[General Questions and Answers] shnn2011:
READ THE UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM

IS T-MOBILE IN VIOLATION CITIZEN'S PRIVACY AND POSSIBLY THE LAW​

Recently it has come to attention that T-mobile is blocking tethering based on the type of browser that you use.

HOW THE OLD HACK WORKED​

T-Mobile tethering can usually be subverted with a "rooted" phone by freezing or uninstalling the Tethering Manager app that usually prevents tethering unless you pay for it. Basically, the On/Off switch was in the users handset. Many users were using this trick and gaining tethering without paying for it until recently.

WHAT CHANGED ? ? ? ​

Apparently, T-Mobile decided to fix this by intelligently eavesdropping on all web communications of its customers looking for the field of data in your request which identifies the type of browser that you use.

Then based on your web browser (if you use a browser identified as one that does not generally run on a mobile device) they deny access by redirecting you to their page where the advertise their additional tethering service.

PRETTY SOLID EVIDENCE​

So the question is how this can be proven. Simple grab one of those "rooted" phones that used to work, and tether them to one another them using wireless. Since the the phones are both is using a mobile browser, (the same browser) then T-Mobile wont be able to tell the difference so you can tether all you want. You are now using one phones internet connection through the other.

Now tether to a P.C. using wireless and use Chrome . . . if it works it will be for only a little while before you are denied service and redirected to T-Mobiles page advertising tethering services.

THE SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS AT HAND​

So now that we know that T-Mobile is monitoring our web communications what are the social and ethical implications. Their basically saying since your using our service we will look at what your doing when ever we want.

Really?

-What else are you looking at and logging T-Mobile?

-What does the law say about this?

-In the U.S. what does the F.C.C. have to say about this?

-Is this a moral practice?

-How do customers feel about being spied on by their trusted service provider?

-Why would we pay to unblock something that we have already purchased?

WHAT HAS T-MOBILE ACHIEVED BY DOING THIS​

Its not like T-Mobile will actually achieve anything for long (A few days at most before a wide spread workaround). People smart enough to root their phones are also smart enough to get around this, as I will discuss this is not even an obstacle.

T-MOBILES GREAT UNSPOKEN ANNOUNCEMENT​

All that T-Mobile achieved by doing this is tell the world a little more about how deeply they are watching what their beloved customers are doing at all times.

THE WORKAROUND​

Please bear with me if you are technically inclined, I am trying to make this simple so it could be understood by all.

A simple app that intercept the request of the tethered device and intelligently scans and strips the field of data identifying the requesting browser as anything other that the stock authorized android browser then replaces this data to make it appear that is was the authorized stock mobile browser making the request.

The app would then make the appropriate changes to the data received for the request and make the appropriate changes for the tethered browser to understand and route if over to that browser.

That's it, undetectable tether again ! ! !

I'm looking forward to hearing your answers.

Thanks

* * * * * * * U P D A T E * * * * * * *

I have posted some easy workarounds from my posts below for easy access.

This is not meant for, or in any way advocating violating your TOS. This is to get third party browsers, Browsers running in Virtual Machienes on your phone . . . to work. However I cannot tell you what to do; so use your judgment. I am not responsible for any misuse of this information.

​

Method 1 Changing the User Agent String of your browser:

This plugin allows you to change the UAString on Chrome:

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/djflhoibgkdhkhhcedjiklpkjnoahfmg <-Updated the dead link

A second option (In case you have issues with FireFox) would be:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...gent-switcher/

And apparently, Opera has a Built in UAString changer:

http://www.davidtan.org/how-to-chang...-agent-string/

If you use Internet Exploiter (excuse me) Explorer for some unknown reason:

http://www.enhanceie.com/ietoys/uapick.asp

Please note:

If you change your UAString to an Android Browser UAstring, then you will usually only get the Mobile versions of the web pages you view. For most people changing the UAString to the standard FireFox UAString seems to work fine.

Method 2 Using a VPN:

Many programs are available which provide VPN (Virtual Private Network) access to your home network. Using these tools an encrypted connection between your phone and home network will be established. As a result T-Mobiles eavesdropping techniques will not be able to decipher the data between you and your home network. Once a connection has been established with your home network, then your Internet requests can be relayed through your home Internet connection . . . If you don not have a home Internet connection, then there are many services available that provide an Internet gateway for you to VPN into.

Some of the available options include:

Using your home PC or MAC as your own VPN server:

http://www.openvpn.net

Using a power efficient home router as a VPN server, using either the factory firmware, and if unsupported using a custom firmware:

The Linksys WRT-54G Router, an affordable classic:

​

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=wrt+54g

A powerful custom firmware supporting many routers:

http://www.dd-wrt.com/site/index

*******List of Issues As Reported by Many Customers*******​

​

​

1. Many third party browsers and many browsers running in a virtualised operating system are being blocked and the innocent user is being accused of tethering,in some reported cases, even the ICS web browser.

