How to Securely Retrieve and Use Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) Using AI

Last updated August 3, 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 Apple Advertising ID in iOS apps.

What is Apple Advertising ID ?

Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) is a system-generated identifier assigned to every iOS user for advertising purposes. This identifier is used to track app installs, measure campaign performance, and personalize ads by ad networks, attribution tools, and analytics platforms. Similar to GAID (Google Advertising ID) on Android, IDFA is user-resettable, meaning users can change it or disable its tracking entirely.

In mobile fraud, attackers often exploit IDFA by spoofing it (faking the ID), cycling it (changing it repeatedly), or using it to simulate fake installs and user activity. These tactics make it harder to track real users and accurately measure app performance.

How Appdome Secures iOS Apps by Collecting the Apple Advertising ID?

Appdome’s dynamic Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) plugin securely collects the IDFA, allowing it to be used for install attribution and fraud analysis. This system-generated ID can be compared with Appdome-generated device fingerprints to detect spoofing and strengthen anti-fraud defenses.

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) Plugins:

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

Appdome account (create a free Appdome account here)
A license for Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA)
Mobile App (.ipa for iOS)
Signing Credentials (see Signing Secure Android apps and Signing Secure iOS apps)

How to Implement Use Apple Advertising ID in iOS Apps Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these simple steps to create self-defending iOS Apps that Use Apple Advertising 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. iOS Formats: .ipa
3. Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) is compatible with: Obj-C, Java, Swift, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other iOS apps.
Select the defense: Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA).

Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) feature as shown below:

Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) feature

Follow the steps in Sections 2.2-2.2.2 of this article to add the Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) feature to your Fusion Set via the Appdome Console.

When you enable Protect Advertising IDs you'll notice that the Fusion Set you created in step 2.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA).

Figure 2: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) 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 Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) feature to your security template.

Navigate to Build > IDAnchor tab > iOS IDAnchor section in the Appdome Console.
Like all other options in ONEShield™, Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) is turned on by default, as shown below:
Figure 4: Selecting Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA)
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 Protect Advertising IDs > Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA).
Note: The checkmark feature Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) is enabled by default, as shown below.

Figure 4: Selecting Use Apple Advertising 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 Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) protection is now added to the mobile app

Certify the Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) feature in iOS Apps

After building Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA), Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) 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 Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) has been added to each iOS app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app.

Using Threat-Events™ for Apple Advertising ID Intelligence and Control in iOS Apps

Appdome Threat-Events™ provides consumable in-app mobile app attack intelligence and defense control when Apple Advertising ID is detected. To consume and use Threat-Events™ for Apple Advertising ID in iOS Apps, use AddObserverForName in Notification Center, and the code samples for Threat-Events™ for Apple Advertising ID shown below.

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

Threat-Event™ Elements Use Apple Advertising ID Method Detail

Appdome Feature Name Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA)

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 Apple Advertising 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.

deviceID Current device ID

reasonCode Reason code of the occurred event

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), iOS developers can get detailed attack intelligence and granular defense control in iOS applications and create amazing user experiences for all mobile end users when Apple Advertising ID is detected.

The following is a code sample for native iOS apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA):

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.

let center = NotificationCenter.default center.addObserver(forName: Notification.Name(""), object: nil, queue: nil) { (note) in guard let usrInf = note.userInfo else { return } let message = usrInf["message"]; // Message shown to the user let reasonData = usrInf["reasonData"]; // Threat detection cause let reasonCode = usrInf["reasonCode"]; // Event reason code // Current threat event score let currentThreatEventScore = usrInf["currentThreatEventScore"]; // Total threat events score let threatEventsScore = usrInf["threatEventsScore"]; // Replace '' with your specific event context key // let variable = usrInf[""]; // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) }

x
1
21
1
21
1
21
1
21

1
let center = NotificationCenter.default
2
center.addObserver(forName: Notification.Name(""), object: nil, queue: nil) { (note) in
3
guard let usrInf = note.userInfo else {
4
return
5
}
6

7
let message = usrInf["message"]; // Message shown to the user
8
let reasonData = usrInf["reasonData"]; // Threat detection cause
9
let reasonCode = usrInf["reasonCode"]; // Event reason code
10

11
// Current threat event score
12
let currentThreatEventScore = usrInf["currentThreatEventScore"];
13

14
// Total threat events score
15
let threatEventsScore = usrInf["threatEventsScore"];
16

17
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
18
// let variable = usrInf["<Context Key>"];
19

20
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
21
}

[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserverForName: @"" object:nil queue:nil usingBlock:^(NSNotification *org_note) { __block NSNotification *note = org_note; dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(void) { // Message shown to the user NSString *message = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"message"]; // Threat detection cause NSString *reasonData = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonData"]; // Event reason code NSString *reasonCode = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonCode"]; // Current threat event score NSString *currentThreatEventScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"currentThreatEventScore"]; // Total threat events score NSString *threatEventsScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"threatEventsScore"]; // Replace '' with your specific event context key // NSString *variable = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@""]; // Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...) }); }];

xxxxxxxxxx
1
20
1
15
1
15
1
15

1
[[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserverForName: @"" object:nil queue:nil usingBlock:^(NSNotification *org_note) {
2
__block NSNotification *note = org_note;
3
dispatch_async(dispatch_get_main_queue(), ^(void) {
4

5
// Message shown to the user
6
NSString *message = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"message"];
7

8
// Threat detection cause
9
NSString *reasonData = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonData"];
10

11
// Event reason code
12
NSString *reasonCode = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"reasonCode"];
13

14
// Current threat event score
15
NSString *currentThreatEventScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"currentThreatEventScore"];
16

17
// Total threat events score
18
NSString *threatEventsScore = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"threatEventsScore"];
19

