Can PDANet truely hide tethering from AT&T? - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-I777

Found some old posts, back in May, where people were discussing whether PDANet could truly hide tethering from AT&T, or other providers. I was tethering with my rooted SGS2 and received the text, email, and snail mail notices from AT&T that I would lose my unlimited data and be forced to by a tethering plan if I continued to tether. I was utilizing the stock rom with the tethering manager frozen.
Has anybody utilizing the 3.02 version of PDANet been contacted by AT&T to c&d? If so, could the c&d be attributed to tethering done before installing PDANet?
thanks,
retnuh

I'd like to know as well.

I don't think pdanet does anything special...i use approx 3-5gigs a month all mostly teathering. I have never received any notices of any kind.
I think as long there isn't any high spikes in data usage, you'll be safe.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App

This is just an unproven theory by myself, but don't use internet explorer on the device you are tethering to.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using XDA App

Personally, I use Firefox with User Agent usually set to Iphone, but obviously if there was a galaxy s 2 user agent I would use it. I din't tether to much- maybe 500 meg a month, but I've never been caught.

I got hit with the top %5 text the other morning...managed to use just under 12gigz this billing cycle..MOSTLY from wifi tether Phone 2 Phone and i maybe used an hr tethering to a laptop..I work for the bastards..doesn't matter what you use...all ill say is the network is alot smarter than people think..trust me..
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda premium

Supposedly Barnacle "hides" it and it's a free app. Google it.
I wonder if using an SSH connection would encrypt the connection enough to hide anything they sniff out to detect tethering.

If your rooted and have root explore just delete tehtering manager. Apk in system/app and if your on a custom rom it is more than likely already removed for you. Now if I could just get decent data speeds I would use it
Sent from my SGH-I777 using XDA App

That's the way I was tethering when I was told by AT&T to c&d. That's why I'm trying to find a way to tether and not get caught.

Hmmm odd you must have had huge data spikes because without that app they can't tell besides seeing you use like a gig a day. Interesting any thoughts guys?
Sent from my SGH-I777 using XDA App

If somebody knows for sure if PDANet stealth mode works - I'd really, REALLY like to know too! Had AT&T's "Unlimited" plan for a few years now. Been teathering, but for completely trivial amounts of data - during most months my usage didn't go over a gig or two. This month I went over 4 gig for the first time ever, and suddenly all hell broke loose. I get repeated "5%" messages over text and email, warning they will throttle down my 3G speeds (they are already a complete joke here in NY-NJ). So I stopped using all data for about a week now, but the messages never stopped, and now I am getting the tether notices.

I got the letter last May when I had an iPhone that was jailbroken. Now I got the rooted Android and I just don't want to lose unlimited data. I tried once with PDA bored at an airport and wanting to do basic surfing on my laptop. I used it again the other night on my laptop for simple surfing as my main internet went down and so far as I know (/knock on wood/) I'm okay.
Most say TTL is how they find out. My problem is they have intricate logs of every phone call and text you ever sent but can't tell me a MAC addy, time, etc. of when I tethered. Fact is known that only those with unlimited data plans were the ones attacked as it seems they are slowly trying to phase these out.
I just make sure to not have Windows Updates enabled when surfing on my laptop with tethering. It's obvious any mobile phone shouldn't be accessing this site.

I dont know how they can tell but it seems they are always able to. I used my android to tether with an iphone to download Wifi only updates and after about 3 months i got the notice saying I need to not tether or they will remove unlimited.
Apparently they say that the notices aren't always Instant (I was figuring i would get it right after i used tethering). I know for a fact i had not tethered after the last time so it was roughly 3 months behind.

I do not believe sirs (referring to OP)

