How to Protect Android Apps With GSF ID Using AI

Last updated July 31, 2025 by Appdome

This Knowledge Base article describes how to use Appdome’s AI in your CI/CD pipeline to continuously deliver plugins that Use GSF ID in Android apps.

What is GSF ID?

The Google Services Framework ID (GSF ID) is a persistent identifier generated by Google Play services and tied to the Android operating system. It is commonly used by app developers and device management systems to associate a device with a user account or app installation. Unlike resettable identifiers like GAID, the GSF ID is more stable across reinstalls and system updates, making it a useful signal for device recognition in analytics, user behavior tracking, and certain fraud prevention workflows. However, while the GSF ID adds context about the environment in which an app is running, it is not inherently secure and can be spoofed or manipulated under certain conditions, especially in rooted or synthetic environments.

How Appdome Protects Android Apps With GSF ID

Appdome’s dynamic IDAnchor plugin for Android securely retrieves the Google Services Framework ID and embeds it into the Mobile Device ID and IDAnchor payload. If the app already includes the READ_GSERVICES permission, GSF ID is automatically collected and shown as a green checkmark in the Appdome UI. If the permission is not present, developers can enable GSF ID collection using a toggle (default OFF), which will insert the required permission at build time. This allows mobile teams to incorporate GSF ID as one of several device signals used to strengthen identity verification.

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's GSF ID Plugins:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Use GSF ID , you’ll need:

Appdome account (create a free Appdome account here)
A license for GSF ID
Mobile App (.apk or .aab for Android)
Signing Credentials (see Signing Secure Android apps and Signing Secure iOS apps)

How to Implement Use GSF ID in Android Apps Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending Android Apps that Use GSF ID without an SDK or gateway:

Designate the Mobile App to be protected.
1. Upload an app via the Appdome Mobile Defense platform GUI or via Appdome’s DEV-API or CI/CD Plugins.
2. Android Formats: .apk or .aab
3. GSF ID is compatible with: Java, JS, C++, C#, Kotlin, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other Android apps.
Select the defense: GSF ID.

Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the GSF ID feature as shown below:

Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the GSF ID feature

Follow the steps in Sections 2.2-2.2.2 of this article to add the GSF ID feature to your Fusion Set via the Appdome Console.

When you select the GSF ID you'll notice that the Fusion Set you created in step 2.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains GSF ID.

Figure 2: Fusion Set that displays the newly added GSF ID protection
Note: Annotating the Fusion Set to identify the protection(s) selected is optional only (not mandatory).

Open the Fusion Set Detail Summary by clicking the “...” symbol on the far-right corner of the Fusion Set. Copy the Fusion Set ID from the Fusion Set Detail Summary (as shown below):

Figure 3: Fusion Set Detail Summary

Follow the instructions below to use the Fusion Set ID inside any standard mobile DevOps or CI/CD toolkit like Bitrise, Jenkins, Travis, Team City, Circle CI or other system:

Refer to the Appdome API Reference Guide for API building instructions.

Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository.

Add the GSF ID feature to your security template.

Navigate to Build > IDAnchor tab > Android IDAnchor section in the Appdome Console.
Like all other options in ONEShield™, GSF ID is turned on by default, as shown below:
Figure 4: Selecting GSF ID
Note: The App Compromise Notification contains an easy to follow default remediation path for the mobile app end user. You can customize this message as required to achieve brand specific support, workflow or other messaging.

Toggle On > GSF ID.

Figure 4: Selecting Use GSF ID

Initiate the build command either by clicking Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 4) or via your CI/CD as described in Section 2.1.4.

Congratulations! The GSF ID protection is now added to the mobile app

Certify the GSF ID feature in Android Apps

After building GSF ID, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the GSF ID protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the GSF ID protection has been added to the mobile app, locate the protection in the Certified Secure™ certificate as shown below:

Figure 5: Certified Secure™ certificate

Each Certified Secure™ certificate provides DevOps and DevSecOps organizations the entire workflow summary, audit trail of each build, and proof of protection that GSF ID has been added to each Android app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that GSF ID and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app.

