Database Users

Just got pwnd by At&T-Mobile

Free T-Mobile Msg: Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi Sharing access may be blocked unless you add a Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi Sharing plan available at my.t-mobile.com
followed by this within seconds of the first msg :
Free T-Mobile Msg: Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi Sharing access has been blocked. Please add a Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi Sharing plan available at my.t-mobile.com
I remember them talking about cracking down on people tethering without a tether plan
but didn't think it was possible

I didn't get that message
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

Do you tether often? Or download a lot when you tether?
Maybe you're just one of those users that has exceeded what they consider "normal" and "average" usage.

How much data do you use a month?

Never download. but I'm sure it's being exceeded when I play starcraft II lol.
I did stream Netflix heavily and would get capped to edge after hitting 5gb+ but that was months ago. I never received messages or got regulated after I stopped up until today while I was browsing casually.

This crap should be illegal.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

I had heard that was going around, anyone know how they are doing it?
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA App

I think they are randomly sending ppl messages. They sent my gf a message today saying about parental control for 4.99 so kids dont go over minutes or messages. We have 3 lines and all three have unlimited everything so message was pretty lame.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

resinous said:
Never download. but I'm sure it's being exceeded when I play starcraft II lol.
I did stream Netflix heavily and would get capped to edge after hitting 5gb+ but that was months ago. I never received messages or got regulated after I stopped up until today while I was browsing casually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's probably how they busted you, not quite aware of any phone that can play Starcraft II, all they would need to know is the servers used for the game... might have just been excessive use I suppose.

played SCII while tethered from my phone to PC is what I meant. Not directly from my Nexus 1, lol.

resinous said:
played SCII while tethered from my phone to PC is what I meant. Not directly from my Nexus 1, lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what I meant, the only way you could do it would be through tethering...

resinous said:
Free T-Mobile Msg: Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi Sharing access may be blocked unless you add a Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi Sharing plan available at my.t-mobile.com
followed by this within seconds of the first msg :
Free T-Mobile Msg: Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi Sharing access has been blocked. Please add a Phone Tethering & Wi-Fi Sharing plan available at my.t-mobile.com
I remember them talking about cracking down on people tethering without a tether plan
but didn't think it was possible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent them an official letter asking them how they have come to this conclusion.
Have they been monitoring your traffic? If yes, did they have police permission to do so, and if yes on what grounds. Declare that you consider taking legal action against them for privacy concerns.

Yeah there have been rumors that they'll start charging for those they believe are tethering without permission.
The only way they can discover this is if they are sniffing/recording your packets, and this is a major privacy concern, as even secure (https) communication can be read if they record the keys in a packet stream.
All your bank info, and email, and any other service you use, via tethering or just on the phone is potentially at risk if they are snooping around to see if you're tethering.

Not really...
Your device broadcasts it's ID pretty much everywhere it goes. All they have to do is look for tablets going through their servers...
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App

danger-rat said:
Your device broadcasts it's ID pretty much everywhere it goes. All they have to do is look for tablets going through their servers...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're going to have to define what you mean, because being in Networking/IT for 8 years, I know what you're saying but they still have to sniff your packets.
I think they're going based on data amount, from what people are saying. Which is why my family has not gotten a notice.

I definitely abused the tethering privileges. I'm probably one of the select few to get this notice.

georgemv said:
Sent them an official letter asking them how they have come to this conclusion.
Have they been monitoring your traffic? If yes, did they have police permission to do so, and if yes on what grounds. Declare that you consider taking legal action against them for privacy concerns.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But aren't you also breaking the rules since you're tethering without a tethering plan?

My concern isn't about tethering my concern is that they are spying on data itself to tell that you are tethering. I work for a company that uses https for web mail. And that's a major privacy concern since we handle sensitive data.
Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk

flibbertigibbet007 said:
You're going to have to define what you mean, because being in Networking/IT for 8 years, I know what you're saying but they still have to sniff your packets.
I think they're going based on data amount, from what people are saying. Which is why my family has not gotten a notice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, from my limited knowledge, I believe that a service broadcasts certain information about itself in order to communicate effectively with other devices...
Hulu block android.
Web pages render for mobile devices.
When I log on to my bank from a new device, I have authenticate it (and it's not cookie based).
Digital fingerprints contain a ton of information that you, the user, make available to any service you interact with...
My guess is that the carrier looks at large data users, and scrutinizes the use. I would also say that the carrier is well within their rights to confirm that services using their network are authorized to do so?
Correct me if i'm wrong - it won't be the first time... xD
What I don't agree with is the fact that, if I pay for 5G of data, what the hell does it matter how I use it? If I tether my nook to download music it's wrong, but if I download it on my phone and transfer via SD that's OK? Just wierd to me...
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA Premium App

