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.

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

Warning with Tethering Mod

Not sure where to post this but if you use the tethering mod be careful, you might get caught in this. Any tethering mod (including the webtop dock hack i think)
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/0...ally-tethering-will-be-moved-to-tiered-plans/

Even the wireless tether for root users app?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Search!
This topic has been covered several times over several months!

There has to be a file that stores tethering info and somehow submits it to AT&T. Is there a way of "freezing" anything collects data on our phones? I honestly think it's BS that I need a tethering plan for the lapdock....It's not like it's a seperate computer. I upgraded my sons line when I bought the Atrix and lapdock and then moved the Atrix to my number and dropped his 4gig tether plan to the 2 gig plan. (I didn't want to lose my unlimited..LOL)

CaelanT said:
Search!
This topic has been covered several times over several months!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Click the link before telling someone to search - this is a NEW notice from AT&T, posted today, that says they're going to start kicking people off their unlimited plans if they tether "illegally" (what a load of BS).... This is new and relevant, and I just bumped the other thread discussing this because of it's importance!

I don't think you have to worry about this on an android phone. I've never heard or read anywhere where an android user has been contacted by at&t. It mainly applies to iphone and how iphone users can tether using various apps. Android has its own internal routing and assigns ip addresses like a dhcp server where as an iphone (I think) may pull ipaddresses off att's network.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

crossix said:
I don't think you have to worry about this on an android phone. I've never heard or read anywhere where an android user has been contacted by at&t. It mainly applies to iphone and how iphone users can tether using various apps. Android has its own internal routing and assigns ip addresses like a dhcp server where as an iphone (I think) may pull ipaddresses off att's network.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's funny because there is a thread right above this one in the list where all the people who received letters from AT&T were chatting about it. Guess they were hallucinating?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

I have only heard of this happening to iphone users. I tether constantly with no warnings
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

A buddy of mine got a letter and it was because he was using the MyWi app. My wife uses is very rarely if the kids want to download an app from the app store. I think since iOS 4.?, there might something that recognizes when the phone is tethering and how much data was used during that time frame. You can use your phone for an hour from 3-4pm and look at your data usage the next day and your phone notifies AT&T in the middle of the night how much data was used that day... shows up as internet/media net on the bill.

The article is in regards to tethering apps not APN mods and even the article talks about the iphone not android. We seem to be safe for now
From unlocked/rooted GB Atrix

GarciaM25 said:
Click the link before telling someone to search - this is a NEW notice from AT&T, posted today, that says they're going to start kicking people off their unlimited plans if they tether "illegally" (what a load of BS).... This is new and relevant, and I just bumped the other thread discussing this because of it's importance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=998148
Like I said................already covered..............there was no need to start a new thread about the same topic!

Can we avoid the "potential" flame wars?
Atrix forums has enough problems as it is on XDA...
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App

phobos512 said:
That's funny because there is a thread right above this one in the list where all the people who received letters from AT&T were chatting about it. Guess they were hallucinating?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All the people who received letters from the other thread were iphone users... If you read the other thread you'll even see where several people told them to stop talking about iphones issues in an android forum. Unless your using an app that isn't baked into the os to share your wifi connection, I honestly don't think you have to worry about this as the method of "sharing" is different from ios.
This thread should be locked down as there is already a continuous one going (duplicate thread).

Webtop without tethering?

Hey guys sorry if this question has been answered but is there anyway to get the webtop to work without tethering? Thanks a lot guys.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Read the damn sticked noob guide. There's a link to webtip hack :/
this message is made by 100% recycled electrons

Noob gets pwned by another noob.
This thread made my day.

Deleted......

+1
@vp294 's comment should be a thread in itself.
vp294 said:
Read the damn sticked noob guide. There's a link to webtip hack :/
this message is made by 100% recycled electrons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
stewartsoda said:
Noob gets pwned by another noob.
This thread made my day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

You need an att tethering plan to use webtop.... I don't know what you are talking about. There is a reason why xda is becoming more and more irrelevant as time goes on and developers are choosing a different website. It's people like you guys who just need to one up other posters who are causing this. There are some great people on here, then there are you guys. That's the reason why the rootzwiki is becoming the new standard. Oh and I should sell my atrix cause I asked a question about webtop? That clearly means I have no idea what I'm doing right? That's a joke but thanks for the suggestion
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

I have read that webtop should work when you are on wifi, but that's just what I've heard since I don't use it. If you're trying to use it while on AT&T's data network then, yes, you need tethering but there are tethering and webtop hacks galore in the "noob" thread that is stickied at the top of the "General" forum.
parsa5 said:
You need an att tethering plan to use webtop.... I don't know what you are talking about. There is a reason why xda is becoming more and more irrelevant as time goes on and developers are choosing a different website. It's people like you guys who just need to one up other posters who are causing this. There are some great people on here, then there are you guys. That's the reason why the rootzwiki is becoming the new standard. Oh and I should sell my atrix cause I asked a question about webtop? That clearly means I have no idea what I'm doing right? That's a joke but thanks for the suggestion
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, try not to take anything personally. This is an internet forum, just let it roll off your back.