Related

[Q] dreaded att tethering text warning

Has any other aria users got the dreaded att tethering text warning? i got one today and was wondering if this was just a ploy to scare us into stoping / changing plans or can they really tell.
i read something about changing the TTL number in our device cause that is tipping them off. Also read about different APN's being used for phone / tethered use.
I have been tethering for well over 2 years now, averaging between 5 to 10 gigs of data a month, so if they can tell that it is tethering and not phone usage why have they waited till now to try and stop me?
Does any one have any advice?
My guess (and this is strictly a guess, I don't have any inside knowledge or anything) is that they likely went after the biggest, easiest target group of people who were tethering without tethering plans first - which I would guess are jailbroken iphone users. After that, they are probably going after the biggest data users. at 5-10 GB per month, I'd guess (again I don't know) that you probably don't qualify in this category either. Maybe they've finally gotten around to going after the small-ish heavy data users??
Ha I got one of those txt msg today too. Mine didn't have any warning or anything it simply said something about tethering and to call them for details.
I don't think they can change your plan without your permission.
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Bryan583 said:
Ha I got one of those txt msg today too. Mine didn't have any warning or anything it simply said something about tethering and to call them for details.
I don't think they can change your plan without your permission.
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure they can. Stick a sim with no data plan in a smart phone and watch how fast they throw a data plan on the line without your permission.
Sent from my LG-P925 using Tapatalk
CallMeAria said:
Sure they can. Stick a sim with no data plan in a smart phone and watch how fast they throw a data plan on the line without your permission.
Sent from my LG-P925 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They definitely will change it. Heard it straight from AT&T guy.
Sent from my Atrix
I know they can change your plan of you violate the TOS, which I am by tethering. But it is my under standing that with iphones there is something in the software that is telling them. That is why they cracked down on iPhone users first. Butt I am on a fully rooted aria with CM7. So there is nothing software wise that squealing on me. So is it the way the data is transferred ( apn, ttl, ???), or are they just guessing based on data usage.
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
whitebrw said:
I know they can change your plan of you violate the TOS, which I am by tethering. But it is my under standing that with iphones there is something in the software that is telling them. That is why they cracked down on iPhone users first. Butt I am on a fully rooted aria with CM7. So there is nothing software wise that squealing on me. So is it the way the data is transferred ( apn, ttl, ???), or are they just guessing based on data usage.
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nerds just know.
Sent from my Atrix
andrew.cambridge said:
Nerds just know.
Sent from my Atrix
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROFL
Sent from my LG-P925 using Tapatalk
Moved to proper section
ha. When you said 5-10 gigs I was taken back. I went to the ATT store about a month ago and asked how much data I used last month. 125 mb!!!! This is because I am always on wifi unless I am traveling. After hearing this I almost began tethering!
mikelebz said:
ha. When you said 5-10 gigs I was taken back. I went to the ATT store about a month ago and asked how much data I used last month. 125 mb!!!! This is because I am always on wifi unless I am traveling. After hearing this I almost began tethering!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use around 10gb a month easily. The way I see it I'm paying for unlimited data so I'm gonna use unlimited. Recently it seems like I've been throttled back a bit (just a guess not positive) .
Sent from my Liberty using XDA App
Are you using a stock rom? I assume since you actually have the hotspot software installed you are using a 3rd party rom.
Not all roms remove the AT&T apn that you connect to when using hotspot instead of basic tethering. (AT&T paid tethering uses isp.cingular, while your normal data connection, and the apn you should tether through is wap.cingular).
Im a heavy data user (5-10gb+), never gotten a text message to upgrade my account (MediaNET) or to stop tethering (using wap.cingular only)
Also, Ive had this discussion on xda a long time ago, but it seems a very few of us might be grandfathered in. Last time I got a phone (and updated my contract) from AT&T was back when they were AT&T the first time around. Before Cingular. Still buying new/used phones on ebay, and keeping my unlimited MediaNET account. My wife has a BB, and I use an Android phone, and neither one of use has ever been forced into a new data plan.
Ive also always paid my bill on time, and online, and I literally have never called AT&T for any sort of problem. (which from what Ive read, the CSR will instantly upgrade your plan if they see anything awry with your account.)
Check your rom, make sure you're using the correct apn, remove the tethering data plan using your online account tools, and try not to tether so much. (surf, don't download.)
Root
You can root your aria by useing unrevoked... When you have done that download liberated 2.2 rom and flash it...When that is done and click wifi hotspot and there you go.. THis willl also unlock unknown sources option and allow you to get non market apps (Swype) Hope this helped!
