This document discusses using steganography techniques to hide Android applications. It describes hiding apps by replacing memory bits, rendering data in hidden mode, and hiding apps across Android's three layers - the outer GUI layer, middle application layer libraries, and inner kernel layer. The main process involves hiding the app from the application drawer, gaining root access, making it invisible in memory, and launching it from the dial pad using a broadcast receiver. Hidden applications could store passwords, log books, banking info, and personal data.

1. STEGANOGRAPHY IN
ANDROID TO HIDE
APPLICATIONS
Manasi Tilak

2. Steganography
Art of covered or hidden writing.
Steganos – covered, graphie – writing.
Traditionally used to hide secret messages behind plain, ordinary text.
Message sent in a way such that only the intended knows it’s existence.

3. Steganography in Computers
Used to supplement encryption.
Works by:
Replacing memory bits among one another
Rendering data in hidden mode

4. Steganography in Android- Challenges
Memory constraints
Battery constraints
Traditional methods not feasible
Layer constraints
Usability issues

5. Android Layers
Android layers can be broadly divided into three
layers:
• Outer Layer- GUI, the user interface
• Middle layers: contain application layer libraries
and frameworks
• Inner layer: Kernel

6. Attempt
This project attempts to hide app in all three layers, while successfully hiding it in two. So that,
It is not visible in the GUI
Not visible in application manager
Not visible on USB rendering

7. Main Process
Hide application from main application drawer using application activity and launcher activity
Gain root access
Make application invisible in the root by memory distributing
Create a broadcast receiver to listen in background for dial key
Launch application from dial pad

8. Applications in Everyday life
Can be used to effectively and accurately hide:
Passwords
Log books
Passbooks
Banking information
Social networking sites
Personal Data