Database Users

Sources people

sooooooo all this talk of vz limiting & suspending accounts due to data usages & this new "rooted phones hunter" from vz & moto talk...
has anyones account been limited? or are there any official news articles or actual announcements from vz or moto on the web?
just curious
sent from the DX

As to my knowledge, the only tethering app they can track is the 3G Mobile Hotspot app preinstalled into your phone. There is a hack that allows people to tether using that app for free.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA Premium App

I've seen throttling but that's all. Nothing else yet.
Sent from my Droid X packing Gingerbread.

havent seen or heard anything
have no doubt eventually the possibility exists....doubt the sky is falling though....
edit:
news with a reputable source sure would be appreciated....

Avelnan said:
As to my knowledge, the only tethering app they can track is the 3G Mobile Hotspot app preinstalled into your phone. There is a hack that allows people to tether using that app for free.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I"m pretty sure that any type of tethering will get you in trouble from what a lot of P3droid's writing states... Esp. since google can remote wipe/remove apps from your phone...I would assume carriers have some insight as well to what a customer is using.

Google's insight is from what you've downloaded from the market I believe. I still can't believe how blown out of proportion this rumor has become.

taterDX said:
sooooooo all this talk of vz limiting & suspending accounts due to data usages & this new "rooted phones hunter" from vz & moto talk...
has anyones account been limited? or are there any official news articles or actual announcements from vz or moto on the web?
just curious
sent from the DX
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is already one thread about this topic don't need two

sorry didn't see the other thread... but how can they track an unrooted easytether app vs. the rooted wireless tether app? I don't doubt eventually one day this will all be true but I still think they have better things to do than to hunt rooted phone users down...
sent from the DX

You guys apps have nothing to do with it, you can download tethering apps, they just don't work, therefore they cannot bust you on this.
What they will bust you on is the IPs you are accessing, easy ones will be like Windows Updates servers, firewall/anti virus update servers, Steam will be another big one...
There is IPs that you will be accessing on your PC that some of you guys can't deny will be definitive proof you are tethering, and I guarantee as hard as you try they will always have a way of figuring it out and there is nothing you can do, its a service you are required to pay for and they are going to make you pay for it.

see that's coming at it from a different angle & I totally get that... but I paid for easy tether & I'm not rooted I use it on my personal com... & it works perfect I just think that if there was a true issue w/tethering why not remove easytether or pdanet from the marketplace? just my 2¢
sent from the DX

and I know someones going to say something along lines the lines of its a google vs. vz issue... well then if vz starts blocking apps I think there would be an issue w/google...
sent from the DX

taterDX said:
see that's coming at it from a different angle & I totally get that... but I paid for easy tether & I'm not rooted I use it on my personal com... & it works perfect I just think that if there was a true issue w/tethering why not remove easytether or pdanet from the marketplace? just my 2¢
sent from the DX
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They cannot do this because no matter what Verizon, or any other carrier for that matter, wants us to pay for or does not want on the market, it is not their market. The market is controlled by Google and they will only remove apps that go against their policies.
Anyway we should all be aware that the android market is not the only source of apps for android. There is the Amazon market which certainly has different rules that Google's market, and there is Applanet which simply does not have rules or at least none that would keep tethering apps out (or a large quantity of others either). Also, the developers could simply post the apps on their website if removed. Therefore it would not be at all effective to remove them from the market

for once I agree w/jmoney... and we have yet to see evidence of any account suspensions our cancellations due to tethering... still waiting on some proof & tired of all the "talk" of this rooted hunting sprees...
sent from the DX

What I have heard is that Verizon is not going after rooted users and to my knowledge are still taking the same stand against rooters as they have in the past. What they are going after are the people who use tethering without a tethering plan. They are only doing this because there are certain members of this community who use tethering for obscene amounts of data. These are the people who use 150gb or more a month and yes there are people who do that.
We need to remember that just because we can tether large amounts of data does not mean that we should. I saw the following analogy on an article online and I think it is an excellent way to think of this.
If you are in a supermarket and you notice that they are giving out free samples of something, there are two things you can do. You can just take one and everyone else can have one and there is no problem at all and they will continue to allow the free samples. Or, you could, since it is all free, take all of the samples for yourself and no one else will get any, and the store will stop providing them and everyone loses because you were greedy.
If we all just use a small amount a month, I'm very sure that there will be no problem with the carrier and we all can enjoy the exeperience

Newest Gingerbread Leak -- 3G Mobile Hotspot Risky?