danger-rat said:
Hulu block android.
Web pages render for mobile devices.
When I log on to my bank from a new device, I have authenticate it (and it's not cookie based).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+Hulu, can tell based on browser data that is sent over http. and I believe flash also provides data about what system you're on. (also they can tell by your public ip address what you're probably using their service from, like a cell phone)
+Webpages, also they get browser responces in headers over http. And redirect you to a mobile page. (eg. m.website.com)
+Bank accounts, I know exactly what you mean about this, they normally can tell from IP address only. But other than that it's cookie, and Mac address(probably from a java call?)
In my opinion, I believe it's going beyond the Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 2000:
http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/judiciary/hju67343.000/hju67343_0.htm
But I don't know the full details of the act, I'm going on my understanding.
Of course I'm talking only about US Customers of ATandT.
Edit: So from what I've read, the privacy act would only not allow any information they can provide about how they know you're using tethering as evidence in a court case, so a lawsuit against them would ultimately win in the customers favor.

Just Pissed My Pants

Verizon just anounced they are working on finding root users and limiting or FULLY SUSPENDING DATA if the user is one of the following:
1. Rooted
2. Leaked Firmware
3. Using a custom rom that is modifing the system (All roms do!)
4. Overclocking (How would they know that?)
UPDATE: Verizon is developing the program and will take place in May-June.

What is your source on this information?
Sent from my HTC Evo

tyvallely said:
Verizon just anounced they are working on finding root users and limiting or FULLY SUSPENDING DATA if the user is one of the following:
1. Rooted
2. Leaked Firmware
3. Using a custom rom that is modifing the system (All roms do!)
4. Overclocking (How would they know that?)
UPDATE: Verizon is developing the program and will take place in May-June.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sue for breach of contract. they want to suspend it because people are tethering "Illegally" well according to my contract i have UNLIMITED data. does not say i have a LIMIT or how fast i can go thru it. if they do this they will need to start charging when friends use ur phone for checking facebook, twitter whatever uses data because then verizon hasnt authorized ur friends to use it. this **** is getting old. im starting to agree with sprints dan hesse when he says he looked up unlimited in the dictionary and found it says nothing about throttling or a limit.

Yeah Verizon is gonna have a thousands of pissed off people calling them. If you guys want P3Droid's link on what he heard here it is:
http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...rooting-manufacturers-carriers.html#post65013

I have unlimited data too. And if they think they can just take away our data plan...I dont know what to say...

I wouldn't install any updates if I were you guys lol. I would think our awesome devs will have some type of solution for this. Maybe one last " epic " ROM to use before the update that blocks VZW from looking into your phone.
I can't imagine that VZW would create some type of " big brother " software that automatically traces your DX to see if you are modded or not without an update.

My company issued Droid x's to employees and just announced that Verizon and or I.T. department will find rooted droids. Wonder how they do it? Needless to say I unrooted my x and it sucks now

Maybe that will come in the official 2.3.3 :'( Let's do as much hacking as possible before its over.

tyvallely said:
Maybe that will come in the official 2.3.3 :'( Let's do as much hacking as possible before its over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
P3droid also announced on his twitter that if you flashed the leaked gingerbread rom that you have already been tracked =(

tyvallely said:
Verizon just anounced they are working on finding root users and limiting or FULLY SUSPENDING DATA if the user is one of the following:
1. Rooted
2. Leaked Firmware
3. Using a custom rom that is modifing the system (All roms do!)
4. Overclocking (How would they know that?)
UPDATE: Verizon is developing the program and will take place in May-June.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can they do that? I did all of thee above. However I didn't steal wifi tether like most of you a holes. I rooted so I could remove crap like NFS and kindle and play angry birds without ads (I would've paid if they'd let me). Whatever, I'd just leave VZW. F**k their ETF, I got other bills I'm not paying.

Seriously, one way or another everyone's dx was purchased (not leased) at some time which makes it your property, not Verizon's. Is there really any harm in customizing your phone? Or having access to the system files of the phone?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA Premium App

I call shenanegains.

demorse said:
P3droid also announced on his twitter that if you flashed the leaked gingerbread rom that you have already been tracked =(
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As of now I dont give a f if they think they can suspend my account because I'll stay on the phone all day complaining about how the phone sucked anyway and how many problems it had.

thewahlrus said:
Can they do that? I did all of thee above. However I didn't steal wifi tether like most of you a holes. I rooted so I could remove crap like NFS and kindle and play angry birds without ads (I would've paid if they'd let me). Whatever, I'd just leave VZW. F**k their ETF, I got other bills I'm not paying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah they can and that's why everyone is unfolding as we speak. Also I removed all the apps and **** that came on the phone and slowed it down. But I do have to confess if I knew ahead of time that they were gonna do this I would never used wifi tether.