Bumping an old thread.
After years and years, I finally got the txt message, and a letter in the mail today!
(the tethering letter, not the "we're going to force upgrade your plan" letter)
Going to stop tethering (haven't tethered in months at all, but did use ttorrent, a native android torrent program over the past month)
Been out of contract forever, would hate to have to buy new phones, but would consider changing providers if they get rid of our cheap data plan.
Good opportunity for a bump, yes. I have my own recent experience.
I remember a few months ago trying to manually set up an APN to get around it... and what finally worked was to install unrevoked and then Liberated. Then I could run the wireless hotspot without trouble.
However... I started having issues downloading MMS... pictures just wouldn't download easily or at all sometimes... I had this problem for a few months, while the wifi hotspotting worked fine. I googled this "network error" I was getting while trying to download MMS attachments, and it said that the Aria has problems switching between two different APN's.
SO... I removed the second APN. Now, I'm not sure if it's the one I originally created BEFORE Liberated, or if Liberated installed its own secondary APN. What I *DO* know is that removing my second APN (and leaving just the locked "MEdia Net" one) fixed my MMS problem... BUT... IT RETURNED THE DAMN "no tethering" notification when I tried to run the hotspot again!!!
WTF??
I hate this. WHAT is it that generates that message?
EDIT: SO I re-created the second (unlocked) APN profile.. I called it "root" and copied all the info from the locked MEdia Net APN profile, and I somehow apparently remembered that the password was CINGULAR, because now when I try the wifi hotspot it works without the error.
SO... it needs to use a fresh profile, because something in the original locked "MEdia Net" APN profile is what triggers the damn wifi error "call 611" message.
I just hope I don't get more MMS problems again. I wish there was a way a guru could get into the "locked" MEdiaNet APN and see what is causing the lockout, and how to remove it, so we can just have ONE APN profile.
But meh. I got tethering back.
NOW... to answer some questions that some of you have raised here... I spoke to two different AT&T techs on the phone.. I made sure to get North American call centers, one in Kentucky I think and the other was in northern California. Both of them said essentially the same thing:
Throttling back will occur with the TOP 5% of data users. These are people who use somewhere around 15-20 gigs a month (which is way beyond the common tiered 2GB limit).
NOW, for those of us who tether, it depends. If you're streaming crap, downloading programs and lots of media, then YES, you're going to push yourself into the higher bracket. However, one of the techs mentioned that he uses Pandora with his Inspire on the HD setting, and he listens to it in his cubicle at work every day, and on the way to and from work in his car. He said he still never goes beyond his 2GB limit. I had been using Pandora on my Aria without the realization there was an HD setting (so apparently I've been enjoying the lower bandwidth stream without issues, sounds fine to me). I haven't even put a dent in my usage.
The only people who truly need to worry about tethering and bandwidth and throttling and Aria phones (and pretty much all the Android phones, won't speak for iPhone on this) are those power users who are tethering their phone to their computer CONSTANTLY, and raping the net for all sorts of streams and media downloads... bittorrents, emule feeds, etc. People who are indeed abusing things and doing so not for one month, but he said for a few consecutive months. Honestly, those are the people who SHOULD be throttled IMO. I don't mind the idea of someone going over their 2GB limit, or in the case of the few remaining people on Unlimited data plans (such as myself), doing so a few months scattered throughout the year is one thing, but consistently syphoning at high transfers every month in a row... yeah, that's not 99% of us.
So really, I'll keep tethering my Galaxy Tab to my phone, rather than pay for my Tab's data plan. I *can't* do any hardcore data hogging on this Galaxy Tab. It just makes sense to take advantage of my Aria's 3G data, since I can use it more comfortably on the tablet than on the tiny Aria. Truth be told, that's why I got the Aria... small and a great phone, able to serve the tablet data, and on those rare moments where all I have on me is the phone, do pretty much most the basic Android things.
Anyways I hope this contributes some to the thread.
Suleeto said:
Good opportunity for a bump, yes. I have my own recent experience.
I remember a few months ago trying to manually set up an APN to get around it... and what finally worked was to install unrevoked and then Liberated. Then I could run the wireless hotspot without trouble.
However... I started having issues downloading MMS... pictures just wouldn't download easily or at all sometimes... I had this problem for a few months, while the wifi hotspotting worked fine. I googled this "network error" I was getting while trying to download MMS attachments, and it said that the Aria has problems switching between two different APN's.
SO... I removed the second APN. Now, I'm not sure if it's the one I originally created BEFORE Liberated, or if Liberated installed its own secondary APN. What I *DO* know is that removing my second APN (and leaving just the locked "MEdia Net" one) fixed my MMS problem... BUT... IT RETURNED THE DAMN "no tethering" notification when I tried to run the hotspot again!!!
