Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

amart26

macrumors member
Original poster
Dec 10, 2008
60
0
With AT&T finding out about tethering, is it still safe to do? Which app?
 
I second TetherMe. Why pay more? It enables tethering natively unlike that OTHER program.

Carriers can still tell if you are using TetherMe or OTHER program by looking in to packets/IP. It doesn't matter what you use because it will be different if you use internet on your iPhone or other devices. And for anyone saying, " just don't use more than X gig per month then you are fine". No one knows; that's just people guessing/assuming.
 
I know that using a VPN will encrypt your internet traffic, but I am not sure it will encrypt the device type that is accessing the internet through your phone. I turn my VPN on when tethering anyway, just for my (maybe pseudo) peace of mind.
 
I know that using a VPN will encrypt your internet traffic, but I am not sure it will encrypt the device type that is accessing the internet through your phone. I turn my VPN on when tethering anyway, just for my (maybe pseudo) peace of mind.

FYI, this does NOTHING to prevent AT&T from seeing you are tethering.
 
Carriers can still tell if you are using TetherMe or OTHER program by looking in to packets/IP. It doesn't matter what you use because it will be different if you use internet on your iPhone or other devices. And for anyone saying, " just don't use more than X gig per month then you are fine". No one knows; that's just people guessing/assuming.
You're right. I should've said it seems to be safer based on whose been getting messages and that's just my personal opinion (although, I thought it being my opinion was pretty obvious).

FYI, this does NOTHING to prevent AT&T from seeing you are tethering.
Exactly. They can still see that you're tethering just not what you're doing or the data you're exchanging.
 
If they were to look at your data/packets to see what you are doing, then I would assume there may be some kind of violation of privacy laws there.

So My assumption is that they are simply looking at how much data is being used. Because if they were inspecting packets and retrieving data from them, they could be compromizing your security. Say if I was using my bank, they could potentially have access to private account information if they were snooping on the packets.

As far as I know, the data is just data and they should not be able to tell what the data is.

Now there may be some kind of header information the data has attached to it specifying the browser type, version, operating system etc that could be easily read so that could be how they check it.
 
You're right. I should've said it seems to be safer based on whose been getting messages and that's just my personal opinion (although, I thought it being my opinion was pretty obvious).


Exactly. They can still see that you're tethering just not what you're doing or the data you're exchanging.

Just want to make it clear for the OP. There are too people that believe "if you stay under Xgig per month then you are safe" theory. It's misleading to some people.

AshMan said:
Now there may be some kind of header information the data has attached to it specifying the browser type, version, operating system etc that could be easily read so that could be how they check it.

If website can tell what browser you are using when you visit then i assume it should be the same with carriers being able to tell what you are using.
 
Last edited:
You're Fine...

I really don't think you're in that much danger. That's just what I think though. My guess is this message is only being used to scare people. I don't know too much about what AT&T can actually do in terms of switching your plan over to a tethering plan, but I kinda think they couldn't even legally do something without your permission.
As far as which tethering app to use, I don't think that will put you in any less danger (even though I don't think you're in danger now).
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.