Just updated my Droid X to the newest Gingerbread leak (so called 'OTA'). 3G Mobile Hotspot seems to be working perfectly without me signing up for it. Is there a risk by doing this? No where does it say that I am signing up for 3G Mobile Hotspot by using it. It just ... works.

ya its weird... I'm running stock & mine does the same it just warns you about the battery being used up... I didn't sign up or anything... I use easytether just to be on the safe side but I dunno
sent from the DX

doronster195 said:
Just updated my Droid X to the newest Gingerbread leak (so called 'OTA'). 3G Mobile Hotspot seems to be working perfectly without me signing up for it. Is there a risk by doing this? No where does it say that I am signing up for 3G Mobile Hotspot by using it. It just ... works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Considering you are stealing, yes, I'd say its risky.

Maybe you had ran the TBH patch?

I'm on Cricket. I'm using rooted GB and the stock 3G Mobile Hotspot app works fine for me as well. Never used the TBH patch or any market-acquired tethering apps.
Not sure what Cricket would think of me tethering, but I am on the $55 Android plan (unlimited everything). I might tether once or twice a month, if that, so I'm not really worried about any repercussions.

It's not risky. He's not rooted. Verizon is allowing FREE access to the 3G Mobile Hotspot at the moment just as it's allowing free access to it on the Thunderbolt. This is widely known. In order to flash the newest version of GB, he would have had to SBF back to .340 first, which would have negated his TBH hacks.
http://droidattic.com/News/Verizon-Offering-FREE-Mobile-Hotspot-From-March-17-Through-May-15.html

yea im on cricket also and have no problem with 3g hotspot its not stealing when u pqy for unlimited data... especially considering cricket doesnt have a plan for tethering. just mho...
Sent from my DROIDX using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

DizDroid said:
Considering you are stealing, yes, I'd say its risky.
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Click to collapse
If you are going to espouse opinion, please at least have the courtesy of backing it up with more contextual data.
Some of you zealots are so fevered about proclaiming tethering as "stealing" that its sickening. Its a talking point that people just copy and paste into their brain for mass broadcasting. You didn't even take the time to investigate this particular situation. You just logged in, pasted in your standard "stealing" talkpoint, and backed it up with no other supporting arguments. In this scenario, the hotspot is FREE, but I'm sure you'll still call it "stealing".
Its your phone and your data plan. Let people make their own decisions. Personally, I rarely tether as I have no other devices and already have a home internet connection. However, I feel as long as only 1 device is using the data plan actively, then you are fully entitled to use it as you see fit.

jeftep said:
If you are going to espouse opinion, please at least have the courtesy of backing it up with more contextual data.
Some of you zealots are so fevered about proclaiming tethering as "stealing" that its sickening. Its a talking point that people just copy and paste into their brain for mass broadcasting. You didn't even take the time to investigate this particular situation. You just logged in, pasted in your standard "stealing" talkpoint, and backed it up with no other supporting arguments. In this scenario, the hotspot is FREE, but I'm sure you'll still call it "stealing".
Its your phone and your data plan. Let people make their own decisions. Personally, I rarely tether as I have no other devices and already have a home internet connection. However, I feel as long as only 1 device is using the data plan actively, then you are fully entitled to use it as you see fit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hate to engage in this troll fest, but I just couldn't pass this up.
From the VZW Terms of Service:
http://b2b.vzw.com/broadband/bba_terms.html
Customers who do not have dedicated Mobile Broadband devices cannot tether other devices to laptops or personal computers for use as wireless modems unless they subscribe to Mobile Broadband Connect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can 'feel' however you want about it. If you tether without having the appropriate plan, you are breaking the TOS.
VZW does evidently have a special going on until May 15 where tethering is free, so you are not stealing if that special applies.
Having said all of that, I too like to be able to tether my laptop in an emergency. I also occasionally tether my Tablet for Navigation. But just because we want to, doesn't mean its legal.

Zaphod-Beeblebrox said:
I hate to engage in this troll fest, but I just couldn't pass this up.
From the VZW Terms of Service:
http://b2b.vzw.com/broadband/bba_terms.html
You can 'feel' however you want about it. If you tether without having the appropriate plan, you are breaking the TOS.
VZW does evidently have a special going on until May 15 where tethering is free, so you are not stealing if that special applies.
Having said all of that, I too like to be able to tether my laptop in an emergency. I also occasionally tether my Tablet for Navigation. But just because we want to, doesn't mean its legal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This from the guy that not only steals other peoples spaceships but even stole his own spaceship.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

Hide Your Tethering Usage from your Carrier w/ PDANET 3.0

Hey guys just wanted to make anyone aware who hadn't heard that the latest version of PDANET now comes with a setting to hide tethering usage from your carrier

Do you have a link for us lazy folks. I don't see it in the market
Sent from the bowels of hell...