Using Threat-Events™ for GSF ID Intelligence and Control in Android Apps

Appdome Threat-Events™ provides consumable in-app mobile app attack intelligence and defense control when GSF ID is detected. To consume and use Threat-Events™ for GSF ID in Android Apps, use registerReceiver in the Application OnCreate, and the code samples for Threat-Events™ for GSF ID shown below.

The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for GSF ID are:

Threat-Event™ Elements Use GSF ID Method Detail

Appdome Feature Name GSF ID

Threat-Event Mode

OFF, IN-APP DEFENSE Appdome detects, defends and notifies user (standard OS dialog) using customizable messaging.

ON, IN-APP DETECTION Appdome detects the attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (app chooses how and when to enforce).

ON, IN-APP DEFENSE Uses Appdome Enforce mode for any attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (gather intel on attacks and threats without losing any protection).

Certified Secure™ Threat Event Check x

Visible in ThreatScope™ x

Developer Parameters for Using GSF ID Threat-Event™

Threat-Event NAME

Threat-Event DATA reasonData

Threat-Event CODE reasonCode

Threat-Event SCORE
currentThreatEventScore Current Threat-Event score

threatEventsScore Total Threat-events score

Threat-Event Context Keys

Timestamp The exact time the threat event was triggered, recorded in milliseconds since epoch

message Message displayed for the user on event

externalID The external ID of the event which can be listened via Threat Events

osVersion OS version of the current device

deviceModel Current device model

deviceManufacturer The manufacturer of the current device

fusedAppToken The task ID of the Appdome fusion of the currently running app

kernelInfo Info about the kernel: system name, node name, release, version and machine.

carrierPlmn PLMN of the device. Only available for Android devices.

deviceID Current device ID

reasonCode Reason code of the occurred event

deviceBrand Brand of the device

deviceBoard Board of the device

buildUser Build user

buildHost Build host

sdkVersion Sdk version

threatCode The last six characters of the threat code specify the OS, allowing the Threat Resolution Center to address the attack on the affected device.

With Threat-Events™ enabled (turned ON), Android developers can get detailed attack intelligence and granular defense control in Android applications and create amazing user experiences for all mobile end users when GSF ID is detected.

The following is a code sample for native Android apps, which uses all values in the specification above for GSF ID:

Important! Replace all placeholder instances of <Context Key> with the specific name of your threat event context key across all language examples. This is crucial to ensure your code functions correctly with the intended event data. For example, The <Context Key> could be the message, externalID, OS Version, reason code, etc.

IntentFilter intentFilter = new IntentFilter(); intentFilter.addAction(""); BroadcastReceiver threatEventReceiver = new BroadcastReceiver() { @Override public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) { String message = intent.getStringExtra("message"); // Message shown to the user String reasonData = intent.getStringExtra("reasonData"); // Threat detection cause String reasonCode = intent.getStringExtra("reasonCode"); // Event reason code // Current threat event score String currentThreatEventScore = intent.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore"); // Total threat events score String threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore"); // Replace '' with your specific event context key // String variable = intent.getStringExtra(""); // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) } }; if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) { registerReceiver(threatEventReceiver, intentFilter, Context.RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED); } else { registerReceiver(threatEventReceiver, intentFilter); }

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IntentFilter intentFilter = new IntentFilter();
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intentFilter.addAction("");
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BroadcastReceiver threatEventReceiver = new BroadcastReceiver() {
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@Override
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public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {
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String message = intent.getStringExtra("message"); // Message shown to the user
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String reasonData = intent.getStringExtra("reasonData"); // Threat detection cause
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String reasonCode = intent.getStringExtra("reasonCode"); // Event reason code
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// Current threat event score
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String currentThreatEventScore = intent.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore");
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// Total threat events score
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String threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore");
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// String variable = intent.getStringExtra("<Context Key>");
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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}
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};
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if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
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registerReceiver(threatEventReceiver, intentFilter, Context.RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED);
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} else {
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registerReceiver(threatEventReceiver, intentFilter);
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}