WTF??
I hate this. WHAT is it that generates that message?
EDIT: SO I re-created the second (unlocked) APN profile.. I called it "root" and copied all the info from the locked MEdia Net APN profile, and I somehow apparently remembered that the password was CINGULAR, because now when I try the wifi hotspot it works without the error.
SO... it needs to use a fresh profile, because something in the original locked "MEdia Net" APN profile is what triggers the damn wifi error "call 611" message.
I just hope I don't get more MMS problems again. I wish there was a way a guru could get into the "locked" MEdiaNet APN and see what is causing the lockout, and how to remove it, so we can just have ONE APN profile.
But meh. I got tethering back.
NOW... to answer some questions that some of you have raised here... I spoke to two different AT&T techs on the phone.. I made sure to get North American call centers, one in Kentucky I think and the other was in northern California. Both of them said essentially the same thing:
Throttling back will occur with the TOP 5% of data users. These are people who use somewhere around 15-20 gigs a month (which is way beyond the common tiered 2GB limit).
NOW, for those of us who tether, it depends. If you're streaming crap, downloading programs and lots of media, then YES, you're going to push yourself into the higher bracket. However, one of the techs mentioned that he uses Pandora with his Inspire on the HD setting, and he listens to it in his cubicle at work every day, and on the way to and from work in his car. He said he still never goes beyond his 2GB limit. I had been using Pandora on my Aria without the realization there was an HD setting (so apparently I've been enjoying the lower bandwidth stream without issues, sounds fine to me). I haven't even put a dent in my usage.
The only people who truly need to worry about tethering and bandwidth and throttling and Aria phones (and pretty much all the Android phones, won't speak for iPhone on this) are those power users who are tethering their phone to their computer CONSTANTLY, and raping the net for all sorts of streams and media downloads... bittorrents, emule feeds, etc. People who are indeed abusing things and doing so not for one month, but he said for a few consecutive months. Honestly, those are the people who SHOULD be throttled IMO. I don't mind the idea of someone going over their 2GB limit, or in the case of the few remaining people on Unlimited data plans (such as myself), doing so a few months scattered throughout the year is one thing, but consistently syphoning at high transfers every month in a row... yeah, that's not 99% of us.
So really, I'll keep tethering my Galaxy Tab to my phone, rather than pay for my Tab's data plan. I *can't* do any hardcore data hogging on this Galaxy Tab. It just makes sense to take advantage of my Aria's 3G data, since I can use it more comfortably on the tablet than on the tiny Aria. Truth be told, that's why I got the Aria... small and a great phone, able to serve the tablet data, and on those rare moments where all I have on me is the phone, do pretty much most the basic Android things.
Anyways I hope this contributes some to the thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, that's a BIG bump... it's probably a pimple .
Update
i figured i would give an update to everyone. after making my initial posts i checked my data usage for the month prior to getting the "text warning" and i used 38+ GB (damn torrrents). ooops! hehehe. i guess that explains it.
Some side info, Duh! yes i am rooted. cm 7.1, Using wap.cingular APN
I called ATT, got the special division that was set up to deal with this issue. told the lady that i didn't tether i just streamed constantly. she didn't know anything about how they detected that i was tethering but as long as i didn't tether after sept 30th nothing would be changed on my account. i am still tethering as we speak and no changes have been made to my account. the only thing that i changed (besides a lot less usage) was the default TTL number on my PC.
I guess we will see when this months bill comes in. I'll keep everyone posted.
I too called the special dept. And told them a similar story that I stream from YouTube, Pandora, etc. I've also told them I've never tethered and my aria wouldn't let me. I tried it once and got a message to call 611 to enable this feature.
But now I'm a month or so into it and still no bill change.
Side note- I found a couple apps in the market that are torrent apps so now I download to my phone. Megaupload downloaded, mediafire, file serve, ect. And just surf with the tether.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Well, another bump...
Even with the WAP.CINGULAR APN profile I am now getting the dreaded "611" popup. Rebooted twice. Reselected the custom APN multiple times. Still nada. And I only tethered a few times a week for surfing, and only a few minutes each time. So make of that what you will.
What to about my tethering issue
The whole reason I signed up for ATT was so I could tether my Atrix and play online poker (10MB/hour.)
All I did was root my phone and change a PostSQL value to enable tethering. I played poker fine, but eventually got greedy and started D/L all sorts of crap going well over my 2GB/month contract and was billed.
I just recently got the nastygram from ATT and haven't called them yet.
Could someone please explain to me what I need to do so after I call ATT I won't be detected tethering again?
I'm a semi-android newb, but certainly no linux/computer newb. Thanks for help