Just looked over the sticky and it has a link to a cwm installable webtop file that I already have. Nothing about disabling att from verifying the tethering plan required to use the webtop on 3G. Webtop works fine on wifi... And before gingerbread, there used to be a way to get it to work without a tethering plan. That is why I asked this "n00b" question that nobody seems to have an answer for.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Have you tried the "Entitlement" mod (enabling tethering)? It should be the one right above or below the Webtop link.
parsa5 said:
Just looked over the sticky and it has a link to a cwm installable webtop file that I already have. Nothing about disabling att from verifying the tethering plan required to use the webtop on 3G.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

No I haven't I will take a look. Thank you for actually trying to be helpful.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

No problem, hope you find something that works. Like I've said, I don't use it so I don't know what would actually work.
Also, like I've said, you can't take things personally on the internet, but if I can give some advice. Try to be more descriptive in your comments especially when starting an entire thread. Include things like what "mods" you have already used, and maybe include what ROM you're using and what resources you have already searched through for answers, you could even go as far as describing the steps you are using when encountering the issue. All of this helps the rest of us help you. Your original post "looks" like a "noob" question and that's like blood in the water for the sharks.
parsa5 said:
No I haven't I will take a look. Thank you for actually trying to be helpful.
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

OP asked a valid question and didn't deserve to be noob-bashed. I have the same issue. I have done the "entitlement" hack using the SQLLite Editor to set the "Entitlement Check" field to "0", and I am able to use my Atrix as a mobile hotspot without a tethering plan.
However, when I attempt to use Firefox on the Lapdock while connected via 3G (WiFi off), a popup appears saying "Verifying AT&T account status for webtop...". Then, after a few seconds, it fails and another dialog pops up saying "The Firefox browser requires a Wi-Fi connection or appropriate data plan. Please use Wi-Fi or call AT&T Customer Service at 1-800-331-0500 to add the appropriate data plan to your account"
Any help would be appreciated.

Try this and see if it works. Make sure you have done the entitlement hack and while connected to the webtop turn on the mobile hotspot on your phone and then go into your networks and choose the tether apn.
I tried something in that nature and was browsing firefox on my phones data. I'll try again in the morning and see if that's what I did.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

Question.
Is it considered tethering if instead of using the full browser firefox, that requires a tethering plan, to instead use a browser (such as Dolphin HD) INSIDE of the phone module app on the webtop... since it's actually using your phone's apps instead of firefox?
just a thought.

dmbrown81 said:
Try this and see if it works. Make sure you have done the entitlement hack and while connected to the webtop turn on the mobile hotspot on your phone and then go into your networks and choose the tether apn.
I tried something in that nature and was browsing firefox on my phones data. I'll try again in the morning and see if that's what I did.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks dmbrown81, that totally worked! I still get the nagging messages from the Webtop about needing a tethering plan, but if I just turn on WiFi Tethering while the phone is docked, Firefox will work fine! Brilliant!

davemao said:
Thanks dmbrown81, that totally worked! I still get the nagging messages from the Webtop about needing a tethering plan, but if I just turn on WiFi Tethering while the phone is docked, Firefox will work fine! Brilliant!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might try turning off the "Mot mobile device extensions" addon and see what happens.
stvmac11 said:
Question.
Is it considered tethering if instead of using the full browser firefox, that requires a tethering plan, to instead use a browser (such as Dolphin HD) INSIDE of the phone module app on the webtop... since it's actually using your phone's apps instead of firefox?
just a thought.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously that would never be detected, but ATT does consider it tethering. Total BS if you ask me, all the doc is is an external screen/keyboard/pad/battery, it is in no way a seperate system.

The odd thing is that while using a StarHub prepaid sim in Singapore on my unlocked ATT Atrix it doesn't do that check, only when I use my ATT sim.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

Thanks that solution works
Thanks everyone for suggesting the "hotspot" trip. I am curious as to why this needs to be done is we are using the entitlement hack. Does anyone know why this is or is the just the way to get around having to pay twice for data? Also, have you guys noticed a big hit in your battery life when using the hotspot tethering? I'm just happy that this solution works because I got the lapdock just for this reason.

There is something in the ATT firmware that recognizes when the phone is using an ATT sim and disables data connections to the webtop environment. The whole time I was in Singapore using a StarHub Green prepaid sim my phone never did that "Verifying account blablablah..." when I docked the phone in my LapDock, as soon as I docked it I could start using Firefox.
An interesting note: the phone disables all data connections for a moment when it does this check. I noticed it because Pandora died on me one day when I was listening and I docked my phone. I watched the connectivity arrows on the H+ icon the next time I docked my phone and they went away for a few seconds just as that toaster notification popped up. Even with the Entitlement Mod this happens.
Hotspot tethering will kill your battery life, although that battery life is augmented by the lapdock. I'm pretty sure you can turn tethering off once you've started up Firefox and are browsing away. Don't ask me how I know, a little bird told me.
No, using apps inside the phone view isn't considered tethering. You can use the stock browser inside there without doing anything. If att calls using a non-stock browser tethering, pitch a fit and tell them to piss up a rope.
And regarding my snark earlier: I think a lot of the people who have been here for a while get tired of seeing threads like "Can I haz root on my phone OMG I'm a noob" when we remember discussing the same subject multiple times in the past. I know this particular question has been asked and answered before. I found it ironic that you were being chided by someone who had < 10 posts.
tl;dr - non-ATT sims work without mods, ATT sim data connection gets disabled, this has been covered.

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

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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
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!"