The trick doesn't work.
People are still getting emails from AT&T.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

rjohnstone said:
The trick doesn't work.
People are still getting emails from AT&T.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
please cite your source material, don't just spread rumors if that is all they are, who that was using pdanet 3.0 has received an email? my bull **** detector is flying off the handle, especially considering 3.0 which provided the hide tethering feature JUST came out
http://www.junefabrics.com/android/index.php for you lazy folk, its not on market, you install on pc first then it installs on your phone

You could easily get this from the Market. Put your phone on airplane mode, then connect to the Internet using wifi. Search for pdanet in the Market and it will show up.

banes said:
Hey guys just wanted to make anyone aware who hadn't heard that the latest version of PDANET now comes with a setting to hide tethering usage from your carrier
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only problem is that it can only be use for one device at a time and it only works on Desktops and Laptops. Which means, no iPad, iPod, Xbox, PS3, etc. Barnacle is better

banes said:
please cite your source material, don't just spread rumors if that is all they are, who that was using pdanet 3.0 has received an email? my bull **** detector is flying off the handle, especially considering 3.0 which provided the hide tethering feature JUST came out
http://www.junefabrics.com/android/index.php for you lazy folk, its not on market, you install on pc first then it installs on your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you dumb? They can just see that you are using A LOT of data, they can't actually see you tethering......

Chubby_Skunk said:
Are you dumb? They can just see that you are using A LOT of data, they can't actually see you tethering......
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Click to collapse
no im actually pretty smart, are you dumb?
i never suggested that you use PDANET to download 50gb a month with your torrents, however there have been people served with tethering warning emails who have not even exceeded 2gb so please refrain from making bold assumptions, you could get caught using barnacle with a low usage just the same as pdanet except for that barnacle does not have hide tether usage as a feature
and yes i agree there is a downside that you can only use it on one device at a time and only certain devices, but everyones needs are different, if you are only using your pc or laptop and want take extra precautions to not lose your unlimited plan then use pdanet over barnacle, i personally only need my laptop connected, and realistically you could create an adhoc network with your PC that you tether with if you would like multiple devices connected at the same time
please if you are not here to contribute, just go away i dont want this thread clogged up with a ton of misinformation from a bunch of misinformed people with poor reading comprehension, i was just making a suggestion here, if you dont like it stfu and gtfo

banes said:
no im actually pretty smart, are you dumb?
i never suggested that you use PDANET to download 50gb a month with your torrents, however there have been people served with tethering warning emails who have not even exceeded 2gb so please refrain from making bold assumptions, you are far more likely to get caught using barnacle with a low usage, also keep in mind barnacle does not have hide tether usage as a feature please if you are not here to contribute, just go away i dont want this thread clogged up with a ton of misinformation from a bunch of misinformed people with poor reading comprehension
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah thats why I've gone over 10gb for the past 5 months and have never gotten an Email. But if you know how its working then you would know that they cant actually see that you are tethering. Its just from data usages from how people have been reporting it. Plus PDANet is a pain to use. I have to have the App on all of the devices I want to connect to? It has to be USB? and only one device???? thats too much to give away when I could be using my custom APN or Barnacle tether.....
btw. its not misinformation, its the truth

Chubby_Skunk said:
Yeah thats why I've gone over 10gb for the past 5 months and have never gotten an Email. But if you know how its working then you would know that they cant actually see that you are tethering. Its just from data usages from how people have been reporting it. Plus PDANet is a pain to use. I have to have the App on all of the devices I want to connect to? It has to be USB? and only one device???? thats too much to give away when I could be using my custom APN or Barnacle tether.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as i said before, there have been people with low usage who have received emails, don't assume that high usage is the method they are using to crack down
are you implying that someone who watches tons of HD quality vids and creates high GB per month usage is going to receive a tethering notice? we all don't really know how its working, so please refrain from talking out your butthole when no one really knows the facts
if its truth as opposed to misinformation, then please cite sources, otherwise youre just talking out your butthole once again, til you can show your evidence, you might as well have made up everything you said
and if you don't like pdanet, theres a simple solution, dont use it, and leave this thread, theres plenty of people who might find this useful and appreciate the extra precaution taken with pdanets new feature

banes said:
as i said before, there have been people with low usage who have received emails, don't assume that high usage is the method they are using to crack down
are you implying that someone who watches tons of HD quality vids and creates high GB per month usage is going to receive a tethering notice? we all don't really know how its working, so please refrain from talking out your butthole when no one really knows the facts
if its truth as opposed to misinformation, then please cite sources, otherwise youre just talking out your butthole once again, til you can show your evidence, you might as well have made up everything you said
and if you don't like pdanet, theres a simple solution, dont use it, and leave this thread, theres plenty of people who might find this useful and appreciate the extra precaution taken with pdanets new feature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im talking out of my buthole? Explain how I do that please
Here; my friend never tethers and he got an email from AT&T being acused of tethering. Look at his data usage.