Oh and by the way if wifi tether is such a problem than why is it on the market? And legally wifi tether is totally different from the 3G hotspot because if you compare the two wifi tether has more options and was available first. Also the developers can decide the fees of wifi tether but another company can't just rise there fee prices.

jeraspie28 said:
Seriously, one way or another everyone's dx was purchased (not leased) at some time which makes it your property, not Verizon's. Is there really any harm in customizing your phone? Or having access to the system files of the phone?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No not at all there is nothing wrong with having access to system files and making your phone suitable for the way you use it. Good point.

Does no body have a sack or what these are our phones if we mod them it's are business wifi tether is different but modding ur own hardware is ur right not a privilege.
There are other carriers mainly sprint and the soon nexus s so let them piss me off I got 3 smart phones with unlimited data and will leave in a heart beat.

Great. First I hear motorola us locking boot loaders, and now verizon is banning data if they catch you rooted. What's next?
Sent from my Focused DROID X

tyvallely said:
Oh and by the way if wifi tether is such a problem than why is it on the market? And legally wifi tether is totally different from the 3G hotspot because if you compare the two wifi tether has more options and was available first. Also the developers can decide the fees of wifi tether but another company can't just rise there fee prices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually from a software standpoint 3g hotspot and tethering are VERY different. Tethering programs such as Wireless Tether for root users are using an Ad-hoc network that can only connect to one device at a time. Also Ad-hoc uses much more power and essentially all it is is usb tethering without the chord which is built into vanilla android and wireless providers have no authority to limit us from doing this. 3g mobile hotspot on the other hand is a service that Verizon provides that essentially makes your phone into a true wireless router. You are capable of attaching to numerous devices (up to 5?) and this is not an Ad-hoc network but a true wirless (wifi) network that, I believe, works just like your ethernet router at home.
What Verizon is doing here is trying to block the competition by baking this security feature into their phones, forcing you to use their 3g hotspot - this is why the free hotspot hack still works, they werent trying to target those using the TBH patch to "borrow" this service, they are targeting application's developed to circumvent the 3g mobile hotspot app all together. Its really a joke if you ask me and completely goes against what android stands for.
Verizon could give a crap about android though, thats why they attempt to put things like the VZ app store in to place so they can monitor the programs they offer (finally they have the iphone, its like a match made in heaven!) I dont know at what point exactly verizon started becoming Nazis, but thats what it has become. If they could, they would circumvent any openess that is offered from their phones through google and they are clearly making as many steps as possible toward this goal.
[email protected] off verizon, Ill switch over to a pre-paid plan and unlock a cool android phone for it next time, the best network can go F it self.

Hold up...
Wait just a moment. Wasn't there something not that long ago. That a judge ruled that a "Jailbreak" wasn't illegal? That once you've purchased a device legally, you are therefore able to do what you wish, as long as you stay within the confines of the law? How does rooting break the law? You're not stealing intellectual property. You're not harming anyone. Last I heard, Google is still claiming Android is OPEN SOURCE (that is until Honeycomb..A-holes) right? Most of us are forced into 2 yr contacts at $30 plus a month for unlimited data. So, let me ask. Is it illegal to buy a new car, buy some nice RIM's, drop a few 12's in the trunk, tint the windows, and add some nitrous under the hood to "Go Fast, Go Fast"!? I think not!
Now to those who've abused these cool hacks, then it's to your shame that we are now facing these possibilities. Just because you can break the rules, doesn't mean everyone should.
But then again, who am I? Just another rooted fool that believes in Democracy, Liberty 2.0 and justice for all!

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

[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?
Click to expand...
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?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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

Sprint Blocks Tethering Apps...

Here is your proof:
http://www.sprintfeed.com/2011/10/s...arket/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/1...locking-tethering-apps-in-the-android-market/
There are a million ways to get around this of course: market hacks, downloading the apps from other sources, side-loading... they're included with most roms... blah blah blah.
Just bringing this to your attention in case you were trying to d/l it from the market and it's not showing up. Now you know why

Just checked the market and looks like you're right. No PdaNet. No Easy Tether. Can still get Easy Tether on Amazon's app store however.

This will only effect the NOOBS.
CapsLockKey said:
Just checked the market and looks like you're right. No PdaNet. No Easy Tether. Can still get Easy Tether on Amazon's app store however.
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This will only effect the Noobs. We can easy download the tether programs to our computers and then copy them on to our android phones.

