Android Question Trying to intercept SMS messages

Alberto Michelis · Mar 31, 2020

Hi, Ive followed the Erel tutorial instructions in:

Intent Filters - Intercepting SMS messages in the background

Old tutorial. Don't use services. Use receivers. Broadcast receivers are program components that can handle broadcasted messages. These messages usually notify about a system event. There are two types of receivers in Android: statically registered receivers and dynamically registered...

www.b4x.com

but it does not work.

Ive adder to the manifest:

B4X:

AddReceiverText(readsmsservice,
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED" />
</intent-filter>)

Created a Service called "readsmsservice" and complete it like the tutorial.
The service starts ok but it does nothing when sms arrives.

Im using b4a 9.80

Anything I missed?
Thanks

Erel · Apr 1, 2020

Make sure to test it in release mode and post the logs. Do you see the service starting when a message arrives?

Are you handling the permission at runtime?

Note that you will not be able to upload your app to Google Play: SMS and CALL_LOG permissions are no longer available

kisoft · Apr 1, 2020

Show the service code and write what you want to achieve when an SMS appears.

Alberto Michelis · Apr 1, 2020

@Erel, Im compiling in release mode, I see the service starting but because Im starting it with StartService from anothet activity.
In that activity I handle the permissions using:

B4X:

Sub Activity_Create(FirstTime As Boolean)
   
    Activity.LoadLayout("EnvioSMS")
    Activity.Title = Chr(0xF1FA) & "Envio de SMS/MAIL"
   
    rp.CheckAndRequest(rp.PERMISSION_SEND_SMS)
    rp.CheckAndRequest(rp.PERMISSION_READ_SMS)
   
    Timer1.Initialize("Timer1",5000)
    Timer1.Enabled = False
       
End Sub

Sub Activity_PermissionResult (Permission As String, Result As Boolean)
    If Permission = rp.PERMISSION_SEND_SMS Then
        'gmap.MyLocationEnabled = Result
    End If
End Sub

Log:

B4X:

Registo conectado a:  HUAWEI ALE-L23
--------- beginning of main
*** Service (starter) Create ***
** Service (starter) Start **
** Activity (main) Create, isFirst = true **
Params no existe y dbInstalada= 1
** Activity (main) Resume **
** Activity (main) Pause, UserClosed = false **
** Activity (main) Resume **
** Activity (main) Pause, UserClosed = false **
** Activity (enviosms) Create, isFirst = true **
** Activity (enviosms) Resume **
** Activity (enviosms) Pause, UserClosed = false **
sending message to waiting queue (activity_permissionresult)
running waiting messages (1)
** Activity (enviosms) Resume **
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>here is when i push a button and start de service<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
*** Service (readsmsservice) Create ***
** Service (readsmsservice) Start **
*** Service (httputils2service) Create ***
** Service (httputils2service) Start **

This is the service code:

B4X:

#Region  Service Attributes
    #StartAtBoot: False
   
#End Region

Sub Process_Globals
    'These global variables will be declared once when the application starts.
    'These variables can be accessed from all modules.
    Type Message (Address As String, Body As String)
End Sub

Sub Service_Create

End Sub

Sub Service_Start (StartingIntent As Intent)
    'Service.StopAutomaticForeground 'Call this when the background task completes (if there is one)
    If StartingIntent.Action = "android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED" Then
        Dim messages() As Message
        messages = ParseSmsIntent(StartingIntent)
        For i = 0 To messages.Length - 1
            Log(messages(i))
        Next
    End If
    Service.StopAutomaticForeground
End Sub

'Parses an SMS intent and returns an array of messages
Sub ParseSmsIntent (in As Intent) As Message()
    Dim messages() As Message
    If in.HasExtra("pdus") = False Then Return messages
    Dim pdus() As Object
    Dim r As Reflector
    pdus = in.GetExtra("pdus")
    If pdus.Length > 0 Then
        Dim messages(pdus.Length) As Message
        For i = 0 To pdus.Length - 1
            r.Target = r.RunStaticMethod("android.telephony.SmsMessage", "createFromPdu", _
            Array As Object(pdus(i)), Array As String("[B"))
            messages(i).Body = r.RunMethod("getMessageBody")
            messages(i).Address = r.RunMethod("getOriginatingAddress")
        Next
    End If
    Return messages
End Sub

kisoft · Apr 1, 2020

This is a fragment of the code of my application that I had to withdraw from the store.

