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Attendance operations

Detect fake GPS and buddy punching at check-in

Detect fake GPS apps, emulators, rooted phones and reused selfies at check-in. Choose per signal whether to block, flag for review or allow.

Three kinds of cheating, three kinds of check

Scroll the table sideways to read all columns.

ProblemWhat Attendify checks
Buddy punching: someone else clocks inLiveness selfie on every punch, optional face verification, reused selfies refused
Fake locationMock-location detection on the phone, plus location checks on the server
Tampered phoneEmulator, hooking tools, root or jailbreak, developer mode and debugger detection

Checks on the phone

On app version 1.0.19 and later, the worker app checks the device at the moment of the punch:

  • a mock-location (fake GPS) app supplying the location
  • an emulator instead of a real phone
  • hooking tools that alter how apps behave
  • a rooted Android phone or a jailbroken iPhone
  • developer mode, USB debugging (Android only) or an attached debugger

The results are stored with the punch, so a punch saved offline carries its evidence with it and is judged when it syncs.

Checks on the server, for every app version

The server runs checks no phone can skip:

  • the exact same GPS fix repeated 30 or more minutes apart
  • travel between punches faster than 250 km/h
  • reported accuracy under 1 metre, which real phones rarely produce
  • reported accuracy worse than 150 metres
  • a selfie byte-for-byte identical to one already used anywhere in your company, which is refused outright

You decide: block, flag or allow

Each signal can be set to block, flag or allow under Settings → Security. Blocked punches are refused, and the phone refuses before the camera opens where it can. Flagged punches are accepted and land in the review inbox, so honest workers aren't stopped by a false alarm.

Scroll the table sideways to read all columns.

DefaultSignals
BlockMock location, emulator, hooking tools
FlagRooted or jailbroken, developer mode, debugger, failed checks, all four GPS checks
AllowUSB debugging, debug builds, app versions older than 1.0.19

Once your workers have updated, switch older app versions to block so every punch carries device evidence.

What these checks can't prove

Device signals are reported by the app. A determined attacker with a modified app could suppress them. The server checks catch some of that, but not all. Attendify doesn't yet use Google Play Integrity or Apple App Attest to prove the app itself is genuine. Treat a clean punch as strong evidence, not proof, and keep a review process for disputes.

Questions buyers ask

Can workers use a fake GPS app to clock in?

On app version 1.0.19 and later, mock-location apps are detected at the punch and blocked by default. The server also flags suspicious location patterns for every app version.

What about rooted or jailbroken phones?

They're flagged for review by default, and you can switch that to block.

Will honest workers get blocked by mistake?

Signals that often have innocent causes, like developer mode, are flagged by default rather than blocked. You choose per signal.

Does detection work for offline punches?

Yes. Device evidence is captured at the punch, stored with it and judged when it syncs.

How does it stop buddy punching?

Every punch needs a liveness selfie, reused selfies are refused, and face verification can require the enrolled worker's face.

Is this included in every plan?

Yes. Device and location checks, and the block, flag or allow settings, are available on every plan.

Can it guarantee no fraud?

No phone-based system can. These checks make common cheating hard and visible, but disputes still need review.

Continue the workflow

Bring your actual attendance workflow.

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