T-Mobile going after data 'thieves' who abuse unlimited data

[TopWargamer]

Source 1: http://www.androidcentral.com/t-mobile-going-after-data-thieves-who-abuse-unlimited-data

Source 2: http://newsroom.t-mobile.com/issues-insights-blog/stopping-network-abusers.htm

 

T-Mobile's CEO John Legere just posted a blog post stating that they are going to go after unlimited data users who abuse their unlimited data plan. According to Legere, a fraction of a percent of people are using their unlimited data plans to rack up around 2TB a month in usage. 

 

We are going after a small group of users who are stealing data so blatantly and extremely that it is ridiculous.

 

These violators are going out of their way with all kinds of workarounds to steal more LTE tethered data. They're downloading apps that hide their tether usage, rooting their phones, writing code to mask their activity, etc. They are "hacking" the system to swipe high speed tethered data. These aren't naive amateurs; they are clever hackers who are willfully stealing for their own selfish gain. It's a small group – 1/100 of a percent of our 59 million customers – but some of them are using as much as 2 terabytes (2,000GB!) of data in a month.

 

Hold on, let me see the logic here. People who pay for unlimited data are using their unlimited data plan to the fullest and you're getting pissy because they're using what they're paying for? Okay, sure, whatever man. Oh, and another thing, I guess I'm a hacker now because I use a rooted phone... Alrighty then. Now, is using 2TB of data a month a lot? Oh yes, no doubt about that, but these people are paying for unlimited data. They can do whatever they damn well please with that unlimited data. 

/rant coming from a T-Mobile unlimited data customer

[soaringchicken]

*sighs*

[ObeseWalrus]

m8's don't call it unlimited then if you don't want people to use it.

[SIGSEGV]

>Gives people unlimited data plan

>Cries when people use it

[msvelev]

If I pay for unlimited data, I don't see a problem of using 1 000TB.. If they don't want people to use data above some amount, maybe they should set a cap of like... 100GB? Tards..

[QueenDemetria]

Reads title, freaks out, calms down because I "only" use 250GB per month. I'm still partially worried though...

 

 

These violators are going out of their way with all kinds of workarounds to steal more LTE tethered data. They're downloading apps that hide their tether usage, rooting their phones, writing code to mask their activity, etc. They are "hacking" the system to swipe high speed tethered data. These aren't naive amateurs; they are clever hackers who are willfully stealing for their own selfish gain. It's a small group – 1/100 of a percent of our 59 million customers – but some of them are using as much as 2 terabytes (2,000GB!) of data in a month.

As someone who *technically* abuses the system, they really make this stuff sound more advanced than it is. The tweaks I did are so simple even a monkey could do it.

 

Edit: And wait just a second. I could have sworn that deep down inside of their contract that there was a limit of 9.7TB set, was that removed?

[Naeaes]

Yeah. I'd like to know, what would be a suitable limit for the unlimited data. 

[TopWargamer]

Reads title, freaks out, calms down because I "only" use 250GB per month. I'm still partially worried though...

 

As someone who *technically* abuses the system, they really make this stuff sound more advanced than it is. The tweaks I did are so simple even a monkey could do it.

Just rooting my phone and installing CyanogenMod was enough for it to work. I used around 125GB of LTE data last month and was never throttled. T-Mobile should probably invest in whatever equipment or software is needed to detect "unlimited data abusers" if they want to make any real progress. 

 

Either way, this is relevant. They'll never be able to stop people from getting what they want.

[QueenDemetria]

Just rooting my phone and installing CyanogenMod was enough for it to work. I used around 125GB of LTE data last month and was never throttled. T-Mobile should probably invest in whatever equipment or software is needed to detect "unlimited data abusers" if they want to make any real progress. 

 

Either way, this is relevant. They'll never be able to stop people from getting what they want.

 

I didn't even root, I just changed my APN . I guess I can't be completely mad at T-Mobile though, because at least they let us "reasonable" abusers get away with it(even though it violates the contract) because I'm sure they are fully aware, but this does make me wonder where the line will be drawn.

[Lethal Seraph]

All Hail Hydra?

[CydiaDash]

So you let them pay for unlimited data... but then you're mad when they try to use it... such logic much sense

[TopWargamer]

I didn't even root, I just changed my APN . I guess I can't be completely mad at T-Mobile though, because at least they let us "reasonable" abusers get away with it(even though it violates the contract) because I'm sure they are fully aware, but this does make me wonder where the line will be drawn.

Oh ya, I know about the APN tweak as well. That's something any phone can do too, even without root.

[SImoHayha]

I guess T-Mobile doesn't understand what the word unlimited means. Read a dictionary assholes

[mstef]

Hold on, let me see the logic here. People who pay for unlimited data are using their unlimited data plan to the fullest and you're getting pissy because they're using what they're paying for? 

Just want to ask something... 