[Q] On Tethering and Tracking

I have been using my Xperia x10a to tether for the past year. Recently ATT&T has sent me a letter in the mail saying that if I do not discontinue tethering that they will automatically add me to a $45 plan instead of the $30 that I pay now for the internet usage. AT&T stated that they are giving their customers until December 31st to stop tethering if they do not have the plan after I called them. My question is, did AT&T recently figure out a way to track tethering for I have also done it on my Iphone 3g since 3 years ago?
Bump...please help
hum
I think tracking tethering on android is not posible...I mean..they have to see exactly what programs are you using....and how do you use them...thats invading ur personal space...i think the way they are tracing tethering...is on looking how much bandwidth you use....and if they have like a apk that installed and sents them info oin how you use your tethering you can just block it with a firewall....just an opinion.....
As far as I know, they can't track android tethering. The iphone uses an alternate apn for tethering, so they're easily tracked. The android uses the phone's normal apn. They would have to scan your data packets to determine where your data is going/coming from. Which I doubt they will because that would become expensive. I would assume thats an invasion of privacy as well.
I use my tethering all the time and I've only had one message from att, which was about two months ago, regarding tethering. I had got a warning saying my data was at 90% then later I got one saying i should change to a tethering plan if i want to tether. It never said anything about them changing my plan automatically if I used it. So I'm thinking they just noticed it was used up quickly. I had tethered to my console to watch netflix on the TV, which took about 1.4gb, and it played perfectly.
- X10a Wx v6c, uBL ~ via XDA App

[Q] Am I Going to Lose Free WiFi HotSpot / Tethering?

Hi,
I have a Classic Family 1000 plan where I get 1000 shared minutes for two lines for $49.99 per month. I pay an additional $30 per line for data. I have a Galaxy 4G and a G2 on the account.
Both phones are able to turn on WiFi hot spot. This is an awesome feature. I use it all the time with my laptop and tablet. I don't push a lot of bytes, but it's super nice to use the laptop for email and light browsing. I rarely exceed more than a GB per month per line.
I see that T-Mobile is now charging an extra fee for WiFi tethering/hotspot. I'm curious to know what actions I might take will result in me losing the current "free" (no extra charge) capability I have now.
Is it my plan that gives me this capability or is it my phone? If I upgrade to a Galaxy 2, Galaxy Nexus, or HTC Amaze will I lose "free" (no extra charge) WiFi hotspot/tethering?
What if I keep the same phones, but switch to the $99.99 per month (2 lines, unlimited voice/data/text) plan. Will I then lose "free" (no extra charge) WiFi hotspot/tethering?
If I root the phone a install CyanogenMod (or some other non T-Mobile ROM) will I circumvent having to pay for WiFi hotspot/tethering? I have CyanogenMod on a Vibrant that my kids play games with and I like it enough. I feel comfortable rooting a phone and installing a new ROM, but I'm not the kind of guy that does this just for sport (there has to be a reason).
John
As far as I know, the "free" wifi hotspot is not disabled on any T-Mo phone. I can confirm it's on the SGSII. I don't know of anyone who has ever been forced to pay for the hotspot, I certainly have never been texted or warned when I use mine. I do tend to stay under my 5GB high speed limit, though.
If you change your plan, it wouldn't be disabled, either. As long as the phone has an unmolested android mobile ap on it, I think you're good to go. Even more so if you don't over use it.
Edit: I would think that if you're tethering an android tablet, T-Mobile wouldn't even pay attention. With a laptop the data packets are different and possibly detectable.
Free tethering
I don't know what triggers the restrictions but my daughter moved out and used tethering as her only internet for a couple of months. Then one day she tried it and got a message that tethering was a separate service she would have to pay for.
And, yes, she was using a laptop.
I think they can only detect tether if you use a tether app from the market which uses ad-hoc . If you have a custom rom with a native tether built in and is a true AP I don't think it will be detected .
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I just lost mine when I bought my new SGS2 and they replaced my SIM. I had Hotspot for free on my Vibrant, when I tried it on the new phone today it took me to the $14.95 webpage.
I called TMo today and they said it shouldn't have ever been free...I explained that I've used it for free for the last 1.5 years...he didn't have an answer...but offered to add it to my account...I kindly said FU*K NO!!!!
zombie55 said:
I just lost mine when I bought my new SGS2 and they replaced my SIM. I had Hotspot for free on my Vibrant, when I tried it on the new phone today it took me to the $14.95 webpage.
I called TMo today and they said it shouldn't have ever been free...I explained that I've used it for free for the last 1.5 years...he didn't have an answer...but offered to add it to my account...I kindly said FU*K NO!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most likely this is because you were using a custom ROM before. Most ROM's have been edited so that when you enable tethering it treats it as Phone traffic as apposed to PC traffic. I am pretty sure you will get it back after you install a good ROM.
Raistline said:
Most likely this is because you were using a custom ROM before. Most ROM's have been edited so that when you enable tethering it treats it as Phone traffic as apposed to PC traffic. I am pretty sure you will get it back after you install a good ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope...phone was stock never flashed a ROM to it.
Well I can tell you, that tethering never worked on the stock ROM for me. As soon as I installed a custom ROM it has never failed. I would try this if I were you, otherwise you may be SOL
There is no problem tethering on the ICS Passion ROM. My kids used it on a three hour trip last week while we drove from SC to GA.
Tethering and custom ROMS
As mentioned above my daughter ( stock ROM ) was cut off from tethering.
I am still able to tether, but am using Bionix 1.3.1, and have never used it very much.
I am very interested in the info above that custom ROMS have been modified so that tethering is not detectable. I hope this is true. Does anyone know this is true for Bionix 1.3.1?
Thanks
It is that's why I said it . Trust me flash a custom rom with tether built in and you will have no problem .
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
That's great news and explains why I can still tether and some can't. THANKS!
Tethering should still work, just not with the TMobile 'Wifi Hotspot' app....
Stuff like PDANet, Wifi Tether for Root, etc...
WTRU will be impacted, however, in that some phones where it 'worked' through the stock app may have trouble...
Pre-ICS, my phone would run WTRU, which would 'route' through the stock hotspot app... Now, it doesn't - which leaves me with unsecure ad-hoc wifi only (OK for PCs, not ok for tablets, etc - and the only available security is MAC-address access control, not WEP or WPA)...
Apps like PDANet (the ones that don't need root to work) use proxying, so they won't be impacted at all because the internet usage actually is occurring on the phone... Of course, you need to buy PDANet, and it may not work with all internet apps (eg, stuff other than mail/web/etc)

