I just got a warning letter from AT&T in the mail for tethering without a tethering plan and they are threatening to eliminate my unlimited plan. I am going to stop now that they have warned me so I don't loose the plan but does anyone know how they detect it. I tethered a lot last month but I have been tethering for about 6 months now undetected. Last month though, I used 2GB of data compared to the 1GB I normally use. Is it only the spike which made them guess. I use the android wifi tether app. I heard a couple ways of how they do it.
1) They look at the user agent.
2) They look at the TCP/IP header for the number of hops. (Tetherers will have an extra hop) -if this is true if I used wired tether it would be fine
3) Just the spike in data usage.
I'm curious to know how they do it and if there is a way to stop them from knowing. There is a lot of this for the iphone but not for androids. Anybody know more about this
I have used wired tether and they stilll detect it.... Time for you to invest in home broadband.
How were you contacted or notified that you were tethering from AT&T? I have done it a number of times using wireless AP and never heard a thing.
My cell carrier Cricket Wireless recently merged with AIO wireless and switched from CDMA to GSM. I was given to March to get a new phone because my Galaxy S3 would not work on their network anymore since they switched to GSM.
Since they merged companies they also came out with all new wireless plans.. I was on the old plan which included tethering..
But I just got a OnePlus One since I needed to buy a GSM phone and had to switch to one of their new plans.. The thing is none of their new plans offer tethering, which is a huge step backwards if you ask me.. If they offered tethering still I would gladly pay for it but they just completely screwed us.. THe made us all buy new phones and gimped our plans and stripped tethering out of them.
My OnePlus One will let me tether since its Cyanogenmod even though my plan of course doesn't have tethering anymore . BUT I am concerned that my carrier will find out I am using my Data for tethering..
Like I said if they still offered tethering I would pay for the plan that would include it but they completely stripped it out of all the plans. I need tethering for work so I'm not happy about it.
I Can use Wifi or Bluetooth tethering and it works but Does anyone know how I can protect myself from my carrier finding out that my data is being used for tethering? I've heard of Foxfi but I can already tether I don't need an app to let me tether I just need something to hide the fact I am. I know it has an addon for wifi tethering using a Proxy is this the best way for me to go? Should I get Foxfi and use Wifi Tethering and the addons Proxy option?
Or is there another way?
Thanks.
you can try switching user agent , google it but it usually doesn't work anymore, carriers knew it too
you may create a vpn tunnel but to avoid detection you'll have to operate the vpn from your phone not your laptop so there would be no way they could tell between the two sources of data, all of your traffic must use the same tunnel.
Ltdrev said:
you can try switching user agent , google it but it usually doesn't work anymore, carriers knew it too
you may create a vpn tunnel but to avoid detection you'll have to operate the vpn from your phone not your laptop so there would be no way they could tell between the two sources of data, all of your traffic must use the same tunnel.
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Click to collapse
So maybe installing something on my phone to connect to VPN Book or some other free VPN would suffice? and then tethering my laptop with blueooth. ? Thanks.
I have a Oneplus one on Cricket also, and tether with foxfi, been doing so for about a month with maybe 1-2gb of tethering usage. No problems at all here, got foxfi because I was on Sprint, and I needed it then for sure, as my phone was a sprint phone. Foxfi has an option to hide your tethering usage, and I do use that, but IDK what it actually does.
Hi, I have a 6p and I'm on Verizon with an unlimited data plan. I've done some research and I've seen that people have been able to use the native hotspot feature without a subscription check. My question is, does using the hotspot feature without the subscription incur a charge on your bill even with unlimited data? Sorry in advance if this has already been asked and addressed. Running stock, no root. I have turned on the hotspot, used it on my PC and it does in fact work.
I have unlimited data and DO NOT have a tethering plan. I have used hotspot, not a ton, but have used it and have no charges. I have used an Xposed module in the past, or the build.prop mod to enable tethering, which bypasses the provisioning check from VZW, but it has not been necessary yet.
Like I said, I've only used it a few times for rather short periods when I needed to look something up and my Chromebook was easier than my phone, etc. I also used it for my PS Vita to do Remote Play to my PS4 on a vacation, which I imagine used a fair bit of data, but it was only for 20-30 minutes at a time over a few days.
Your results may vary, depending on what you use it for, how much data you use, etc.
Jake11584 said:
Hi, I have a 6p and I'm on Verizon with an unlimited data plan. I've done some research and I've seen that people have been able to use the native hotspot feature without a subscription check. My question is, does using the hotspot feature without the subscription incur a charge on your bill even with unlimited data? Sorry in advance if this has already been asked and addressed. Running stock, no root. I have turned on the hotspot, used it on my PC and it does in fact work.
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Click to collapse
I use it all the time.
No changes, it just works out of the box.
Actually my computer. is tethered as I type.