just so we don't all drop our guards thinking we won't get caught if we just keep our usage low
http://www.reddit.com/r/technology/comments/g62wv/i_woke_up_this_morning_to_this_lovely_email_from/

Chubby_Skunk said:
Im talking out of my buthole? Explain how I do that please
Here; my friend never tethers and he got an email from AT&T being acused of tethering. Look at his data usage.
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Click to collapse
ive never used an iphone, so i have to ask, if you are using a jailbroken phone with an app that is not the standard iphone att tethering app, why would it register under the iphones att statistics? i would be much more satisfied with an article or some other more credible source than a pic of a random iphone statistic with your anecdotal experience attached to it (unreliable narrator problem)

banes said:
ive never used an iphone, so i have to ask, if you are using a jailbroken phone with an app that is not the standard iphone att tethering app, why would it register under the iphones att statistics? i would be much more satisfied with an article or some other more credible source than a pic of a random iphone statistic with your anecdotal experience attached to it (unreliable narrator problem)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because tethering Apps are shortcuts for APNs really. So the tethering counter counts data going through a tethering APN. Therefore any tethering app that is a APN shortcut (MyWi) would be counted because it goes through the tethering APN.....
So are you going to explain how to talk through my butthole, or are you going to ignore that and look stupid for saying it?

Chubby_Skunk said:
Because tethering Apps are shortcuts for APNs really. So the tethering counter counts data going through a tethering APN. Therefore any tethering app that is a APN shortcut (MyWi) would be counted because it goes through the tethering APN.....
So are you going to explain how to talk through my butthole, or are you going to ignore that and look stupid for saying it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said before all u gave me was a pic with a likely story to go with it, please cite a credible source, I have no evidence that the story behind the pic is true, I mean why do u even have a pic of ur friends usage, its awfully convenient and I like to get my facts straight before I buy into something and forums I've learned are breeding grounds for huge amounts of misinformation, honestly u just seem to be trolling here so pardon me if I don't just buy ur anonymous pic with unverified story
And yes talking with ur butthole I didn't think this need an explanation but... http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=talking out of your ass

banes said:
Like I said before all u gave me was a pic with a likely story to go with it, please cite a credible source, I have no evidence that the story behind the pic is true, I mean why do u even have a pic of his usage its awfully convenient and I like to get my facts straight before I buy into something and forums I've learned ae breeding grounds for huge amounts of misinformation
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, then cite your sources saying that people on Android phones are being caught for unoffical tethering and that AT&T can actually see it on Android phones....
btw that picture was for another forum. I got it from my friend when this whole thing started...

Chubby_Skunk said:
Alright, then cite your sources saying that people on Android phones are being caught for unoffical tethering and that AT&T can actually see it on Android phones....
btw that picture was for another forum. I got it from my friend when this whole thing started...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know how they do it that's the point, no one does, att has not disclosed how they do it in order to avoid to having people figure ways around it, so since we are all just guessing at it, I suggest we err on the side of caution hence why I created this thread to inform people,not to attract trolls like moths to a flame, and for the record I try to maintain my usage around 2gb to be safe because u could be right although I believe I read somewhere that someone with low usage was sent a warning as well so that is where my doubt comes from, truthfully I haven't even looked into how pdanet is hiding tethering usage exactly or if it actually works, but like I said I believe in erring on the side of caution

I tethered my Atrix to my iPhone 4 when I was working on it at school, probably no more than 20MB. Got a letter in the mail, a call, and the text. I, on average, use around 6GB/month (non tethering). They're just mad that my $2500/year isn't good enough for them. Sorry, let me give you 20 of my unborn children.

