How to Detect ADB Events in Android Apps

Last updated March 13, 2025 by Appdome

This Knowledge Base article describes how to use Appdome’s AI/ML in your CI/CD pipeline to continuously deliver plugins that Detect ADB by Event in Android apps.

What is an ADB Event?

ADB (Android Debug Bridge) is a command-line tool commonly used for debugging and managing Android devices. However, its misuse can pose significant security threats to mobile applications. An ADB event refers to specific actions or behaviors initiated by the ADB tool, including:

  • Active Wireless ADB: This occurs when ADB is used over a wireless network, allowing developers or attackers to access the device without a physical connection.
  • Active USB Cable: Indicates a connection between the device and a computer via a USB cable, enabling ADB functionality.
  • Active ADB Server: Refers to the ADB service running on the device, which facilitates commands from a connected computer or network.
  • Injected Key Event: Unauthorized key presses are injected into the device, simulating user actions. These events are often associated with malicious tools, such as ClickBots.
  • Injected Gesture: Involves the injection of touch or swipe gestures into the device, mimicking user interaction. These are typically linked to Key Injection attacks.

How Does Appdome Protect Android Apps Against ADB Events?

To protect Android apps, Appdome’s Detect ADB by Event feature detects ADB-related activities, such as active wireless or USB ADB connections and ADB server activity. It also identifies suspicious injected events, including key presses and gestures, which are often linked to ClickBot and Key Injection attacks. By correlating ADB activity with these injected events, Appdome provides context that helps determine whether the events originate from ADB or other sources, even if ADB is disabled. This detailed analysis empowers app developers to effectively secure their apps against potential misuse.

Prerequisites for Using Appdome's Detect ADB by Event Plugins:

To use Appdome’s mobile app security build system to Detect ADB by Event , you’ll need:

How to Implement Detect ADB by Event in Android Apps Using Appdome

On Appdome, follow these simple steps to create self-defending Android Apps that Detect ADB by Event without an SDK or gateway:

  1. 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. Detect ADB by Event is compatible with: Java, JS, C++, C#, Kotlin, Flutter, React Native, Unity, Xamarin, Cordova and other Android apps.
  2. Select the defense: Detect ADB by Event.

      1. Create and name the Fusion Set (security template) that will contain the Detect ADB by Event feature as shown below:
        fusion set that contains Detect ADB by Event

        Figure 1: Fusion Set that will contain the Detect ADB by Event feature

      2. Follow the steps in Sections 2.2-2.2.2 of this article to add the Detect ADB by Event feature to your Fusion Set via the Appdome Console.

      3. When you enable Detect Android Debug Bridge (ADB) you'll notice that the Fusion Set you created in step 2.1 now bears the icon of the protection category that contains Detect ADB by Event.

        Fusion Set applied Detect ADB by Event

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

      4. 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): fusion Set Detail Summary image

        Figure 3: Fusion Set Detail Summary

      5. 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:
        1. Refer to the Appdome API Reference Guide for API building instructions.
        2. Look for sample APIs in Appdome’s GitHub Repository.
    1. Add the Detect ADB by Event feature to your security template.

      1. Navigate to Build > Anti Fraud tab > Mobile Fraud Detection section in the Appdome Console.
      2. Toggle On Detect Android Debug Bridge (ADB) > Detect ADB by Event.
        Note: The checkmark feature Detect ADB by Event is enabled by default, as shown below. Detect ADB by Event option

        Figure 4: Selecting Detect ADB by Event

    2. 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 Detect ADB by Event protection is now added to the mobile app
  3. Certify the Detect ADB by Event feature in Android Apps

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

    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 ADB by Event has been added to each Android app. Certified Secure provides instant and in-line DevSecOps compliance certification that Detect ADB by Event and other mobile app security features are in each build of the mobile app.

Using Threat-Events™ for ADB by Event Intelligence and Control in Android Apps

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

The specifications and options for Threat-Events™ for ADB by Event are:

Threat-Event™ Elements Detect ADB by Event Method Detail
Appdome Feature Name Detect ADB by Event
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 Detecting ADB by Event Threat-Event™
Threat-Event NAME
Threat-Event DATA reasonData
Threat-Event CODE reasonCode
Threat-Event REF
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
failSafeEnforce Timed enforcement against the identified threat
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
buildDate Appdome fusion date of the current application
devicePlatform OS name of the current device
carrierName Carrier name of the current device. Only available for Android.
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 longitude conditioned by location permission
locationLat Location latitude conditioned by location permission
locationState Location state conditioned by location permission
wifiSsid Wifi SSID
wifiSsidPermissionStatus Wifi SSID permission status
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 ADB by Event is detected.


The following is a code sample for native Android apps, which uses all values in the specification above for Detect ADB by Event:


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.



Using Appdome, there are no development or coding prerequisites to build secured Apps by using Detect ADB by Event. 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 ADB by Event

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:

Related Articles:

How to Sideload Secured Android Apps using ADB

How to Block Second Space in Android Apps

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.

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