How to Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Android in Android Games
Learn to Detect Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device in Android apps, in mobile CI/CD with a Data-Driven DevSecOps™ build system.
What is GameGuardian?
GameGuardian is a powerful game cheating/ hacking/ alteration tool (also known as a cheat engine) for Android. It is an Android app that is used for modifying, hacking, and cheating in mobile games primarily by editing the memory of a live mobile game. Using GameGuardian, hackers can perform modifications such as altering in-game money/coins, changing the app/game’s internal clock to gain a relative advantage against other players, modifying or bypassing in-app purchases, and bypassing licensing checks.
While GameGuardian partially functions inside a virtual space, with apps such as Parallel Spaces, it works best on rooted devices. In addition, GameGuardian’s sophisticated root hiding and root cloaking features work even better on rooted devices, as GameGuardian operates with a higher level of privilege than most detection mechanisms and can therefore evade detection.
How does Appdome Detect the Presence of GameGuardian on a Rooted Device?
To detect and block GameGuardian on rooted devices, even when GameGuardian is using root privileges to hide itself, Appdome requests root access for itself through an app permission request to the mobile user. If the permission request is approved, Appdome will use the root access it has been granted in order to detect and block GameGuardian; if the user denies the permission request, a different Threat Event will be sent (UserDeniedRootRequest).
Detecting Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device on Android apps by Using Appdome
On Appdome, follow these 3 simple steps to create self-defending Android Apps that Detect Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device without an SDK or gateway:
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Upload the Mobile App to Appdome.
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Upload an app to Appdome’s Mobile App Security Build System
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Upload Method: Appdome Console or DEV-API
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Android Formats: .apk or .aab
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Build the feature: Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device.
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Building Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device by using Appdome’s DEV-API:
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Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device feature as shown below:
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Follow the steps in Sections 2.2.1-2.2.2 of this article, Building the Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device feature via Appdome Console, to add the Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device feature to this Fusion Set.
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Open the Fusion Set Detail Summary by clicking the “...” symbol on the far-right corner of the Fusion Set, as shown in Figure 1 above, and get the Fusion Set ID from the Fusion Set Detail Summary (as shown below):
Figure 2: Fusion Set Detail Summary
Note: Annotating the Fusion Set to identify the protection(s) selected is optional only (not mandatory). -
Follow the instructions below to use the Fusion Set ID inside any standard mobile DevOps or CI/CD toolkit like Bitrise, App Center, Jenkins, Travis, Team City, Cirlce CI or other system:
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Build an API for the app – for instructions, see the tasks under Appdome API Reference Guide
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Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository
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Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device feature
Note: Naming the Fusion Set to correspond to the protection(s) selected is for illustration purposes only (not required). -
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Building the Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device feature via Appdome Console
To build the Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device protection by using Appdome Console, follow the instructions below.
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Where: Inside the Appdome Console, go to Build > Anti Fraud Tab > Mobile Cheat Prevention section
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How: Toggle (turn ON) Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device, as shown below.
Figure 3: Detect Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device option
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When you select the Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device you'll notice that your Fusion Set you created in step 2.1.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device
Figure 4: Fusion Set that displays the newly added Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device protection
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Select the Threat-Event™ in-app mobile Threat Defense and Intelligence policy for Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device:
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Threat-Events™ OFF > In-App Defense
If the Threat-Events™ setting is cleared (not selected). Appdome will detect and defend the user and app by enforcing Detect Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device.
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Threat-Events™ ON > In-App Detection
When this setting is used, Appdome detects that GameGuardian is running on a rooted device and passes Appdome’s Threat-Event™ attack intelligence to the app’s business logic for processing, enforcement, and user notification. For more information on consuming and using Appdome Threat-Events™ in the app, see section Using Threat-Events™ for Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps.
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Threat-Events™ ON > In-App Defense
When this setting is used, Appdome detects and defends against Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device (same as Appdome Enforce) and passes Appdome’s Threat-Event™ attack intelligence the app’s business logic for processing. For more information on consuming and using Appdome Threat-Events™ in the app, see section Using Threat-Events™ for Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device Intelligence and Control in Mobile Apps.
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Click Build My App at the bottom of the Build Workflow (shown in Figure 3).
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Congratulations! The Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device protection is now added to the mobile app -
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Certify the Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device feature in Android Apps.
After building Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device, Appdome generates a Certified Secure™ certificate to guarantee that the Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device protection has been added and is protecting the app. To verify that the Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device 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 Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device has been added to each Android app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app
Using Threat-Events™ for Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device Intelligence and Control in Android Apps
Appdome Threat-Events™ provides consumable in-app mobile app attack intelligence and defense control when Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device is detected. To consume and use Threat-Events™ for Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device in Android Apps, use registerReceiver in the Application OnCreate, and the code samples for Threat-Events™ for Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device shown below.