banes said:
I don't know how they do it that's the point, no one does, att has not disclosed how they do it in order to avoid to having people figure ways around it, so since we are all just guessing at it, I suggest we err on the side of caution hence why I created this thread to inform people,not to attract trolls like moths to a flame, and for the record I try to maintain my usage around 2gb to be safe because u could be right although I believe I read somewhere that someone with low usage was sent a warning as well so that is where my doubt comes from, truthfully I haven't even looked into how pdanet is hiding tethering usage exactly or if it actually works, but like I said I believe in erring on the side of caution
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ill leave it at this:
My guess...
AT&T is working there way down the list of people with high data usage or whatever they look for and they are emailing them.
If that is true, my time is coming up.
I'll remember to PM you when/if I get an email from AT&T regarding unauthorized tethering usage.
"At one point in everyone's life (that posts something online), everyone will have been a troll at least once."

nosit1 said:
I tethered my Atrix to my iPhone 4 when I was working on it at school, probably no more than 20MB. Got a letter in the mail, a call, and the text. I, on average, use around 6GB/month (non tethering). They're just mad that my $2500/year isn't good enough for them. Sorry, let me give you 20 of my unborn children.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What method did u tether with?

[Q] Sprint monitoring Hotspot?

Anyone know if Sprint is actively monitoring Hotspot usage on custom ROMs? I know they can, but never really worried about it since I only use it once every month or so for small amounts of data.
The other day I enabled it for a couple minutes just to test a tablet's wifi access out, and less than 5 minutes later, I got a message:
From 4483:
SprintFreeMsg: Turn your Evo 4G into a Wi-Fi router and connect up to 5 devices with Sprint Mobile Hotspot.
It could be a coincidence, but the timing is suspicious. Is there real concern about being charged/dropped? I've read some have been dropped for excessive forced roaming using custom ROMs, but didn't know if I should suspend use of limited Hotspot usage unless I pay the $30 monthly (which I'd never do for < 1 hour usage / month).

wvufan said:
Anyone know if Sprint is actively monitoring Hotspot usage on custom ROMs? I know they can, but never really worried about it since I only use it once every month or so for small amounts of data.
The other day I enabled it for a couple minutes just to test a tablet's wifi access out, and less than 5 minutes later, I got a message:
From 4483:
SprintFreeMsg: Turn your Evo 4G into a Wi-Fi router and connect up to 5 devices with Sprint Mobile Hotspot.
It could be a coincidence, but the timing is suspicious. Is there real concern about being charged/dropped? I've read some have been dropped for excessive forced roaming using custom ROMs, but didn't know if I should suspend use of limited Hotspot usage unless I pay the $30 monthly (which I'd never do for < 1 hour usage / month).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ha, I jsut got the same one, and I never tether. Coincident

Anyone know if Sprint is actively monitoring Hotspot usage on custom ROMs? I know they can,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no they cant.

wvufan said:
Anyone know if Sprint is actively monitoring Hotspot usage on custom ROMs? I know they can, but never really worried about it since I only use it once every month or so for small amounts of data.
The other day I enabled it for a couple minutes just to test a tablet's wifi access out, and less than 5 minutes later, I got a message:
From 4483:
SprintFreeMsg: Turn your Evo 4G into a Wi-Fi router and connect up to 5 devices with Sprint Mobile Hotspot.
It could be a coincidence, but the timing is suspicious. Is there real concern about being charged/dropped? I've read some have been dropped for excessive forced roaming using custom ROMs, but didn't know if I should suspend use of limited Hotspot usage unless I pay the $30 monthly (which I'd never do for < 1 hour usage / month).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's coincidence.
They can't tell if you're tethering from a custom rom.

This has been discussed by verizon customers for some time now. Carriers can monitor tethering, rooted or not. They can also block tethering apps in the market, which is what verizon and the others have done. Sprint doesnt block the apps in the market and could care less if your tethering without paying for it. If you pay the $10 a month for premium data you have unlimited data. They care less how you use it.

I was wondering the same thing since some ROMs come with Wireless Tether, which comes from the market, and the Sense ones come with Mobile Hot Spot. I remember reading that Mobile Hot Spot connects the the devices differently than the Wireless Tether and didn't know if Sprint was able to trace if you're using one or the other. Looks like they can't tell the difference between the two. And since you have unlimited data, they'll let you use as much data to tether as you want.

mikeyinid said:
Carriers can monitor tethering, rooted or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you base this claim on?

mattykinsx said:
What do you base this claim on?
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Click to collapse
My girlfriend has a Nexus S 4G(unrooted) and according to her she tethered for a day and the next was told to pay for it to continue to tether.