val intentFilter = IntentFilter() intentFilter.addAction("") val threatEventReceiver = object : BroadcastReceiver() { override fun onReceive(context: Context?, intent: Intent?) { var message = intent?.getStringExtra("message") // Message shown to the user var reasonData = intent?.getStringExtra("reasonData") // Threat detection cause var reasonCode = intent?.getStringExtra("reasonCode") // Event reason code // Current threat event score var currentThreatEventScore = intent?.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore") // Total threat events score var threatEventsScore = intent?.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore") // Replace '' with your specific event context key // var variable = intent?.getStringExtra("") // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) } } if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) { registerReceiver(threatEventReceiver, intentFilter, Context.RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED) } else { registerReceiver(threatEventReceiver, intentFilter) }

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val intentFilter = IntentFilter()
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intentFilter.addAction("")
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val threatEventReceiver = object : BroadcastReceiver() {
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override fun onReceive(context: Context?, intent: Intent?) {
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var message = intent?.getStringExtra("message") // Message shown to the user
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var reasonData = intent?.getStringExtra("reasonData") // Threat detection cause
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var reasonCode = intent?.getStringExtra("reasonCode") // Event reason code
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// Current threat event score
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var currentThreatEventScore = intent?.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore")
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// Total threat events score
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var threatEventsScore = intent?.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore")
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// var variable = intent?.getStringExtra("<Context Key>")
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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}
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}
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if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
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registerReceiver(threatEventReceiver, intentFilter, Context.RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED)
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} else {
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registerReceiver(threatEventReceiver, intentFilter)
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}

const { ADDevEvents } = NativeModules; const aDDevEvents = new NativeEventEmitter(ADDevEvents); function registerToDevEvent(action, callback) { NativeModules.ADDevEvents.registerForDevEvent(action); aDDevEvents.addListener(action, callback); } export function registerToAllEvents() { registerToDevEvent( "", (userinfo) => Alert.alert(JSON.stringify(userinfo)) var message = userinfo["message"] // Message shown to the user var reasonData = userinfo["reasonData"] // Threat detection cause var reasonCode = userinfo["reasonCode"] // Event reason code // Current threat event score var currentThreatEventScore = userinfo["currentThreatEventScore"] // Total threat events score var threatEventsScore = userinfo["threatEventsScore"] // Replace '' with your specific event context key // var variable = userinfo[""] // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) ); }

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const { ADDevEvents } = NativeModules;
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const aDDevEvents = new NativeEventEmitter(ADDevEvents);
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function registerToDevEvent(action, callback) {
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NativeModules.ADDevEvents.registerForDevEvent(action);
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aDDevEvents.addListener(action, callback);
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}
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export function registerToAllEvents() {
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registerToDevEvent(
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"",
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(userinfo) => Alert.alert(JSON.stringify(userinfo))
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var message = userinfo["message"] // Message shown to the user
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var reasonData = userinfo["reasonData"] // Threat detection cause
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var reasonCode = userinfo["reasonCode"] // Event reason code
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// Current threat event score
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var currentThreatEventScore = userinfo["currentThreatEventScore"]
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// Total threat events score
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var threatEventsScore = userinfo["threatEventsScore"]
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// var variable = userinfo["<Context Key>"]
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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);
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}

RegisterReceiver(new ThreatEventReceiver(), new IntentFilter("")); class ThreatEventReceiver : BroadcastReceiver { public override void OnReceive(Context context, Intent intent) { String message = intent.GetStringExtra("message"); // Message shown to the user String reasonData = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonData"); // Threat detection cause String reasonCode = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonCode"); // Event reason code // Current threat event score String currentThreatEventScore = intent.GetStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore"); // Total threat events score String threatEventsScore = intent.GetStringExtra("threatEventsScore"); // Replace '' with your specific event context key // String variable = intent.GetStringExtra(""); // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) } }