 

You have unlimited data plan- OK. But is there some kind of limit for data tethering? If T-mobile are so stupid to NOT set a limit for tethering you have right to mourn... But if there IS a limit (and probably they set a tethering limit under 30GB) T-mobile has right to do something against people who in fact steal from them... 

[LePawel]

That's why I love my new ISP's logic (Hyperoptic), if they run out of speed at a building or a node, they'll just increase capacity instead of being a whiny bitch like the rest of the world.

[Psykomantis00]

I got kicked out a chinese all you can eat buffet because I ate all of their sweet and spicy chicken. I feel the same about tmobile right now. 

[KayTees]

>Gives people unlimited data plan

>Cries when people use it

>Opens buffet, "claims all you can eat"

> Cries when people eat too much

 

Best Logic IMO. 

[QueenDemetria]

Just want to ask something... 

 

You have unlimited data plan- OK. But is there some kind of limit for data tethering? If T-mobile are so stupid to NOT set a limit for tethering you have right to mourn... But if there IS a limit (and probably they set a tethering limit under 30GB) T-mobile has right to do something against people who in fact steal from them... 

This is where things get great: So lets rewind back to 5 months ago. On a typical Unlimited plan on T-Mobile you were allowed 5GB of tethering and no more(unless if you purchase more, 7, 9, and 11GB are the options I remember). Once you reached this limit, it just stopped and displayed a page telling you that you were out and either needed to wait for the next billing cycle or upgrade your plan.

 

Fast forward to today and things are different. Now, 7GB is the standard tethering allotment, but there is no cap. Once you reach 7GB(or 9/11/13/whateverGB your paying for) speeds just get reduced to 128kbps. So now the issue is whether unlimited means unlimited, on not only these "hacked" users phones, but even for the average Joe(although its impossible for a person to rack up 2TB at 128kbps, but the point still stands).

[Tech_Dreamer]

Does 'T-mobile' stand for 'Thief Mobile'? , by the way they should stop abusing the word "Unlimited" when they make it limited..

[SeriousDad69]

2TB of data a month? What a bunch of fucking ass holes. I have seven people on my home internet(Comcast 50mbps down 10mbps up) and all of them download games, watch netflix/hulu and torrent and we'll usually use about 800GB to 900GB a month. Sometimes if I need to redownload a bunch of games it will go up to around 1.2TB. The most we've ever used in a single month was 1.4TB.

Yeah it's an open buffet but don't be the fat asshole piling up ten fourteen inch plates with all the food in sight that then goes back for seconds and thirds.

[User1868]

I don't personally have a unlimited data plan but it when he said:"These violators are going out of their way with all kinds of workarounds to steal more LTE tethered data." - it looks like that on a unlimited data plan you get a certain amount of lte data and what he means is that people cheat with their data usage to stay under the limit of lte data usage

[RagnarokDel]

meanwhile in Canada, it's 80$ a month to get 6 gb a month. Basically If I was to watch everyone of Linus's videos on my phone, I'd break the limit... so dumb.

[Grinners]

2TB of data a month? What a bunch of fucking ass holes. I have seven people on my home internet(Comcast 50mbps down 10mbps up) and all of them download games, watch netflix/hulu and torrent and we'll usually use about 800GB to 900GB a month. Sometimes if I need to redownload a bunch of games it will go up to around 1.2TB. The most we've ever used in a single month was 1.4TB.

Yeah it's an open buffet but don't be the fat asshole piling up ten fourteen inch plates with all the food in sight that then goes back for seconds and thirds.

 

They use 70% more internet than 'your house' and that makes them 'fucking ass holes'?

[sof006]

In all fairness who the hell uses 2TB on a mobile phone?

 

T-mobile have every right, I still standby that if someone is using this much data on a MOBILE PHONE then they aren't using it for mobile phone purposes.

[mstef]

This is where things get great: So lets rewind back to 5 months ago. On a typical Unlimited plan on T-Mobile you were allowed 5GB of tethering and no more(unless if you purchase more, 7, 9, and 11GB are the options I remember). Once you reached this limit, it just stopped and displayed a page telling you that you were out and either needed to wait for the next billing cycle or upgrade your plan.

 

Fast forward to today and things are different. Now, 7GB is the standard tethering allotment, but there is no cap. Once you reach 7GB(or 9/11/13/whateverGB your paying for) speeds just get reduced to 128kbps. So now the issue is whether unlimited means unlimited, on not only these "hacked" users phones, but even for the average Joe(although its impossible for a person to rack up 2TB at 128kbps, but the point still stands).

 

Thank you for explaining... As I was thinking T-mobile are right- some people breaking the rules and taking action against them is absolutely normal... 

 

PS: Strange thing happens here- according CoC is forbidden to discuss software pirating (because it's a steal), but obviously is not a problem at all someone to start whining because he can't steal anymore from T-mobile... And YES, manipulating system with a purpose to get more than you pay IS A STEAL...