goodboynyc said:
My girlfriend has a Nexus S 4G(unrooted) and according to her she tethered for a day and the next was told to pay for it to continue to tether.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure it has some sort of Sprint apps on it like SprintIQ/Sprint Zone or something that could potentially monitor that.
Especially if she used the tether function that is built in.
But if you use AOSP or some sort of ROM with the Sprint monitor apps removed it they can't monitor it.
There's no way for Sprint to know if I, with my Evo, tether with CM7

mattykinsx said:
What do you base this claim on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://appadvice.com/appnn/2011/03/unauthorized-tethering-warnings-atts-bark-bigger-bite
Thats about att
http://stopthecap.com/2011/05/05/ve...start-cracking-down-on-tethering-freeloaders/
This is just in general.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news...own-on-wireless-tethering-app-for-android.ars
This talks about Sprint being the only carrier that doesnt block tethering apps in the market.
.
If you think for a second they cant tell whos tethering, your wrong. I cant give you the science behind it, but carriers do know whos tethering. I think alot of it based on usage. If your tethering and playing COD, that would probably piss them off more than just checking emails, or browsing forums.

mattykinsx said:
I'm sure it has some sort of Sprint apps on it like SprintIQ/Sprint Zone or something that could potentially monitor that.
Especially if she used the tether function that is built in.
But if you use AOSP or some sort of ROM with the Sprint monitor apps removed it they can't monitor it.
There's no way for Sprint to know if I, with my Evo, tether with CM7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
since the nexus s has 0 sprint apps on it, that is not the case.

mikeyinid said:
http://appadvice.com/appnn/2011/03/unauthorized-tethering-warnings-atts-bark-bigger-bite
Thats about att
http://stopthecap.com/2011/05/05/ve...start-cracking-down-on-tethering-freeloaders/
This is just in general.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/news...own-on-wireless-tethering-app-for-android.ars
This talks about Sprint being the only carrier that doesnt block tethering apps in the market.
.
If you think for a second they cant tell whos tethering, your wrong. I cant give you the science behind it, but carriers do know whos tethering. I think alot of it based on usage. If your tethering and playing COD, that would probably piss them off more than just checking emails, or browsing forums.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure it is based on usage but that's no proof that they know you're tethering.
A reasonable person could use 5 GB a month tethering and I see no way and no proof that they would have any idea, unless they could see that you have downloaded a tether app from the market.
mikeyinid said:
since the nexus s has 0 sprint apps on it, that is not the case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're misunderstanding.
Just because it doesn't have Sprint TV on it doesn't mean it doesn't have Sprint Framework.
Obviously you can activate and update your PRL/Profile with the Nexus S 4g so there is obviously some sort of Sprint framework and it's conceivable, that if they can tell you're tethering and it's not based on usage, (and there's been no evidence to prove they can presented here yet) that would be how.

So you think att or verizon will just send someone a letter or text saying "we know your tethering, knock it off" without REALLY knowing? Sounds like bad business to me.

mattykinsx said:
What do you base this claim on?
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There are a variety of ways they *could* track it if they wanted to. Whether or not they do is a different question, but they easily could. For example. think about some of what your computer tends to do in the background. If you're running Windows, it pings windowsupdate now and then, checks for antivirus updates from a Norton/McAfee/Kaspersky/whatever server, and even pings time.windows.com every now and then to sync your clock. All tell-tale signs you're using data on a Windows machine. I'm sure that similar clues can be identified for Mac and Linux, and that's just one way to go about it. Then it's just a question of matching up the phone's IP address at the time to an account, which I expect they track already.
Bottom line is that if someone gave me a directive and a budget to create a system to identify people who are tethering, I could come up with something that would probably be at least 90% effective, without any regard to what's on your phone.

bkrodgers is right. I don't know if Sprint does monitor, hence my question, but there are ways to look at the packets being sent to identify the source with reasonable accuracy. In addition to things like the user agent on browsers, which can be overridden but will give you away most of the time, there are other ways. There are well known network analysis tools that can look at the way low-level network negotiations work and accurately identify the specific version and operating system of a computer, and that's not even necessary because of the user agent and update signatures associated with various operating systems.
Because my tethering/hotspot usage is low compared to my normal usage (multiple gigabytes per month of podcasts and streaming audio usage), I don't think Sprint will care nearly so much about a few megs of tethering usage, but I also don't want to lose the good deal I have on my Sprint account. Thanks all for the feedback. I really wish I had some insight from a Sprint insider.

