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I'm trying to log users individual app usage on iOS9.

I'd rather prefer that it wouldn't use jailbreak limited solutions, self explanatory. Doing the variation of this app on a jailbroken phone shouldn't be hard.

This will certainly not be released on the App Store as Apple wouldn't allow it.

I'm looking for any private API that can do this, any hidden iOS API's that can be used to do this. ANYTHING.

What I've already looked through:

which proved to be relatively helpful - we now can assume that there is some sort of additional access requirement, probably an entitlement, but we don't really know how it should look like

However all of these proved to be unhelpful because Apple fixed this security flaw with iOS8 and the method to copy/access the currently front most app bundle identifier no longer works.

Question is: Is there someone who knows a workaround using different tools/exploits that do not require jailbreak?

Ideas:

Here is my Reddit version of this question if anyone wants to check it out. Also if it's of any value, here are the runtime headers for iOS9 and list of Apple's private API's.

Community
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Ferologics
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    Sadly, lots of questions dealing with private API usage or jailbreak-only techniques get down voted *just because*. It's really silly. This is a good question, and shows lots of research. +1 – Nate Jan 04 '16 at 08:15
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    you mean you re trying to do what apple already does? http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/how-much-time-do-you-spend-your-iphone-discover-if-you-are-app-addict-ios-9-1520612 – Mikael Jan 22 '16 at 05:16
  • Yes and no, I mean to connect to RescueTime and make it better. Many people are spending significant amount of time on mobile devices and it would be helpful to them, at least for me a long time RescueTime user – Ferologics Jan 22 '16 at 05:59
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    It appears you are seeking another hole through another security flaw... – SwiftArchitect Jan 25 '16 at 01:38
  • Though that might be true I don't intend to leverage it in an immoral way – Ferologics Jan 25 '16 at 21:03
  • @Zazu you have no reason to use an iDevice, if you have a problem with spying on users. – Wyatt Ward Jan 26 '16 at 21:14
  • @Zazu I get a slight feeling that you didn't read a single line of text in this question other than the title, next time don't take things out of context please – Ferologics Jan 27 '16 at 05:17
  • @Ferologics I fully understand this kind of need, some industries have specific needs _for their own private use_ on their _own private iDevices_, it has nothing to do with spying or whatever evil thing. Anyway... Did you have a chance to go forward with this subject? – JBA May 10 '16 at 10:14
  • @JBA no, did not discover any workaround to access the APIs, if you find something let me know please, it would be immensely helpful – Ferologics May 14 '16 at 16:40

2 Answers2

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Unfortunately, I was looking for a similar solution and have come to the conclusion that, at least at this point in time, there are no known methods that will allow you to determine app usage on iOS. Even the MDM providers such as Good, Airwatch, MobileIron, etc. don't seem to be able to do this. If anyone is able to come up with a solution, I'd love to see it.

For now, however, I think we would have seen a solution if someone had one that worked on the latest iOS.

wottle
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sysctl is still open but they block certain combinations of selectors. I did this on iOS 7 and gave Apple Product Security the code. They won't patch iOS 7 but rely on App Review. iPhone 4 is wide open.

mikep
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