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RegisterReceiver(new ThreatEventReceiver(), new IntentFilter(""));
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class ThreatEventReceiver : BroadcastReceiver
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{
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public override void OnReceive(Context context, Intent intent)
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{
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// Message shown to the user
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String message = intent.GetStringExtra("message");
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// Threat detection cause
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String reasonData = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonData");
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// Event reason code
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String reasonCode = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonCode");
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// Current threat event score
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String currentThreatEventScore = intent.GetStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore");
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// Total threat events score
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String threatEventsScore = intent.GetStringExtra("threatEventsScore");
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// String variable = intent.GetStringExtra("<Context Key>");
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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}
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}

NSNotificationCenter.DefaultCenter.AddObserver( (NSString)"", // Threat-Event Identifier delegate (NSNotification notification) { // Message shown to the user var message = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("message"); // Threat detection cause var reasonData = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonData"); // Event reason code var reasonCode = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonCode"); // Current threat event score var currentThreatEventScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("currentThreatEventScore"); // Total threat events score var threatEventsScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("threatEventsScore"); // Replace '' with your specific event context key // var variable = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey(""); // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) } );

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NSNotificationCenter.DefaultCenter.AddObserver(
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(NSString)"", // Threat-Event Identifier
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delegate (NSNotification notification)
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{
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// Message shown to the user
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var message = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("message");
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// Threat detection cause
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var reasonData = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonData");
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// Event reason code
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var reasonCode = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonCode");
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// Current threat event score
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var currentThreatEventScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("currentThreatEventScore");
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// Total threat events score
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var threatEventsScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("threatEventsScore");
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// var variable = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("<Context Keys>");
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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}
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);

window.broadcaster.addEventListener("", function(userInfo) { var message = userInfo.message // Message shown to the user var reasonData = userInfo.reasonData // Threat detection cause var reasonCode = userInfo.reasonCode // Event reason code // Current threat event score var currentThreatEventScore = userInfo.currentThreatEventScore // Total threat events score var threatEventsScore = userInfo.threatEventsScore // Replace '' with your specific event context key // var variable = userInfo. // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) });

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window.broadcaster.addEventListener("", function(userInfo) {
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var message = userInfo.message // Message shown to the user
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var reasonData = userInfo.reasonData // Threat detection cause
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var reasonCode = userInfo.reasonCode // Event reason code
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// Current threat event score
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var currentThreatEventScore = userInfo.currentThreatEventScore
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// Total threat events score
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var threatEventsScore = userInfo.threatEventsScore
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// var variable = userInfo.<Context Keys>
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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});

import 'dart:async'; import 'package:flutter/material.dart'; import 'package:flutter/services.dart'; class PlatformChannel extends StatefulWidget { const PlatformChannel({super.key}); @override State createState() => _PlatformChannelState(); } class _PlatformChannelState extends State { // Replace with your EventChannel name static const String _eventChannelName = ""; static const EventChannel _eventChannel = EventChannel(_eventChannelName); @override void initState() { super.initState(); _eventChannel.receiveBroadcastStream().listen(_onEvent, onError: _onError); } void _onEvent(Object? event) { setState(() { // Adapt this section based on your specific event data structure var eventData = event as Map; // Example: Accessing 'externalID' field from the event var externalID = eventData['externalID']; // Customize the rest of the fields based on your event structure String message = eventData['message']; // Message shown to the user String reasonData = eventData['reasonData']; // Threat detection cause String reasonCode = eventData['reasonCode']; // Event reason code // Current threat event score String currentThreatEventScore = eventData['currentThreatEventScore']; // Total threat events score String threatEventsScore = eventData['threatEventsScore']; // Replace '' with your specific event context key // String variable = eventData['']; }); } // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) }