[Q] USA based carriers

I have a Photon 4G on Sprint right now, and I refuse to go onto tiered Data. I've just about had it with Sprint's dynamically changing terms of service, so I'm looking for other US based unlimited data carriers compatible with the Photon 4G. I am rooted, if that means anything toward this.
Just isn't possible, but idk what your complaining about exactly, what change in terms, the data is still unlimited for your phone unless your not giving a full story as most people do...
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
I'm giving the full story here. Yes, data is unlimited still, yes my phone works. I use very low amounts of data, so Im not in any way angering them. I'm just bothered at them filtering my market now, and most recently, my phone is shut down whenever I tether (via Android) using Bluetooth.
taylorgrandorf said:
I'm giving the full story here. Yes, data is unlimited still, yes my phone works. I use very low amounts of data, so Im not in any way angering them. I'm just bothered at them filtering my market now, and most recently, my phone is shut down whenever I tether (via Android) using Bluetooth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you not paying for tethering (even though i think it should be free to begin with) i wouldn't be surprised if they did something like that, and there's an app you really want, just google the apk through your phone
taylorgrandorf said:
I'm giving the full story here. Yes, data is unlimited still, yes my phone works. I use very low amounts of data, so Im not in any way angering them. I'm just bothered at them filtering my market now, and most recently, my phone is shut down whenever I tether (via Android) using Bluetooth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint isn't filtering your market, it's google... They did it to me as well... Upon calling them, I was informed that rooted devices are not allowed and if google finds out you have a rooted device they lock you out of your paid apps. The only way I fixed this was by running the ruu back to stock. I re-rooted a few days later and haven't had any issues since than... I agree it sucks. As for the tethering, I 4G tether using the wifi tether app that is in dsixda kitchen, made by mueller, buxton, and somone else. I regularly top 5GB of data use every month and have never had any issues, other than Sprint's weak ass 3G signal. You could check into boost, cricket, or one of you local "small time" cell dealers, some of the local shops will even flash the phone over to their service for free. Good luck in your adventure!
Sent from my PG06100 using Tapatalk
Thanks, I think I'll just stay with Sprint for now. I really appreciate the responses, though. As far as Market Filtering, my issue is not full block out, but just Wireless Tether apps missing. As far as .apk installs, I'm fully familiar with those too. Sprint is otherwise a great carrier. I'm very near to Houston, and being the 4th largest City in the USA means that I get 6/6 Bars of 4G everywhere I go. Besides this, I have nothing against them. Unlimited Data is a neccesary thing on a Smartphone, in my opinion. Also, with my Bluetooth tethering (Can be done unrooted to an Asus Transformer Prime, also unrooted) I've found that as long as I put the phone into standby, it wont reboot. It only reboots if the display times-out.
Bluetooth tethering is fully within Sprint's ToS, too. (Free)
http://db.tt/BkvrkT78 ... Here you go... Here is the old school tether app if you don't have it... I too will be sticking with sprint, can't beat unlimited data with a stick. Have fun with that photon too, very nice device, I almost ditched my shift for the photon.
Sent from my PG06100 using Tapatalk
sprint did break down and filter out tethering apps from their market, but honetsly can you blame them? verizon and att were teh first ones to have limited data, the first ones to tell you what you could use your 2gb's of data on.
sprint filtered out the market.. after how long of us getting a free ride? chances are if your rooting you know how to google for android tether. not saying its ideal, but id much rather have them filter the apps, then drop unl data... or send text's out to users using free tether saying they will be switched to the paid tether automatically at the end of teh to month...
Fair enough.

