Require a password to uninstall/remove application

Question

I would like to require that a user type a password before being allowed to uninstall/remove my application. How can I implement this functionality?

Answer 1

This is a hard problem. I can think of at least one non-evil use-case for it.

e.g. Stolen Phone Recovery app - you wish to deter ne'er-do-wells from uninstalling the app.

In this case, I can think of two sensible assumptions which would stop me implementing what you're looking for:

• the thief is unaware of your app, so will not try to uninstall it.
• the thief is aware of your app, and switch it off until he can get it to an iron box* to re-install the OS.

* For the uninitiated: an iron box will prevent the device sending or receiving electromagnetic signals.

Of course, this answer amounts to You Ain't Going To Need It, though I suspect you have already thought this through.