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import 'dart:async';
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import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
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import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
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class PlatformChannel extends StatefulWidget {
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const PlatformChannel({super.key});
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@override
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State<PlatformChannel> createState() => _PlatformChannelState();
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}
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class _PlatformChannelState extends State<PlatformChannel> {
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// Replace with your EventChannel name
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static const String _eventChannelName = "";
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static const EventChannel _eventChannel = EventChannel(_eventChannelName);
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@override
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void initState() {
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super.initState();
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_eventChannel.receiveBroadcastStream().listen(_onEvent, onError: _onError);
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}
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void _onEvent(Object? event) {
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setState(() {
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// Adapt this section based on your specific event data structure
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var eventData = event as Map;
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// Example: Accessing 'externalID' field from the event
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var externalID = eventData['externalID'];
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// Customize the rest of the fields based on your event structure
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String message = eventData['message']; // Message shown to the user
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String reasonData = eventData['reasonData']; // Threat detection cause
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String reasonCode = eventData['reasonCode']; // Event reason code
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// Current threat event score
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String currentThreatEventScore = eventData['currentThreatEventScore'];
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// Total threat events score
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String threatEventsScore = eventData['threatEventsScore'];
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// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
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// String variable = eventData['<Context Keys>'];
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});
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}
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// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
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}

Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured Android Apps by using GSF ID. There is no SDK and no library to code or implement in the app and no gateway to deploy in your network. All protections are built into each app and the resulting app is self-defending and self-protecting.

Releasing and Publishing Mobile Apps with GSF ID

After successfully securing your app by using Appdome, there are several available options to complete your project, depending on your app lifecycle or workflow. These include:

Customizing, Configuring & Branding Secure Mobile Apps.

Deploying/Publishing Secure mobile apps to Public or Private app stores.

Releasing Secured Android & iOS Apps built on Appdome.

How Do I Learn More?

If you have any questions, please send them our way at support.appdome.com or via the chat window on the Appdome platform.

Thank you!

Thanks for visiting Appdome! Our mission is to secure every app on the planet by making mobile app security easy. We hope we’re living up to the mission with your project.

How to Protect Android Apps With GSF ID Using AI

What is GSF ID?

How Appdome Protects Android Apps With GSF ID

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's GSF ID Plugins:

How to Implement Use GSF ID in Android Apps Using Appdome

Designate the Mobile App to be protected.

Upload an app via the Appdome Mobile Defense platform GUI or via Appdome’s DEV-API or CI/CD Plugins.

Select the defense: GSF ID.

Add the GSF ID feature to your security template.

Certify the GSF ID feature in Android Apps

Using Threat-Events™ for GSF ID Intelligence and Control in Android Apps

How Do I Learn More?

Thank you!

Device Binding in the Age of AI

How Persistent Mobile Identity Delivers Stronger API Protection

How App & Install Binding Stop Social Engineering in Mobile Apps

Eliminating Mobile Ad Fraud with IDAnchor™

Threat-Event™ Elements	Use GSF ID Method Detail
Appdome Feature Name	GSF ID
Threat-Event Mode
OFF, IN-APP DEFENSE	Appdome detects, defends and notifies user (standard OS dialog) using customizable messaging.
ON, IN-APP DETECTION	Appdome detects the attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (app chooses how and when to enforce).
ON, IN-APP DEFENSE	Uses Appdome Enforce mode for any attack or threat and passes the event in a standard format to the app for processing (gather intel on attacks and threats without losing any protection).
Certified Secure™ Threat Event Check	x
Visible in ThreatScope™	x
Developer Parameters for Using GSF ID Threat-Event™
Threat-Event NAME
Threat-Event DATA	reasonData
Threat-Event CODE	reasonCode
Threat-Event SCORE
currentThreatEventScore	Current Threat-Event score
threatEventsScore	Total Threat-events score

Threat-Event Context Keys
Timestamp	The exact time the threat event was triggered, recorded in milliseconds since epoch
message	Message displayed for the user on event
externalID	The external ID of the event which can be listened via Threat Events
osVersion	OS version of the current device
deviceModel	Current device model
deviceManufacturer	The manufacturer of the current device
fusedAppToken	The task ID of the Appdome fusion of the currently running app
kernelInfo	Info about the kernel: system name, node name, release, version and machine.
carrierPlmn	PLMN of the device. Only available for Android devices.
deviceID	Current device ID
reasonCode	Reason code of the occurred event
deviceBrand	Brand of the device
deviceBoard	Board of the device
buildUser	Build user
buildHost	Build host
sdkVersion	Sdk version
threatCode	The last six characters of the threat code specify the OS, allowing the Threat Resolution Center to address the attack on the affected device.