The main purpose was to study the concept behind developing spying software. The goal of this project was to develop a mobile phone tracking application for Google Android phones. The application was expected to include the use of GPS and Cell-ID to track the location of a mobile phone.
The Google Android SDK was used to develop the tracking software application. The application was tested on a Google Android mobile phone.
The result showed that the development process of location and maps-based applications was fast while using Google Android. This was because of two main reasons. First, Google Android Provided APIs for location-based services such as GPS and Cell-ID. Second, having Eclipse with ADT plug-in as the choice to develop the application led to an easy means of debugging and testing.
The tracking application was found important to use since it will allow users to trace lost phones or to locate lost people. The application can be developed further by adding a number of features to it such as running in the background, SMS copying and making a spy call.
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION
2 SPYING SOFTWARE MARKET
2.1 Mobile Spying Software
2.2 Antispy Software
3 SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT IN ANDROID
3.1 Google Android
3.2 Developing in Android Environment
4 DEVELOPING A TRACKER APPLICATION IN ANDROID ENVIRONMENT
4.1 Software Requirement Specifications
4.1.1 Product
4.1.2 Hardware and Software Requirements
4.1.3 Scenarios
4.2 Implementing an Android Location Application
4.3 Testing and Signing
5 DISCUSSION
5.1 Benefits
5.2 Drawbacks
5.3 Future Development
6 CONCLUSIONS
Objectives and Topics
This project aims to study the conceptual foundations of mobile spying software and to develop a functional location-tracking application for Google Android devices. The research investigates technical requirements, implementation strategies, and the security implications associated with tracking mobile hardware via GPS or Cell-ID technologies.
- Market analysis of existing mobile spying and antispy software solutions.
- Technical architecture and development environment of the Android operating system.
- Design and implementation of the "Soft2050" location-tracking application.
- Validation through UI, functional testing, and digital signing procedures.
- Discussion of performance benefits, privacy drawbacks, and potential future enhancements.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2 Implementing an Android Location Application
The application has one main activity class, one service class and one receiver class. The activity class named Soft2050.java defines the user interface and handles user interactions. The Soft2050.java has been defined as the default activity of Soft2050 inside AndroidManifest.xml file. In there, if the user chooses use Cell-ID or Use GPS then the class dispatches broadcast Intents events which are responsible for starting for listening SMS arrival. This is performed by receiver class named Soft2050Receiver.java. So during SMS arrival, if SMS body is “1234567”, the application receiver class will start a service through the service class called Soft2050Service.java, and if the SMS body is “2345678”, then the receiver class will make Use of Google’s Cell-ID to retrieve location information. The service class is responsible for retrieving location information using GPS.
Implementing the activity class called Soft2050.java, which displays the User interface (UI) is shown in figure 6:
The first point is to define the resource definition file for the UI. The file is buttons.xml file which is described below.
The first step followed was to define the layout structure and hold all the elements that appear to the user. The Layout is the architecture for the user interface in an Activity. [25; 26]
Summary of Chapters
1 INTRODUCTION: This chapter outlines the growing demand for mobile applications, introduces the concept of spying software, and defines the project scope for creating a location tracker for Android.
2 SPYING SOFTWARE MARKET: This chapter provides an overview of existing mobile spying services and defensive antispy software solutions available in the current market.
3 SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT IN ANDROID: This chapter examines the Android software stack, including the operating system, middleware, and the development tools required to build applications on the platform.
4 DEVELOPING A TRACKER APPLICATION IN ANDROID ENVIRONMENT: This chapter details the technical requirement specifications, implementation process, and testing methodologies for the Soft2050 application.
5 DISCUSSION: This chapter evaluates the performance of the developed tracker, analyzing its benefits, drawbacks, and the practical challenges encountered during the implementation.
6 CONCLUSIONS: This chapter summarizes the project results, confirming the feasibility of location tracking on Android and suggesting future directions for the software.
Keywords
Android, Location Tracking, GPS, Cell-ID, Spying Software, Mobile Application, Software Development, Soft2050, SMS, Geocoding, Android SDK, Security, Privacy, Mobile OS, BroadcastReceiver
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the conceptual study and practical development of a mobile tracking application for the Google Android platform, specifically utilizing GPS and Cell-ID for location retrieval.
Which application is developed in this project?
The project documents the development of a software application named "Soft2050", designed to track the location of an Android device via secret SMS commands.
What is the core research question?
The study aims to determine if an Android application can effectively track a device's location and provide coordinates to an owner using background services and SMS-based triggers.
Which methodologies are employed in this development?
The development follows a standard Android software lifecycle, including requirement specification, UI design, background service implementation, and black-box testing methodologies.
What topics are covered in the main section of the work?
The main section covers the analysis of the spying software market, the architecture of the Android OS, the specific implementation of the tracking logic (including Intent and BroadcastReceiver usage), and the testing/signing process.
What are the primary characteristics of the software?
The software is characterized by its ability to function in the background, its reliance on specific SMS triggers for activation, and its integration with Google Maps services.
How does the application retrieve location data when GPS is disabled?
In cases where GPS is disabled or unavailable, the application utilizes Cell-ID identification to resolve the device's approximate location through Google's Cell-ID database.
What role does the "secret SMS" play?
The secret SMS acts as an authentication mechanism; the application only initiates tracking if the incoming message body contains the specific predefined password string.
Why does the developer discuss privacy?
The author discusses privacy to acknowledge the controversial nature of spying software, noting that while the technology can assist in finding lost devices, it also poses significant risks to personal privacy.
What are the identified future improvements for this application?
Proposed future improvements include making the application completely invisible to the user, implementing silent SMS functionality, and adding "spy call" features to enable remote environment monitoring.
- Citation du texte
- Fissha SeyoumTeshome (Auteur), 2011, Spying Software Development in Google Android, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/367040