The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device are:
Threat-Event™ Elements | Detect Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device Method Detail |
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Appdome Feature Name | Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device |
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 | |
Visible in ThreatScope™ | |
Developer Parameters for Detecting Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device Threat-Event™ | |
Threat-Event NAME | UserDeniedRootRequest |
Threat-Event DATA | reasonData |
Threat-Event CODE | reasonCode |
Threat-Event REF | 6915 |
Threat-Event SCORE | |
currentThreatEventScore | Current Threat-Event score |
threatEventsScore | Total Threat-events score |
Threat-Event Context Keys | |
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 |
deviceID | Current device ID |
reasonCode | Reason code of the occured event |
buildDate | Appdome fusion date of the current application |
devicePlatform | OS name of the current device |
carrierName | Carrier name of the current device |
updatedOSVersion | Is the OS version up to date |
deviceBrand | Brand of the device |
deviceBoard | Board of the device |
buildUser | Build user |
buildHost | Build host |
sdkVersion | Sdk version |
timeZone | Time zone |
deviceFaceDown | Is the device face down |
locationLong | Location long |
locationLat | Location lat |
locationState | Location state |
wifiSsid | Wifi SSID |
wifiSsidPermissionStatus | Wifi SSID permission status |
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 Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device is detected.
The following is a code sample for native Android apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device:
IntentFilter intentFilter = new IntentFilter();
intentFilter.addAction("UserDeniedRootRequest");
registerReceiver(new BroadcastReceiver() {
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
String currentThreatEventScore = intent.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore"); // Current threat event score
String threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore"); // Total threat events score
String variable = intent.getStringExtra("<Context Key>"); // Any other event specific context key
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
}
}, intentFilter);
val intentFilter = IntentFilter()
intentFilter.addAction("UserDeniedRootRequest")
registerReceiver(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
var currentThreatEventScore = intent.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore") // Current threat event score
var threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore") // Total threat events score
var variable = intent.getStringExtra("<Context Key>") // Any other event specific context key
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
}
}, intentFilter)
const { ADDevEvents } = NativeModules;
const aDDevEvents = new NativeEventEmitter(ADDevEvents);
function registerToDevEvent(action, callback) {
NativeModules.ADDevEvents.registerForDevEvent(action);
aDDevEvents.addListener(action, callback);
}
export function registerToAllEvents() {
registerToDevEvent(
"UserDeniedRootRequest",
(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
var currentThreatEventScore = userinfo["currentThreatEventScore"] // Current threat event score
var threatEventsScore = userinfo["threatEventsScore"] // Total threat events score
var variable = userinfo["<Context Key>"] // Any other event specific context key
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
);
}
RegisterReceiver(new ThreatEventReceiver(), new IntentFilter("UserDeniedRootRequest"));
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
String currentThreatEventScore = intent.getStringExtra("currentThreatEventScore"); // Current threat event score
String threatEventsScore = intent.getStringExtra("threatEventsScore"); // Total threat events score
String variable = intent.getStringExtra("<Context Key>"); // Any other event specific context key
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
}
}
window.broadcaster.addEventListener("UserDeniedRootRequest", 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
var currentThreatEventScore = userInfo.currentThreatEventScore // Current threat event score
var threatEventsScore = userInfo.threatEventsScore // Total threat events score
var variable = userInfo.<Context Key> // Any other event specific context key
// Your logic goes here (Send data to Splunk/Dynatrace/Show Popup...)
});
Prerequisites to Using Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device:
To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Detect Game Guardian on a Rooted Android device , you’ll need:
- Appdome account (create a free Appdome account here)
- A license for Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device
- Mobile App (.apk or .aab For Android)
- Signing Credentials (see Signing Secure Android apps and Signing Secure iOS apps)
Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured Android Apps by using Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device. 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 Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device
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.
All apps protected by Appdome are fully compatible with any public app store, including Apple App Store, Google Play, Huawei App Gallery and more.
Features Similar to Detect GameGuardian on Rooted Device
Here are a few related resources:
How to Block GameGuardian, Prevent Android Game Cheating
How to Block Speed Hacking, Prevent Mobile Game Cheating
How to Block Jailbreak Bypass Tools in iOS Apps
Prevent Jailbreak Bypass and Jailbreak Hiding
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!
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