I knew this. I just ingored it
sent from my cm7-ified epic

Why do they give us data hungry phone and then want to limit our usage?
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA Premium App

Technically we agreed not to use these, but still. Getting around it is so trivial, and yes, this might trip up a few noobs, but chances are if you're that nooby you wouldn't have a need for, or even realize that, tethering is an option.
Add that all up, and it seems like the only thing this move can get you is bad PR/karma.
You may as well be "cool","allow" it, and play the "other carriers try to tell you how you can use your phone and limit your access to certain apps" card, cause it's happening either way.

Sprint can and will cancel service with high data usage.
Sent from my SCH-I405 using xda premium

I use my PC and go to http://market.android.com/ and login to google account.
Easier to find apps that way anyway. Plus it shows all that I've ever downloaded if I look at my library.

jamice4u said:
This will only effect the Noobs. We can easy download the tether programs to our computers and then copy them on to our android phones.
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That's what the OP says dude...
swear0730 said:
I use my PC and go to http://market.android.com/ and login to google account.
Easier to find apps that way anyway. Plus it shows all that I've ever downloaded if I look at my library.
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Easier to find apps, yes. Shows your previous download library, yes. Once you click on an item that is no longer offerred, it will tell you its no longer available for download. You basically stare at the husk of an app it once was. But it doesn't tell you that til after you click on it to view its details.

Meh i never used tether apps i use the official hotpot hack

davidrules7778 said:
Meh i never used tether apps i use the official hotpot hack
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I like that one better. Its not an adhoc connection like the tether apps, but an actual hotspot that your computer actively looks for and can become a preferred network. Its just kewler.
Doesn't log your data usage though, only downside really.

Xhyperion said:
Sprint can and will cancel service with high data usage.
Sent from my SCH-I405 using xda premium
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What's about "unlimited data?"
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk

rangerover_95 said:
What's about "unlimited data?"
Sent from my SPH-D700 using Tapatalk
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Really only applies on your phone, as in, the data your phone is using. Tethering is a whole new realm. Sprint can tell if you're tethering or using your phone, so if you have a large amount of data through tethering, they'll flag you for it.
I think they're putting limits on tethering plans now, somewhere around 5GB or so I thought.

ArchangelRenzoku said:
I like that one better. Its not an adhoc connection like the tether apps, but an actual hotspot that your computer actively looks for and can become a preferred network. Its just kewler.
Doesn't log your data usage though, only downside really.
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Plus it is stable and doesn't cause reboots and its built into settings so u also get usb tethering too
Also i like it cause it has many different security types and i found one that works with my ds
Only one LOL

hayzooos said:
Sprint can tell if you're tethering or using your phone
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They can make you pay for the use of *their* tether app, but I'd like to see evidence that they can tell if your using the likes of a rooted phone with Wireless Tether. I think of this situation the way I viewed using a wired/wireless switch off your home broadband ISP back in the day. For me, Charter only allowed one registered MAC address to the cable modem, and there was some FUD spreading around that you'd get "busted" for using a switch to provide service to multiple computers. Of course there was no way to tell unless they get really invasive. Similar deal here. Hopefully restrictions on phone tethering will seem just as crazy in a few years.

I'm using TWC isp over wifi right now & its not showing up? WTF how is it that its not showing up over wifi?
Edit. I see the one by open gradin. But not the one by Muller
Sent from the Drivers Seat of my Suby txting and Driving doing 100MPH+ in a school zone! Ha.

hayzooos said:
Really only applies on your phone, as in, the data your phone is using. Tethering is a whole new realm. Sprint can tell if you're tethering or using your phone, so if you have a large amount of data through tethering, they'll flag you for it.
I think they're putting limits on tethering plans now, somewhere around 5GB or so I thought.
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Actually they can't. The data logger only kicks in if you pay for the Hotspot app. They can't tell the difference if you are tethering or downloading tons of movies to your phone.

ArchangelRenzoku said:
That's what the OP says dude...
Easier to find apps, yes. Shows your previous download library, yes. Once you click on an item that is no longer offerred, it will tell you its no longer available for download. You basically stare at the husk of an app it once was. But it doesn't tell you that til after you click on it to view its details.
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Click to collapse
Actually... I decided to use my Epic as a wireless hotspot about 3 days ago and was didn't find any wifi tether apps using my phone so I used my PC 'cause I knew I'd downloaded one before. (wifi tether). Went through my library, found it and pushed it to my phone.
(cool story bro)

hayzooos said:
Sprint can tell if you're tethering or using your phone
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You forgot "I think" in the beginning of that sentence - you can't "know" something that is false, so that would be the only edit that would make your sentence accurate. Oh, but you'd still be wrong, just to be clear
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

"Unlimited data" only means that you aren't going to get billed for going over x amount.
It doesn't mean Sprint just has to lay back and take it from someone who's costing them money to have as a customer, tethering or not. They reserve the right to tell any of us to beat it.