2. T-mobile refuses to fix this by stating that the Web Browser is not supported (3rd party) when one of their main selling points is Multimedia and apps and a Working TCP / IP interface for applications and is seemingly deliberately casting blame on the third party app when in fact it is T-Mobile that is spoofing and redirecting the application due to overly paranoid, ineffective,abusive and despotic counter measure aimed at people who break TOS via tethering.

3. The privacy of the user is violated due to intelligent packet sniffing on their wireless internet communications. Furthermore, the scope of monitoring is unknown, and there are many privacy concerns such as why System Manager continues to run in the background even when the user opts out of Carrier IQ and how deep it is capable of monitoring.

4. Many people who signed contracts for data plans claim they never agreed to pay any extra fee for tethering and claim that they are no longer bound to T-Mobile's contract due to this violation.

5. People on prepay plans are now denied tethering when the allowance of tethering implied continued tethering service.

6. Some prepay customers claim they purchased a month of service, or perhaps more and were provided with tethering for only part of their service period before T-mobile stopped providing part of the service (tethering) that they had already sold without refunding the customers for the nonexistent service the had payed for.

7. It has been reported that when T-Mobile throttles users ,who have gone over their high speed bandwidth allowance, to 3G speeds customers are not throttled to the ITU spec 3G speed. Instead most people report being limited to an average of about 119kbps.

8. It is further reported that throttling seems to discriminate against users who purchase more high speed data allowance and have reached their limit. For instance, A customer who purchases 2GB of high speed data and has uses it all up may be capped to about 119kbps in contrast to a customer who purchased 5GB of data who may be capped to a much lower and nearly unusable speed. Many people have reported this sort of discriminatory throttling. So, it seems that the more you pay T-Mobile and buy services, then commit the horrible act of using the service that you have paid for, you are punished.

Of interest:​

da-pharoah has brought to our attention a free app that is supposed to bypass tethering restrictions with no need for root access, proving once more that T-Mobile's measures were frivolous, and ineffective. Their measures don't prevent people who want to tether from doing so; that has been proven over and over again. Their methods only hurt and shame their valued innocent customers who are accused of tethering.

The app is called

Foxfi and its free

Thank you da-pharoah

This test shows that T-Mobile may be trying to punish people who purchase higher bandwidth and actually use it.​

The following screenshot is from a phone that is running a stock firmware and has deliberately, and legitimately used the full 5GB high speed allowance for the month.

​

As you can see on a throttled 5GB plan the connection seems to be, at best, about 60kbps. Please note that this is with a pretty good connection. Most people claim an average of about 119kbps on a throttled 2GB plan. Since this seems to be the case, this shows that T-Mobile is discriminating against their higher paying customers and is punishing them for using the full amount of bandwidth the purchased. It seems that the more you purchase and use the more you are punished.

It was reported by a customer care representative, that the throttling should bring a customer down to a speed, much less than 60kbps regardless of the type of plan, and that those experiencing higher speeds should feel "lucky."

The problem is that this 60k seems to only be acquired with an optimal signal level and while stationary. It is reported that most of the time the speed drops down so low and the latency becomes so high that almost all internet requests are timed out.

The aforementioned scenario would make the advertised unlimited internet access, in actuality, very limited, and the user of a throttled 5GB plan would then not be receiving the service that was advertised, or that they payed for. At that point the internet service is quite useless and nearly nonexistent, when in fact a working low speed internet service is advertised for those who have reached their high speed data cap.

UPDATE

This document is for information purposes only. I do not advocate violating your contract terms or any illegal activity. you assume full liability and responsibility for the use of this information.​

Many people have reported to me that their tethering no longer works even after killing the tethering manager.

Many have asked me to look into this, here are my findings:

It seems that T-Mobile has implemented a new hidden APN in their ROMs. When you activate tethering, your connected devices seem to be routed through a different APN than your phone uses which is where the block is, if you have not paid the tax.

The answer:

A. For users:

Create a new APN name called "Tethering" and copy the information from your T-Mobile APN to it. There is no need to activate this APN. Immediately after doing so you should regain your full connection. Tested on a SGH-T989 (T-Mobile SGS 2) and reported to work.

B. Mostly for ROM authors:

Edit the appropriate configuration files and change all APNs (usually "epc.pcweb.com") to "epc.tmobile.com" or any other working APN such as MVNO APNs ("simple" . . .)

All test reports submitted to me report this is working and that my theory was accurate.

from: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=33287279