mikeyinid said:
So you think att or verizon will just send someone a letter or text saying "we know your tethering, knock it off" without REALLY knowing? Sounds like bad business to me.
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Do you really want me to answer that question? lol
wvufan said:
bkrodgers is right. I don't know if Sprint does monitor, hence my question, but there are ways to look at the packets being sent to identify the source with reasonable accuracy. In addition to things like the user agent on browsers, which can be overridden but will give you away most of the time, there are other ways. There are well known network analysis tools that can look at the way low-level network negotiations work and accurately identify the specific version and operating system of a computer, and that's not even necessary because of the user agent and update signatures associated with various operating systems.
Because my tethering/hotspot usage is low compared to my normal usage (multiple gigabytes per month of podcasts and streaming audio usage), I don't think Sprint will care nearly so much about a few megs of tethering usage, but I also don't want to lose the good deal I have on my Sprint account. Thanks all for the feedback. I really wish I had some insight from a Sprint insider.
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I really don't know if they can tell or not but I haven't really seen evidence that they actually can besides knowing the market apps you get or ridiculous usage.
When you tether via Android it's the same kinda concept as having a wireless router. [no, it is not the same exact thing]
Can your ISP tell you have a router?
Because routers have a firewall built-in, usually.
But that's not applicable to tether apps.
Furthermore, even I have received the Sprint text message about the tether charge and I have never tethered.
I'm *not* saying is or isn't capable of telling if you're tethering, I just want some proof.
Edit: I just thought of a *possible way* they could tell.
MAC Addresses.
If there are multiple MAC addresses that are using your connection that would give it away right there.
Is that what's going on? No proof.

I should clarify that I'm not saying I believe Sprint is actually using anything like what I described. Though I wouldn't rule out Verizon and AT&T...they seem to know. For some reason I think Sprint's less evil, which might be naive. But they also seem to be less concerned about how much data people are using.
I don't think it's true that Sprint doesn't care if you tether though. If they didn't, they wouldn't be having manufacturers strip it out of their ROMs, and they wouldn't be selling a $30/month add-on. But that doesn't mean they care enough to go to the trouble I describe. At least not at this point.
I think they may have used data usage as an indicator in the past, but with streaming HD videos, music, and all sorts of other data heavy apps, it's easily possible to go past a couple GB with legit phone-only usage. At this point they'd need to go to something more sophisticated, and I don't think Sprint's concerned at that level.

mattykinsx said:
Edit: I just thought of a *possible way* they could tell.
MAC Addresses.
If there are multiple MAC addresses that are using your connection that would give it away right there.
Is that what's going on? No proof.
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Actually, I think they can only see the MAC address of the device directly connected to their network. Your ISP just sees your router's MAC address (though most routers have the ability to spoof the MAC address of the machine you were originally setup on, if your cable company requires that). Since your phone is basically the router, they'd just see the phone's MAC address.
But regardless, it still just comes down to whether they care enough to invest in a system to detect that. One way or the other, it can be done with pretty good accuracy if they really wanted to.

hhmmm, no comment

[WORKAROUND] Bypassing Tmobile's Anti Tethering Policy

Recently Tmobile finally started filtering their data and are attempting to prevent all users no matter the ROM or software on the phones from tethering their laptop to the phone.
As soon as you tether and try to view a webpage on your laptop, you will get redirected to a sales page, where TMobile tells you that you need to purchase an additional feature for $15 USD a month. This is outrageous considering you already pay for a certain ammount of data per month, and as long as you remain within that they are just being greedy and are nickle and diming us.
The workarounds / bypass are detailed here:
http://benbuchacher.com/posts/2012/06/bypassing-tmobiles-tethering-filters.html

Using CyanogenMod 9 I tether just fine...

This just started today for me Ive tethered since cupcake just fine.. There are other reports too using Cyanogenmod or any other ROM will not help you when this rolls out to your area.

e495957 said:
Using CyanogenMod 9 I tether just fine...
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Cm9 here too, still blocked though

We ran into this problem several months ago but were using the LG Optimus T phone for tethering. It ran fine for a day or so and then we started getting the Tmobile message screen to upgrade. We had plenty of gigs left and couldnt figure out why we could no longer tether. We are heading on vacation next month and this will hopefully help us bypass Tmobile's junk. Haven't tried our Galaxy S2's yet so we may be worried all for nothing..
UPDATE: Tethering works great on the S2 thru Tmobile,.,,Hotspot does not. Got a screen on my phone for Tmobile to sign up for it monthly when I searched the Help link...laptop is asking for a Network Key to access the Hotspot...

Try the ClockworkMod tethering app.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.tether

HOW DO I TUNNEL!?!?!??!

