Workaround to ATT hotspot data limit

VPN
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To begin, you have to already have the ability to hotspot so you need to pay for that feature. I have the Unlimited Premium plan. This is still technically just a hotspot but it will bypass the ATT apn set for the hotspot and use the cellular apn. Basically, once your hotspot runs out, you can use this method to continue with high speed hotspot. You dont have to have your hotspot run out, you can use this all the time.

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Requirements: For single device connection that is a mac or windows computer

Hotspot capable phone & plan

Pairvpn (which is entirely free)

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To use this method for a laptop, you need to download PairVPN on both devices and pair them to each other. After that, turn on your hotspot on your phone and connect to your device. I find that a wired connection using usb works best. Then turn on PairVPN server on your phone. Then turn it on on your laptop/computer. Then viola you are done! Enjoy your unlimited high speed hotspot!

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If you want to connect devices that cannot install PairVPN or want to use multiple devices at one time, this is for you.

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Requirements:

Hotspot capable phone w/plan

PairVPN

MacOS Laptop/Computer (HAS TO BE MAC) - I have not found a workaround for Windows because Windows’s ICS is stacked unlike Mac which are separate. Network wizards please come up with something. Anyways…

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After downloading PairVPN to both your phone and Mac, turn on the hotspot and then connect PairVPN(USE THE WIRED CONNECTION). Now heres the new part. In your Mac’s sharing settings, go to the PairVPN connection and turn on sharing via Wi-Fi. This will allow your Mac to broadcast the PairVPN signal. PairVPN sets up a tunnel between two devices thus allowing the connection solely to those devices. When you share your connection from your Mac, you create a router essentially.

(If your device you are trying to connect to from your Mac is ethernet only, then connect your hotspot via wireless to the Mac and share the connection via ethernet/thunderbolt.)

I will gladly try to answer any questions to the best of my ability!!

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Update: For Windows to connect multiple devices, use connectify.

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This is basically the same as all the Android USB tethering apps.

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Connectify pro/max? Does it matter?

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Will this also work if your hotspot has already been throttled?

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Essentially yes! This is the iPhone way. Since apple won’t let us have those nice features.

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yes sadly it is. you have a small window to check snapchat or a text message but then it shuts off.

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i got the max one i think. the highest tier. lifetime is $25 right now

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We’ll see if it stays up. Apple has been hyper aggressive on app store takedowns for bypassing tethering restrictions. Now that they have a Mac app, that’s more significant.

Also while they are taking security precautions, the lack of source code, combined with them running a central server, has me advising strongly to treat this as an unsecure connection. Use SSL sites, or don’t use it.

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it actually still uses the ip from your carrier apn. It is essentially the same as if you were browsing on your phone but instead on your computer. I’ve been using it for the past month and have had no issues by then again I don’t think anyone has tried to take over my pc. But i haven’t had any security alerts pop up from my antivirus and i use this connection for everything.

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Would Android tethering apps have the same security issues? I was thinking of using an old android device but I don’t have to tether much and it adds a layer of hassle to preemptively keep it charged and carry it with me.

Thanks /u/ExoticGenius this works for me for t-mobile as well.

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You won’t get those type of alerts. But in their limited documentation, they do acknowledge that on strict NAT ISPs (like cellular), traffic can flow through their server.

Even if they have truly secured it to their knowledge, it doesn’t mean there may not be some third-party susceptibility they don’t know about.

Basically use encrypted communications and assume your internet connection may be snooped on with this. SMB3, SSL web sites, IMAP email, etc.

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You would be able to use a MITM cert and see if an Android tethering app was leaking data. Plus there are FOSS apps that do that which can be fully vetted.

So no, they don’t have the same concerns.

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ahhh okay! I haven’t test throwing a VPN on top of this one but I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.