I use a VPN to hide all my traffic from Verizon so they can't snoop packets and determine if I'm tethering or not.
Is there a way to bypass this? I have unlimited everything with them, but only 14G tethering limit then super throttled. Any ideas smarter rooters?
I had the same problem with MetroPCS.. 8gb LTE hotspot then throttled.
I installed the latest purenexus and have been tethering to the Xbox to play cod for the past week and my hotspot data allotment hasn't been touched at all. I don't know what kind of witchcraft is happening because I tried everything and nothing worked... tried the build prop edit, settings dB edit, APN settings , VPNs, you name it, I tried it and nothing worked
but then I had the itch to flash pure Nexus and BAM.. unlimited, un throttled tethering
swapavi said:
I had the same problem with MetroPCS.. 8gb LTE hotspot then throttled.
I installed the latest purenexus and have been tethering to the Xbox to play cod for the past week and my hotspot data allotment hasn't been touched at all. I don't know what kind of witchcraft is happening because I tried everything and nothing worked... tried the build prop edit, settings dB edit, APN settings , VPNs, you name it, I tried it and nothing worked
but then I had the itch to flash pure Nexus and BAM.. unlimited, un throttled tethering
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also on Pure Nexus. Gaming actually doesn't run up as much data as you'd think unless you're downloading heavy patches etc.
MatthewRobinson said:
Is there a way to bypass this? I have unlimited everything with them, but only 14G tethering limit then super throttled. Any ideas smarter rooters?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the T-Mobile One plan, which has unlimited data & tethering, the rub is that the they route all tethered traffic to a throttled network (complete with separate external IP), so all my tethered devices enjoy the blistering speeds of 512kbps (yeah, that is bits, with latency in excess of 1500ms, that is 1.5s). I suppose I could live with it if the latency was so terrible. Meanwhile, my phone has an LTE connection with speeds hitting upwards of 40Mbps, with latency ~70-90ms.
I have had success using PDANet+ with the hide my usage feature, but I'm looking for 1-time set up solution that doesn't require dedicated software on the client end. I've experimented with TTL settings (as pointed out on Reddit), and with Windows it's not as straightforward, and I haven't had any luck. Obviously PDANet+ proves tethering can be done through my T-mobile's faster "non-tethered network", the solution has just eluded me on Windows.
Can anyone offer some input? Maybe I've done something wrong with setting the default TTL on Windows (I'd prefer to have it by interface, opposed to setting it globally). I'd also prefer to keep my Nexus 6P running stock software as I use Android Pay and Netflix.
I've been a grandfathered in unlimited data user of VZ for about 7 years.
I've used rooted phones for quite some time to unlock the tethering ability of my smartphones on VZ's network.
I'm curious how this feature actually functions. VZ's new "Unlimited" plans reduce tethering speeds from 4G to 3G after 10gbs are used.
Without spelling it out, my main question is whether or not using a rooted phones' tethering provision feature will simulate normal cell usage.
In other words, does Big Red see both tethering through the phone's native wifi-tethering app (with the provision enabled) the same as normal cell usage or does can their system determine the difference.
Thanks,
Anybody have any insights?
I am also curious about his! I am on the grandfathered unlimited plan also, but would change over to the new plan if I could get more than 10 gig on my hotspot. I live in a rural area and most of my internet use at home is on my hotspot.
I currently use Foxfi on my S7 and it works fine. I had it rooted with native hotspot, it worked OK but the phone performance sucks.
I also hear that Foxfi will not work with Nougat either so there are two reasons I need to bypass this 10g hotspot conundrum.
Somebody ???
I feel like I should have put this thread in a more general location, Moderators - can you help me?
It's not really tied to the S7 - it's a more general rooted question.
Thanks,
Anybody?
I would like to know as well
I'm also waiting for a rooted version of nougat with tethering unlocked...
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Like this:
echo "net.tethering.noprovisioning=true" >> /system/build.prop
---------- Post added at 12:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 AM ----------
bart77 said:
I am also curious about his! I am on the grandfathered unlimited plan also, but would change over to the new plan if I could get more than 10 gig on my hotspot. I live in a rural area and most of my internet use at home is on my hotspot.
I currently use Foxfi on my S7 and it works fine. I had it rooted with native hotspot, it worked OK but the phone performance sucks.
I also hear that Foxfi will not work with Nougat either so there are two reasons I need to bypass this 10g hotspot conundrum.
Somebody ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This wont let you have more than 10gb, this is a limit on the server side, nothing you do will change that.