I didn't have any trouble using USB or wifi tethering on my bone stock galaxy nexus, but they might not have rolled this system out back then. This is definitely good information though, the wife wants to use this when we're out on business.
sdhanjal15 said:
HOW DO I TUNNEL!?!?!??!
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You need a Virtual Private Network or VPN. I can't post links so you'll have to look it up yourself.

So I have a question for you guys...
I understand that I need to switch the user agent on my laptop when tethering, but what about when I tether to something like a Roku box or a Playstation 3?

The reason why only some people are having problems with the tethering is because T-Mobile is including hidden APN settings in the new software updates and the software on new devices. These hidden APNs helps T-Mobile detect tethering. Go to this thread to see what I mean, also you can PM the OP and he can tell you exactly what he had to do, I think he had to decompile the framwork,apk or framwork.jar one and remove them from there I can not remember exactly.
Edit:
GROGG88 said:
I will gladly discuss it here... Both Elegancia 3.0.0 and version B of my rom are using resources from 3.32.401.105 in order to achieve two functions:
1. Unlock APNs
2. Provide leedroid tweak compatibility
The only problem with this is the fact that they are no longer "true tmous builds". I refer to them as "franken-builds"... I have not gone through all the differences between framework-res, systemui, framework.jar, services.jar, etc... but I can tell you that certain small bugs have been reported with the xe build that others have reported as fixed in the official tmous version.
The APNs are written to apns.xml within the framework-res.apk. This is why we used XE components to unlock the APNs at first. You can distinguish what roms are built this way by the framework version:
TMOUS: 20120412.202737
XE: 20120321.232857
My unlocking mod is the stock TMOUS framework-res.apk, but it has the apns.xml from XE. This ensures that the rest of the rom stays in tact and that no bugs will be induced by mixed resources... I've also included this mod as an option during install on version A of my rom.
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CapnBoost said:
I didn't have any trouble using USB or wifi tethering on my bone stock galaxy nexus, but they might not have rolled this system out back then. This is definitely good information though, the wife wants to use this when we're out on business.
You need a Virtual Private Network or VPN. I can't post links so you'll have to look it up yourself.
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Can you send in a pm?
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk 2

Just so I am clear...the way T-Mobile is doing this is by seeing the user agent of the browser. Since I tether my Galaxy Tab Wifi to my Gnex from time to time I should be in the clear correct? Since I am not using a browser on a laptop, but rather on another Android device.

Thanks for the post, will try this out

Wait...so what if I use a desktop user agent from a mobile browser to grab the full page. That's going to get blocked as well...?

I got that problem with my new Galaxy S2... luckily the rom I flashed took care of that problem.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app

solarus2011 said:
Just so I am clear...the way T-Mobile is doing this is by seeing the user agent of the browser. Since I tether my Galaxy Tab Wifi to my Gnex from time to time I should be in the clear correct? Since I am not using a browser on a laptop, but rather on another Android device.
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Just tested. It works on almost all of the UserAgents becauses Chrome/IE/FireFox.. Hell IPad even works. You should be fine for now. I hope they stick to this solution instead of going to more preventive measures because this is easily bypassed.. My Skype/Steam/Trillian/AIM/etc all still connect perfectly even without bypassing because it's only blocking Desktop useragents. The stupidest part of this is requesting the desktop version of sites like on the Google Chrome Android browser results in the blocked page as well.. :|

Nexus S Stock
I have a Nexus S and I have gotten all my updates are via T-mobile OTA updates, however I have never had a problem tethering.

MischievousMrFoxx said:
I have a Nexus S and I have gotten all my updates are via T-mobile OTA updates, however I have never had a problem tethering.
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None of your updates have been from T-Mobile. All those OTA updates came straight from Google. One of the things that ended with the nexus s was that the carriers weren't allowed to really touch the phone at all. As such, T-Mo never sold it in their stores. You could get it at Best Buy, etc, but not at official stores.

I believe this only works if you bought the device from T-mobile right? since i can tether on my iPhone just fine (althought on 2G/EDGE) I can't confirm it with android though, but if they are ruling this all over the network we're gonna have a bad time.

databaiz said:
I believe this only works if you bought the device from T-mobile right? since i can tether on my iPhone just fine (althought on 2G/EDGE) I can't confirm it with android though, but if they are ruling this all over the network we're gonna have a bad time.
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Yeah I'm pretty sure this is with T-Mo-sourced devices specifically (as in, you got it at the T-Mo store or it has the T-Mo logo on the phone itself).
Also, nice South Park reference. ".....you're gonna have a BAD time!"