GOTO is Okay

Date of publication: 04 Mar 2026

Case description

I downloaded an application from the Google Play Store. When the app starts there is an ads window with timer for closing window and return to normal using the app. The main task is cutting the window and restore the client-oriented user-flow.

Legal disclaimer

Based on Article 6 of DIRECTIVE 2009/24/EC (link to source) and similar law acts in other countries.

The float window of ads is not interoperability with a software in fundamental. Due to the fact that third-party software (Google Mobile Ads SDK) prevents me from using the software I legally downloaded from the Google Play Store.

By forcing time-based lock on the UI, the third-party SDK prevents the software from performing its primary task on the user's device.

Solution

To resolve this, we target AdActivity responsible for rendering interception. Move through the onCreate method from the start to the end of method with goto for avoiding all inner conditions and logic smali/com/google/android/gms/ads/AdActivity.smali

Smali

.method protected final onCreate(Landroid/os/Bundle;)V
    .locals 2

    .line 1
    invoke-super {p0, p1}, Landroid/app/Activity;->onCreate(Landroid/os/Bundle;)V

    goto :exit_point #add this pointer

    #some code

    .line 32
    .line 33
    .line 34

    :exit_point #add this mark

    invoke-virtual {p0}, Landroid/app/Activity;->finish()V

    .line 35
    .line 36
    .line 37
    return-void
.end method

Result

Text Only

// 0. The system starts collecting the transition for AdActivity
03-04 01:22:43.371  V WindowManager: Collecting transition: ActivityRecord{... AdActivity}

// 1. The Activity gets focus
03-04 01:22:43.401  D InputDispatcher: Focused application: ActivityRecord{... AdActivity}

// 2. Our GOTO hits finish() (f - flag)
03-04 01:22:43.435  V WindowManager: Collecting transition (FINISHING): ActivityRecord{... AdActivity f}}
03-04 01:22:43.435  D ActivityTaskManager: scheduleTopResumedActivityChanged, onTop=false, r=ActivityRecord{... AdActivity f}}

// 3. Complete destruction of the surface layer
03-04 01:22:43.533  I Layer: id=27875 Destroyed ActivityRecord{... AdActivity}

Timing

• 64ms - from super() to finish() methods
• 162ms - for the whole cycle

Summary

Thus, the using the unconditional jump operator goto is the minimal action for "necessary in order to achieve interoperability" (Article 6, 1(c)).

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Thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed it. :)