I'm on the grandfathered UDP and don't have hotspot activated on my account. With that I was using hotspot via FoxFi and when I checked my Verizon account it showed up as normal data usage and not hotspot. I connected my smart TV to my hotspot to stream Netflix and it showed up as me using lots of GB's to watch videos. That's all it showed. I'm not sure how you're on the grandfathered UDP and only get 10GB per month for hotspot if you're using FoxFi though, unless you were talking about moving to the new plan, and if that's the case then you would do the work around of removing the SIM card (posted somewhere on these forums) or flash the U firmware and it shouldn't show up on your account as hotspot if the phone doesn't search for subscriber information or is unsuccessful in searching for said info.
d33dvb said:
Like this:
echo "net.tethering.noprovisioning=true" >> /system/build.prop
---------- Post added at 12:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:08 AM ----------
This wont let you have more than 10gb, this is a limit on the server side, nothing you do will change that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What does that string of code actually do and how is it seen by VZ? The 10gb limit is not a cap - it's just a boundary where they're supposed to throttle your 4g speeds to 3g. I'm just wondering what triggers them noticing that. I'm curious how unlocking the native tethering feature on a rooted phone allows grandfathered unlimited plans the ability to use this feature when it's normally blocked.
Does it cover up the fact that the hotspot is even turned on so it changes all tethered data to be seen by VZ as normal cell data (not tethered data)? Or does it just unlock the tethering feature and gives you the ability to use the feature and VZ still knows the difference?
Outbreak444 said:
I'm on the grandfathered UDP and don't have hotspot activated on my account. With that I was using hotspot via FoxFi and when I checked my Verizon account it showed up as normal data usage and not hotspot. I connected my smart TV to my hotspot to stream Netflix and it showed up as me using lots of GB's to watch videos. That's all it showed. I'm not sure how you're on the grandfathered UDP and only get 10GB per month for hotspot if you're using FoxFi though, unless you were talking about moving to the new plan, and if that's the case then you would do the work around of removing the SIM card (posted somewhere on these forums) or flash the U firmware and it shouldn't show up on your account as hotspot if the phone doesn't search for subscriber information or is unsuccessful in searching for said info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Outbreak is right - there is no 10gb limit with the grandfathered plans. I believe Bart is talking about converting from the old plan to the new plan (like I am) if we can get around the possible downgrade in speeds that's supposed to occur at 10gb.
You mentioned 2 possible work-arounds, but one involves pulling the SIM. Could you provide a link for either of the methods? However, from what I know of VZ is that a SIM is required for the phone to work.
Thanks - keep the suggestions coming.
brettdacosta said:
You mentioned 2 possible work-arounds, but one involves pulling the SIM. Could you provide a link for either of the methods? However, from what I know of VZ is that a SIM is required for the phone to work.
Thanks - keep the suggestions coming.
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Click to collapse
Here's the link to the SIM removal method, seems to be a hit or miss though and states it's for nougat but I think it would work on marshmallow as well.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-s7-edge/help/tethering-nougat-t3568501/page2
Or you can flash the U firmware for the US. It should just unlock tethering completely without actually searching for subscriber information. I don't have the link but it's easily found on the forums. Just know that the U firmware doesn't have nougat at this time.
Outbreak444 said:
It should just unlock tethering completely without actually searching for subscriber information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, Outbreak.
How does it actually work/function though? Will VZ still be able to distinguish between data used by my cell and data transfered to another device via the phone's native hotspot feature?
That's the whole point of this thread, but I can't seem to get any real answers (or even speculations for that matter)
brettdacosta said:
Thanks, Outbreak.
How does it actually work/function though? Will VZ still be able to distinguish between data used by my cell and data transfered to another device via the phone's native hotspot feature?
That's the whole point of this thread, but I can't seem to get any real answers (or even speculations for that matter)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I checked my account it showed 0.0 GB of hotspot used and about 100 GB's of standard data. They didn't see at all that I was using my hotspot, only excessive amount of data usage. I wouldn't sweat it unless you're going to end up using like 300 GB's. I even bought the S7 AFTER having that much used and the reps looked amazed but couldn't see how I used as much as I had. I wish I could pull up what My Verizon showed to prove it to you but it only shows the last two months worth of data and I haven't used tethering recently.
Outbreak444 said:
When I checked my account it showed 0.0 GB of hotspot used and about 100 GB's of standard data. They didn't see at all that I was using my hotspot, only excessive amount of data usage. I wouldn't sweat it unless you're going to end up using like 300 GB's. I even bought the S7 AFTER having that much used and the reps looked amazed but couldn't see how I used as much as I had. I wish I could pull up what My Verizon showed to prove it to you but it only shows the last two months worth of data and I haven't used tethering recently.
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Click to collapse
Great info.
- So when you used 100GB of standard data, that was all through your hotspot?
- Which VZ plan are you on?
- What's your current phone setup (aka - what method did you use for bypassing the tethering restriction)?
- Where do you find a breakdown of your hotspot data to standard data (is it on your online account)?