[Q] how does aT&t know your tethering??

[Q] tethering caught with fox fi- with proxy
i have been a big fan of tethering since my old iPhone days.
the switch to android has been a big step and i am not telling anyone to tether so please don't abuse this.
i used foxfi with proxy for about 4 months until last night. got a email from AT&t stating that i would be moved to a tethering plan for 65 dollars more a month and one less gig than i had before. so for all those that use foxfi with proxy, it doesn't work. i know pda net dosent work from friend who also got a letter, before me.
so i am stuck .. no more tethering for me.. i am actually retiring from it. but i still keep the option on my phone if such an emergency arises.
hears where i am asking for the opinions of the xda members. i am not sure how at&t knows, but they did, and it doesn't make sense that they scan all every packet of data. any ideas how they know?
i did do one thing that i found hidden on my samsung notei717. under network settings it only shows ONE apn. but... if you download a apn-manager it shows a hidden APN-att-entitlement. is this how they know? i thought it was only used for people who pay for tethering? is it also used to track tethering?
i ended up using a sql editor and removed the line for this APN from the(/data/data/com.android.providers.telephony/databases/telephony.db) rebooted phone and now its gone, phone works well and i havent seen any problems yet. ( i did make a copy if anyone wants to see the original)
might anyone in here have any ideas of how at&t knew ?
i am more curious if anything.. even my wife told me, that i have a big enough screen, just use it as a computer from now on.
was it this APN that gave it away? (i tethered a android tablet for internet and games)
I'm on T-Mobile and have been caught tethering, I use chrome extension user-agent switcher. Choose the Android user-agent. If some pages require IE then just precede with HTTPS.
Try it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
Another thought you could use the tether, establish a VPN tunnel to a home machine and then use the internet that way. it'll encapsulate your traffic from your laptop to your home PC so AT&T could see is traffic but not what and where. From what I've read it's either 1 of 2 ways how AT&T detect if you're tethering:
1) by detecting what type of response headers and ports your connecting on. A VPN tunnel would protect you.
2) the other rumor is that by using a tethering program (or one that's built in for that matter) uses a tethering specific APN which AT&T tracks that way. So in theory if you could specify which APN you use for tethering that would protect you.
I haven't wanted to test out these theories because I have unlimited plan and don't want to risk it.
Theoriginalgiga said:
Another thought you could use the tether, establish a VPN tunnel to a home machine and then use the internet that way. it'll encapsulate your traffic from your laptop to your home PC so AT&T could see is traffic but not what and where. From what I've read it's either 1 of 2 ways how AT&T detect if you're tethering:
1) by detecting what type of response headers and ports your connecting on. A VPN tunnel would protect you.
2) the other rumor is that by using a tethering program (or one that's built in for that matter) uses a tethering specific APN which AT&T tracks that way. So in theory if you could specify which APN you use for tethering that would protect you.
I haven't wanted to test out these theories because I have unlimited plan and don't want to risk it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have deleted the alternate APN ( which is hidden even from root users) so i am not sure if that is it.
is it possible to alter the TTL ? and if so how?
- also how would i tweak my note to use a VPN?
mac1845427 said:
i have deleted the alternate APN ( which is hidden even from root users) so i am not sure if that is it.
is it possible to alter the TTL ? and if so how?
- also how would i tweak my note to use a VPN?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I'd handle the VPN on the laptop/computer instead of the phone itself. Inherently there's an overhead for a VPN and requires processing power which would slow down your throughput on your phone if the phone was handling that.
Here's a link that has a decent walk through if you want to use the phone for the VPN.
http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/smartphones/securely-connect-your-android-smartphone-via-vpn/3321
What APN did you delete? can you post the values of it? Also why do you want to change your TTL?
I do not know how at &t does it, but a friend was one of the first owner of a 10" tablet with internal 3g years ago. His provider accused him doing tethering.
We assumed that they check the screen resolution of the browser which some web sites use to optimise the layout.
After short discussion, he could convince them and they droped the case.
Not that I'm in any way knowledgeable in the context of this topic, but when you mentioned the alteration and/or deletion of hidden APN data...
Bear in mind that a stock GB build for the ATT note, contains 1352 separate APN's....
