AT&T is threatening me because I use wifi tethering without a plan

[killtheradio]

I have been using my rooted AT&T Samsung Note 2 as a wifi hotspot via Wifi Tether - TrevE Mod for over a year now without having to purchase one of AT&T's tethering plans. It has worked great and AT&T never seemed to know I was "sharing" my phone's data plan with my laptop. But yesterday I got a letter from AT&T stating that they know I'm doing it and that I have to purchase a tethering plan. That if I keep doing it and don't purchase a plan by the end of the month that they are going to automatically start billing me and switch me to their crappy limited data plans that include tethering. That I would loose my grandfathered unlimited data plan forever.

Has anybody else received such a letter? Are there some settings I can change in the wifi tether - TrevE Mod app so they will once again not be able to see that I'm sharing my data plan with myself (so dumb...)? Is there another app I should use? Is there a system app I can freeze? Please, anybody have any ideas or work arounds for this situation? I really appreciate any advice.Thanks!

 

[kate]

How much data are you using each month?

If you're using 150GB and keep using that much they will probably still know you are tethering regardless of any settings you change, or apps you use.

 

[killtheradio]

150 gig? Lol... I am lucky if I can use 10 gig with their slow ass network. I'm guessing that by the way you responded Kate, that you probably work for AT&T and don't have anything to suggest.

 

[jhawkkw]

If they really want to investigate, there's nothing you can do. By inspecting the packet transfers, it will reveal all sorts of details about the device pulling or sending those packets. If they don't match, it's a sign you're tethering. There's nothing you can do on your end to spoof every single one of those details.

Other people have received those notices and AT&T is serious with their threat. So just know that moving forward.

 

[killtheradio]

Thanks for the info. I think I am on the wrong web site to be trying to solicit such info. I think it can be done, but I don't think I will get the info I need here.

 

[jhawkkw]

Thanks for the info. I think I am on the wrong web site to be trying to solicit such info. I think it can be done, but I don't think I will get the info I need here.

There may be a way, but it exists, no one has found it yet or else it would be plastered everywhere. And then carriers would read about it and it would be patched up. Then we'd have to find a new workaround. It's a never ending cycle.

 

[IOWA]

150 gig? Lol... I am lucky if I can use 10 gig with their slow ass network. I'm guessing that by the way you responded Kate, that you probably work for AT&T and don't have anything to suggest.

Also believe it or not, at 10 gigs usage that puts you in the top 5% of data users easily, so that's probably what got you flagged for review in the first place.

If you need to tether and don't want to lose your unlimited plan, your best bet is just to pick up a prepaid hotspot and pay as you go.

From a technical standpoint there is nothing you can do to mask the fact that you're tethering, there are many ways to tell the difference.