B4X:

Sub Process_Globals
    Type Message (Address As String, Body As String)
    Dim dane1 As String
    Dim dane2 As String
   
End Sub

Sub Service_Create
   
    Service.AutomaticForegroundMode = Service.AUTOMATIC_FOREGROUND_ALWAYS
   
End Sub

Sub Service_Start(startingIntent As Intent)
   
    If startingIntent.Action = "android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED" Then
        Dim messages() As Message
        messages = ParseSmsIntent(startingIntent)
        For i = 0 To messages.Length - 1
            Log(messages(i))
        Next
    End If
   
    Service.StopAutomaticForeground
   
End Sub

'Parses an SMS intent and returns an array of messages
Sub ParseSmsIntent (in As Intent) As Message()
   
    Dim messages() As Message
    If in.HasExtra("pdus") = False Then Return messages
    Dim pdus() As Object
    Dim r As Reflector
    pdus = in.GetExtra("pdus")
    If pdus.Length > 0 Then
        Dim messages(pdus.Length) As Message
        For i = 0 To pdus.Length - 1
            r.Target = r.RunStaticMethod("android.telephony.SmsMessage", "createFromPdu", _
            Array As Object(pdus(i)), Array As String("[B"))
           
            messages(i).Body = r.RunMethod("getMessageBody")
            messages(i).Address = r.RunMethod("getOriginatingAddress")
            dane1= messages(i).Body
            log(dane1)
            dane2= messages(i).Address
            akcja
            log(dane2)
            Service.StopAutomaticForeground
        Next
    End If
    Return messages
   
End Sub

Sub akcja

            Service.StopAutomaticForeground
            CallSubDelayed(Main, "startalarm")
            StartActivity("main")
            StopService(Me)  
End Sub

Alberto Michelis · Apr 1, 2020

Thanls @kisoft but , same problem, nothing happens, theres no log, FWIW Im running on a Huawey P8lite

kisoft · Apr 1, 2020

Set for tests in the manifest...You have a problem with permissions...

B4X:

android:targetSdkVersion="24"

Erel · Apr 2, 2020

Alberto Michelis said:
, I see the service starting but because Im starting it with StartService from anothet activity

You don't need to start the service.

Not the best code to handle permissions. Use Wait For instead. Also log the permission result.

Alberto Michelis · Apr 2, 2020

Ok, using wait for and not starting the service.
Im asked for Send but not asked for Read.
Logging the permission results...

** Activity (enviosms) Create, isFirst = true **
** Activity (enviosms) Resume **
Permiso send SMS: true
** Activity (enviosms) Pause, UserClosed = false **
sending message to waiting queue (activity_permissionresult)
running waiting messages (1)
Permiso read SMS: false <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Why?
** Activity (enviosms) Resume **

My new code:

B4X:

    rp.CheckAndRequest(rp.PERMISSION_SEND_SMS)
    Wait For Activity_PermissionResult (Permission As String, Result As Boolean)
    If Result Then
        'Flow program continues if true
        'Call a sub or put your routine here
    End If
    Log("Permiso send SMS: " & Result)
    
    rp.CheckAndRequest(rp.PERMISSION_READ_SMS)
    Wait For Activity_PermissionResult (Permission As String, Result As Boolean)
    If Result Then
        'Flow program continues if true
        'Call a sub or put your routine here
    End If
    Log("Permiso read SMS: " & Result)

kisoft · Apr 2, 2020

Are these all dangerous permissions on your application?

Alberto Michelis · Apr 2, 2020

Dont understand your question. I need to send and receive SMS, so this is not dangerous for my app.

kisoft · Apr 2, 2020

android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE. Maybe you still need it. You don't have to guess, just check ...

Erel · Apr 2, 2020

Alberto Michelis said:
Dont understand your question.

You must watch the runtime permissions video tutorial.

Alberto Michelis · Apr 2, 2020

Ive watched the video tutorial, thanks, very goor info.
Both permissions are Dangerous like you can see in the attached pic
This is my manifest:

B4X:

'This code will be applied to the manifest file during compilation.
'You do not need to modify it in most cases.
'See this link for for more information: https://www.b4x.com/forum/showthread.php?p=78136
AddManifestText(
<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="5" android:targetSdkVersion="28"/>
<supports-screens android:largeScreens="true"
    android:normalScreens="true"
    android:smallScreens="true"
    android:anyDensity="true"/>)
SetApplicationAttribute(android:icon, "@drawable/icon")
SetApplicationAttribute(android:label, "$LABEL$")
'End of default text.
AddPermission(android.permission.RECEIVE_SMS)
AddReceiverText(readsmsservice,
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.provider.Telephony.SMS_RECEIVED" />
</intent-filter>)

And the code used is in my last post.
I find all is ok but Im not asked for the RECEIVE_SMS permission and then the permission is always FALSE.
Dont know what else to do.

kisoft · Apr 2, 2020

Add it manually to the manifest

B4X:

AddPermission(android.permission.SEND_SMS)

Erel · Apr 3, 2020

Create a small project with the code and upload it.

kisoft said:
Add it manually to the manifest

Not needed. If it is listed in the permissions list then it will be added to the manifest.

Android Question Trying to intercept SMS messages

Alberto Michelis

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Intent Filters - Intercepting SMS messages in the background

Erel

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kisoft

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Alberto Michelis

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kisoft

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Alberto Michelis

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kisoft

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Erel

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Alberto Michelis

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kisoft

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Alberto Michelis

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kisoft

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Erel

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Alberto Michelis

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