How To Avoid Having AT&T Kill Your Unlimited Data Plan
by Jared Erondu
August 5, 2011
Remember the days when jailbreaking your device meant some extra money left in your pockets? It seems like those days are coming to an end, at least for hotspot users, like those who were trying to avoid an AT&T tethering plan by using apps like MyWi.
As reported by a 9to5mac reader, AT&T is continuing its fight against unauthorized tethering, and is even giving hard dates to some users before converting them to a more expensive plan. In other words, they'll be adding $20 to your bill involuntarily.
I was just informed that as of Thursday August 11th 2011, if you use MyWi or any tethering on the phone or using the phone as a modem, AT&T will automatically change ur unlimited plan to a 2Gb tethering plan for 45 dollars without the customers consent. This is for those who received emails or texts about the use of tethering without an AT&T tethering plan.Of course, this isn't the first time we've heard about this. Back in March and May, we reported on the same topic, but this time we have a solution. This is nothing new despite making the headlines again this week. AT&T started doing this back in March, and we heard multiple reports of users getting upgraded. Sometimes even by mistake. So we thought it would be a good occasion to remind you of one trick that, as far as we know, will protect you from AT&T. Indeed, when your iPhone goes into tethering mode, it announces itself to AT&T, making it easy for them to detect you. To avoid that, the developers of PdaNet built-in a special mode to their tethering app to avoid being detected by AT&T. It's not 100 percent, as AT&T has other ways to detect you, but if you want to give it a try simply download PdaNet from Cydia, and switch on the "Hide Usage" option. As far as we know, nobody has yet reported getting detected using that. As usual, violating AT&T terms of use is at your own risk. With AT&T getting ready to throttle your unlimited data speeds and with a dark plan to overthrow the jailbreakers, there is a silver lining. PdaNet can hide unauthorized tethering from your carrier. By using the "Hide Usage" option, the app masks packets sent through the network from your phone. Anybody else getting threats from AT&T? Come share with us in the comments!