKNOWN);
    switch (extraWifiState) {
        case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_DISABLED:
            Toast.makeText(context, "Wifi enabling not allowed",
                        Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
        break;

        case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_ENABLED:

            WifiManager wifiManager1 = (WifiManager) context
                        .getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);
            wifiManager1.setWifiEnabled(false);
        break;
        case WifiManager.WIFI_STATE_ENABLING:

            WifiManager wifiManager2 = (WifiManager) context
                        .getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);
            wifiManager2.setWifiEnabled(false);
        break;

    }

} 

So it detects that Bluetooth or WiFi is turned on or connected and turns it off or disconnects it programmatically.

But requirement is that user shouldn't be able to start Bluetooth or WiFi at all. That means disable the button of WiFi and Bluetooth.

Question 2: Is that possible?

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer 1

Relevant APIs are available for android-14 and higher: http://developer.android.com/reference/android/app/admin/DevicePolicyManager.html#setCameraDisabled(android.content.ComponentName, boolean)

Answer 2

Is anything wrong in intent filters I have used for Camera and USB detection?

Yes. For example:

• <category> is not usually used on broadcasts, and definitely not the LAUNCHER category
• android.media.action.STILL_IMAGE_CAMERA and others in your filters are activity actions, not broadcast actions

Question 2: Is that possible?

From an SDK app, no. You are welcome to download the source code to Android, modify it to suit your needs, compile and build a ROM mod from that, then install that ROM mod on whatever devices you can.