20
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
21
// NSString *variable = [[note userInfo] objectForKey:@"<Context Key>"];
22

23
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
24
});
25
}];

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...) ); }

xxxxxxxxxx
1
20
1
15
1
15
1
15
2
29

1
const { ADDevEvents } = NativeModules;
2
const aDDevEvents = new NativeEventEmitter(ADDevEvents);
3

4
function registerToDevEvent(action, callback) {
5
NativeModules.ADDevEvents.registerForDevEvent(action);
6
aDDevEvents.addListener(action, callback);
7
}
8

9
export function registerToAllEvents() {
10
registerToDevEvent(
11
"",
12
(userinfo) => Alert.alert(JSON.stringify(userinfo))
13

14
var message = userinfo["message"] // Message shown to the user
15
var reasonData = userinfo["reasonData"] // Threat detection cause
16
var reasonCode = userinfo["reasonCode"] // Event reason code
17

18
// Current threat event score
19
var currentThreatEventScore = userinfo["currentThreatEventScore"]
20

21
// Total threat events score
22
var threatEventsScore = userinfo["threatEventsScore"]
23

24
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
25
// var variable = userinfo["<Context Key>"]
26

27
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
28
);
29
}

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...) } }

x
27

1
RegisterReceiver(new ThreatEventReceiver(), new IntentFilter(""));
2

3
class ThreatEventReceiver : BroadcastReceiver
4
{
5
public override void OnReceive(Context context, Intent intent)
6
{
7
// Message shown to the user
8
String message = intent.GetStringExtra("message");
9

10
// Threat detection cause
11
String reasonData = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonData");
12

13
// Event reason code
14
String reasonCode = intent.GetStringExtra("reasonCode");
15

16
// Current threat event score
17
String currentThreatEventScore = intent.GetStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore");
18

19
// Total threat events score
20
String threatEventsScore = intent.GetStringExtra("threatEventsScore");
21

22
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
23
// String variable = intent.GetStringExtra("<Context Key>");
24

25
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
26
}
27
}

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...) } );

x

1
NSNotificationCenter.DefaultCenter.AddObserver(
2
(NSString)"", // Threat-Event Identifier
3
delegate (NSNotification notification)
4
{
5
// Message shown to the user
6
var message = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("message");
7

8
// Threat detection cause
9
var reasonData = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonData");
10

11
// Event reason code
12
var reasonCode = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("reasonCode");
13

14
// Current threat event score
15
var currentThreatEventScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("currentThreatEventScore");
16

17
// Total threat events score
18
var threatEventsScore = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("threatEventsScore");
19

20
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
21
// var variable = notification.UserInfo.ObjectForKey("<Context Keys>");
22

23
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
24
}
25
);

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...) });

xxxxxxxxxx
1
20
1
15
1
15
1
15
2
29

1
window.broadcaster.addEventListener("", function(userInfo) {
2
var message = userInfo.message // Message shown to the user
3
var reasonData = userInfo.reasonData // Threat detection cause
4
var reasonCode = userInfo.reasonCode // Event reason code
5

6
// Current threat event score
7
var currentThreatEventScore = userInfo.currentThreatEventScore
8

9
// Total threat events score
10
var threatEventsScore = userInfo.threatEventsScore
11

12
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
13
// var variable = userInfo.<Context Keys>
14

15
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
16
});

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...) }

x

1
import 'dart:async';
2
import 'package:flutter/material.dart';
3
import 'package:flutter/services.dart';
4

5
class PlatformChannel extends StatefulWidget {
6
const PlatformChannel({super.key});
7

8
@override
9
State<PlatformChannel> createState() => _PlatformChannelState();
10
}
11

12
class _PlatformChannelState extends State<PlatformChannel> {
13
// Replace with your EventChannel name
14
static const String _eventChannelName = "";
15
static const EventChannel _eventChannel = EventChannel(_eventChannelName);
16

17
@override
18
void initState() {
19
super.initState();
20
_eventChannel.receiveBroadcastStream().listen(_onEvent, onError: _onError);
21
}
22

23
void _onEvent(Object? event) {
24
setState(() {
25
// Adapt this section based on your specific event data structure
26
var eventData = event as Map;
27

28
// Example: Accessing 'externalID' field from the event
29
var externalID = eventData['externalID'];
30

31
// Customize the rest of the fields based on your event structure
32
String message = eventData['message']; // Message shown to the user
33
String reasonData = eventData['reasonData']; // Threat detection cause
34
String reasonCode = eventData['reasonCode']; // Event reason code
35

36
// Current threat event score
37
String currentThreatEventScore = eventData['currentThreatEventScore'];
38

39
// Total threat events score
40
String threatEventsScore = eventData['threatEventsScore'];
41

42
// Replace '<Context Key>' with your specific event context key
43
// String variable = eventData['<Context Keys>'];
44
});
45
}
46

47
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
48
}

Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured iOS Apps by using Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA). 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 Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA)

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.

Related Articles:

How to Protect iOS Apps With IDAnchor Using AI

How to Protect Android Apps With IDAnchor Using AI

How to Protect Mobile Apps With Mobile Device ID Using AI

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 Securely Retrieve and Use Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) Using AI

What is Apple Advertising ID ?

How Appdome Secures iOS Apps by Collecting the Apple Advertising ID?

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) Plugins:

How to Implement Use Apple Advertising ID in iOS 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: Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA).

Add the Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) feature to your security template.

Certify the Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA) feature in iOS Apps

Using Threat-Events™ for Apple Advertising ID Intelligence and Control in iOS Apps

Related Articles:

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 Apple Advertising ID Method Detail
Appdome Feature Name	Protect Apple Advertising ID (IDFA)
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 Apple Advertising 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.
deviceID	Current device ID
reasonCode	Reason code of the occurred event
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.