- Since you obviously went over the 22GB, did you notice any slowdowns (like they say they reserve the right to implement)
- What type of area are you in (rural - not a lot of cell tower access / high trafficked area - for the purpose of the last question)?
Thanks for all the great info. I know that was a lot of questions, but I think if you are able to answering all of those, I should have about all I need.
Thanks again.
P.S. - it's my only internet at the house, so I can't afford it slowing me down if I'm at the house wanting to stream a movie or something after 10gb - that's why I'm concerned - just felt I needed to clarify.
brettdacosta said:
Great info.
- So when you used 100GB of standard data, that was all through your hotspot?
- Which VZ plan are you on?
- What's your current phone setup (aka - what method did you use for bypassing the tethering restriction)?
- Where do you find a breakdown of your hotspot data to standard data (is it on your online account)?
Thanks for all the great info. I know that was a lot of questions, but I think if you are able to answering all of those, I should have about all I need.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not 100% of my data usage was hotspot but a good 90% or more was.
I have the grandfathered UDP from Verizon
At the time I was using my rooted S5 with tethering unlocked through xposed, now I have the S7 with FoxFi
Just log into your Verizon account online and it should have a breakdown. Most of my data showed up under the video category, which was correct because I was tethering my hotspot to my smart TV for streaming Netflix. So it can see what I'm doing, just not how, I believe.
Outbreak444 said:
Not 100% of my data usage was hotspot but a good 90% or more was.
I have the grandfathered UDP from Verizon
At the time I was using my rooted S5 with tethering unlocked through xposed, now I have the S7 with FoxFi
Just log into your Verizon account online and it should have a breakdown. Most of my data showed up under the video category, which was correct because I was tethering my hotspot to my smart TV for streaming Netflix. So it can see what I'm doing, just not how, I believe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where do you see the breakdown by standard usage and tethering?
I'm still on the grandfathered UDP too, and use tethering all the time, but here is all I see when I log on (no breakdown)...
brettdacosta said:
Where do you see the breakdown by standard usage and tethering?
I'm still on the grandfathered UDP too, and use tethering all the time, but here is all I see when I log on (no breakdown)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Used to show up there. Here's a link from Verizon with a screenshot
https://www.verizonwireless.com/support/mobile-hotspot-faqs/
That's good information.
So why do you use the foxfi app and not the native tethering feature? Because you're on nougat?
Do you think that being rooted and using the XPosed app is what prevents them from seeing it - or the fact that I'm on the grandfathered UDP and their system isn't capable of actually reporting that piece of information (since it's a feature that's technically locked) - and if I go the new plan that "unlocks" the tethering, they'll then be able to tell the difference and their system will be able to display it since it's aware of what's actually happening?
brettdacosta said:
That's good information.
So why do you use the foxfi app and not the native tethering feature? Because you're on nougat?
Do you think that being rooted and using the XPosed app is what prevents them from seeing it - or the fact that I'm on the grandfathered UDP and their system isn't capable of actually reporting that piece of information (since it's a feature that's technically locked) - and if I go the new plan that "unlocks" the tethering, they'll then be able to tell the difference and their system will be able to display it since it's aware of what's actually happening?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't rooted my S7 or flashed the U firmware yet. I want to wait until nougat is released for the U firmware before I do that.
Hotspot is built into the phone already. I believe that if it doesn't search for subscriber information that the phone will just enable the connections and all your phone provider can see is that you're using data, but they can't see how. This is my opinion, maybe someone else could enlighten us on the specifics. But I can say that being rooted, using Xposed, or being on the grandfathered plan has nothing to do with it other than removing the check for subscriber information, basically what one user posted earlier in this post.
The back does not come off of a S7 so there is no SIM card. I also depend on FoxFi i
brettdacosta said:
What does that string of code actually do and how is it seen by VZ? The 10gb limit is not a cap - it's just a boundary where they're supposed to throttle your 4g speeds to 3g. I'm just wondering what triggers them noticing that. I'm curious how unlocking the native tethering feature on a rooted phone allows grandfathered unlimited plans the ability to use this feature when it's normally blocked.
Does it cover up the fact that the hotspot is even turned on so it changes all tethered data to be seen by VZ as normal cell data (not tethered data)? Or does it just unlock the tethering feature and gives you the ability to use the feature and VZ still knows the difference?
Outbreak is right - there is no 10gb limit with the grandfathered plans. I believe Bart is talking about converting from the old plan to the new plan (like I am) if we can get around the possible downgrade in speeds that's supposed to occur at 10gb.
You mentioned 2 possible work-arounds, but one involves pulling the SIM. Could you provide a link for either of the methods? However, from what I know of VZ is that a SIM is required for the phone to work.
Thanks - keep the suggestions coming.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The back does not come off of a S7 so there is no SIM card. I also depend on FoxFi in the work I do (teaching) and it did a fabulous job.