And I'm not sure if the hidden file will capture the additional data or not to prevent detection, but I thought I'd post anyway just in case it helps at all ...g
Edit : I can't say for sure where these APN logs are stored or how/when they are accessed, but I know they exist as they can be seen when backing or restoring the GB or ICS UCLF6 Builds when tracking the line by line process.
Good luck to you gentlemen, I have nothing else to offer on the subject ....sorry ....g
xblosa said:
I do not know how at &t does it, but a friend was one of the first owner of a 10" tablet with internal 3g years ago. His provider accused him doing tethering.
We assumed that they check the screen resolution of the browser which some web sites use to optimise the layout.
After short discussion, he could convince them and they droped the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that's the case, that sort of data can be masked by a VPN tunnel. But I think it's a little more complex than that because there's quite a few tablets on AT&T now.
Theoriginalgiga said:
If that's the case, that sort of data can be masked by a VPN tunnel. But I think it's a little more complex than that because there's quite a few tablets on AT&T now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, they will have improved their detection, but it will be based on fingerprinting for the traffic of commonly used desktop applications. VPN will avoid this, but using VPN all the time might be suspiscious per se.
xblosa said:
Sure, they will have improved their detection, but it will be based on fingerprinting for the traffic of commonly used desktop applications. VPN will avoid this, but using VPN all the time might be suspiscious per se.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, it would look suspicious, but suspicion isn't enough to warrant AT&T to switch your account.
I got the email from AT&T about a year ago warning me about tethering and I called the number and she said their system looks for many thing and throws up red flags when it can prove you are tethering. She said they have to have proof before they can warn people. I was using my device to tether an iPod touch and she told me the reason I was caught was because I had downloaded apps from the App Store on an I device but my sim card was never shown to be inside an Idevice. It was crazy because I used several devices to tether for at least three years without being caught and within a week of using the iPod I was caught.
How dare we use the services we pay for! Such arrogance I have never seen to think att shouldn't be able to double dip. Vote Romney 2012 and deregulate more!
I got a warning once after watching Netflix... on my phone. They're usually bull****.
Sent from my SGH-I717 using xda premium
Earlier this month, I was on vacay and decided to use my phone to tether to my laptop (wasnt going to pay $12 at the hotel for damn sure), and I forgot and left it on thru one night. I didn't really "tether" per say, I turned my phone to a hotspot actually and it's not like my internet usage was higher than normal neither.
Why does at&t trip when you gotta pay anyway? (if no unlimited plan of course)
SayWhat10 said:
Why does at&t trip when you gotta pay anyway? (if no unlimited plan of course)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well because AT&T wants to get you for every single penny they can. They want to charge you for a data plan, then a tether plan and roaming plan, and idevice plan, a non-idevice plan, a gps plan, a navigation plan, a text to speech plan, your grandma is a dirty girl plan, your connected to more than one tower at a time plan, a video chat plan. I'm sure you get the point, if they can squeeze that extra penny from the people and force them to pay higher prices, even though it alienates their consumers, they know people aren't going to leave. The market isn't who has the best service gets the most customers anymore. It's you will use us because we're all owned by the same company and we just give you the illusion that you have choices, but in reality all your money are belong to us.
/climbs off of soapbox
I have a 3 gig plan and use about 8 gigs a month.. I tether my ps3 and play online and stuff like that.. I have never heard from AT&T..
Surely they can see when I'm connected to Playstation Network using massive amounts of data..
Its powered by Jellybeaned AOKP!
Did you delete the tethering manager program?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
johnrippa said:
How dare we use the services we pay for! Such arrogance I have never seen to think att shouldn't be able to double dip. Vote Romney 2012 and deregulate more!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly !!..g
drnecropolis said:
I have a 3 gig plan and use about 8 gigs a month.. I tether my ps3 and play online and stuff like that.. I have never heard from AT&T..
Surely they can see when I'm connected to Playstation Network using massive amounts of data..
Its powered by Jellybeaned AOKP!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
aside from charging you for tethering...they dont charge you for the overage from the 3gig to 8gig? that has to be a lot

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