This method compared to PDANet, FoxFi, NetShare, EasyTether, Wi-Fi Tether Router, and sshuttle tunneling:
This bypass method & tutorial compared to PDANet, FoxFi, NetShare, EasyTether, Wi-Fi Tether Router, and sshuttle tunneling:
. Reliable with little to no speed reduction.
. Plug and play, works with other devices without installing apps.
. Plug and play, other devices don't need to install apps to have internet.
. Safe from your telecom, but make sure to lie well if questioned for excessive data usage.
. Bypasses throttling such as limited video quality on YouTube, and censorship.
. Bypasses service specific throttling such as limited video quality on YouTube or other streaming services, and censorship.
** Other devices have to install an app for this goal, it's unavoidable.
This guide is tested from an unlocked US https://swappa.com/listings/google-pixel-4a-5g/unlocked[Pixel 4a 5G], it can be had for $100.
== Preparation
. https://topjohnwu.github.io/Magisk/[Install Magisk]; read "Getting Started", then "Patching Images".
. Install the following apps:
* A https://f-droid.org/repo/jackpal.androidterm_72.apk[terminal emulator]; for that app make sure to allow all permissions it asked for.
* A https://f-droid.org/repo/jackpal.androidterm_72.apk[terminal emulator]; for that app make sure to allow all the permissions it asked for.
* https://apkpure.com/network-signal-guru/com.qtrun.QuickTest[Network Signal Guru] for its radio band locking to maintain and increase network speeds.
* https://github.com/AdAway/AdAway/releases[AdAway] to block Network Signal Guru's advertising.
** AdAway requires you to enable "Systemless Hosts" in Magisk's settings.
* https://apkpure.com/netmonster/cz.mroczis.netmonster[NetMonster] for its network monitoring. Without it, you are practically blind to what bands are used, and what the various signal strengths are; this is very useful information.
** No output = good, skip ahead to "1. Blocking Android snitching..."
** No output is good/desired. If this is the case, link:#skip-ahead[skip ahead] to blocking Android snitching, and spoofing TTL & HL.
=== Downloading a suitable custom kernel
NOTE: The listed kernels include the BBR or BBRv2 TCP congestion control algorithm to https://web.archive.org/web/20220313173158/http://web.archive.org/screenshot/https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1I1NcVVbuC7aq4nGalYxMNz9pgS9OLKcFHssIBlj9xXI[help maintain speeds over bad network conditions].
|===
@ -58,16 +58,16 @@ Use these search terms on the https://forum.xda-developers.com/search/[XDA Forum
=== Installing a custom kernel
. Install https://github.com/SmartPack/BusyBox-Installer/releases[BusyBox Installer], then open it.
. Install https://github.com/SmartPack/BusyBox-Installer/releases[BusyBox Installer], open it, then reboot after it prompts to.
. Install https://github.com/libxzr/HorizonKernelFlasher/releases[Horizon Kernel Flasher], open it, then point it to the ZIP containing the custom kernel.
== 1. Blocking Android snitching, and spoofing TTL & HL
# HACK: Not sure what to check for exactly; do it too early and the TTL & HL won't get set.
sleep 5s
modprobe xt_HL; wait
sleep 5s; modprobe xt_HL; wait
# Removes these iptables entries if present; only removes once, so if the same entry is present twice (script assumes this never happens), it would need to be removed twice.
== 2. Using a VPN to bypass DPI-based throttling and censorship
.Least shady free VPNs; not recommended.
== 2. Confirm the tethering is un-throttled
TIP: After enabling USB tethering, enable "Data Saver". This tells Android to restrict data to USB tethering and what app is at the forefront only.
. Use https://fast.com[Netflix's Speedtest], then compare that result to https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat[Waveform's Bufferbloat Test]. +
This tests for throttling of streaming servers (Netflix), various forms of data fingerprinting, and tethering/hotspot detections.
. If Netflix is throttled, use the https://github.com/krlvm/PowerTunnel[PowerTunnel] app on the client/tethered to device with its LibertyTunnel addon enabled, and test again.
== 3. Getting better internet speeds
. Search for "Roaming" in the Settings app, then disable Roaming.
** Roaming to a different telecom usually means unavoidable throttling. Usually roaming only happens when signal strength is either very poor or non-existent from your telecom. +
For example, T-Mobile USA's agreement with AT&T allow the usage of AT&T towers, but only up to 250kbps download & upload speeds is allowed while roaming on AT&T's network.
. Use Network Signal Guru to set the allowed LTE bands to only the "LTE 4x4 Bands" listed on https://cacombos.com/device/G025E[cacombos.com] for your device.
== This guide doesn't work, or goes from fast to inexplicably slow
[.lead]
Using a VPN is likely the missing puzzle piece. +
VPNs bypass DPI firewalls, they will not increase privacy.
.Least shady free VPNs; try before any paid VPNs.
[%collapsible]
====
* Ordered from best to worst:
. https://cloudflarewarp.com/[Cloudflare WARP] (never torrent on this). +
You can get the https://github.com/TheCaduceus/WARP-UNLIMITED-ADVANCED[paid WARP+ for free].
. https://protonvpn.com/free-vpn/[ProtonVPN Free]
. https://cryptostorm.is/cryptofree[Cryptofree]
** Using their free WireGuard server is recommended.
. https://protonvpn.com/free-vpn/[ProtonVPN Free]
. https://cloudflarewarp.com/[Cloudflare WARP] (never torrent on this). +
You can get the https://github.com/TheCaduceus/WARP-UNLIMITED-ADVANCED[paid WARP+ for free].
___
====
.Open-source VPN protocol comparison; what is suitable for your situation.
.Recommendations and requirements for a good paid VPN provider.
[%collapsible]
====
* *WireGuard*: fastest on reliable internet; easily blockable by DPI firewalls.
* *IKEv2/IPSec*: sometimes faster than WireGuard on unreliable internet. Depending on the VPN provider, IKEv2 can either be resistant to DPI firewalls (hide.me's implementation), or not at all.
* *SoftEther*: bypasses most DPI firewalls with good speeds in general, but is more complicated to set up for non-Windows OSes.
* *OpenVPN3*: resistant to DPI firewalls if tls-crypt is used alongside port 443; China, Iran, and Egypt require OpenVPN over SSL which further reduce speeds. This protocol isn't efficient and has latency issues.
====
[.lead]
The recommendations
.Requirements for a good paid VPN provider.
[%collapsible]
====
* United States citizens: https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/vpn-server[Private Internet Access]. Has a server in every single US state, and an optional dedicated IP addon if streaming services (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.) must always work.
* The fastest, but with a limited selection of servers for the United States: https://hide.me/en/network[hide.me].
* Strong emphasis on ethics: https://mullvad.net/en/servers[Mullvad], https://www.cryptostorm.is/uptime[Cryptostorm], https://airvpn.org/status/[AirVPN].
NOTE: TorGuard is the recommendation if streaming (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, etc.) is necessary. Otherwise, try TorGuard -> hide.me -> Mullvad.
[.lead]
The requirements
. Network locking in their VPN software is reliable; very important to stay under the telecom's radar regarding "OS fingerprinting".
@ -206,7 +220,7 @@ NOTE: TorGuard is the recommendation if streaming (Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime,
. Addon available (or included) for a dedicated/static/streaming IP, to get around streaming service blocks, and other websites using anti-VPN services such as https://blocked.com.
. P2P/http://www.bittorrent.org/introduction.html[BitTorrent protocol] isn't blocked on all servers.
. P2P/http://www.bittorrent.org/introduction.html[BitTorrent protocol] isn't blocked on all servers.
** If all servers have this protocol unblocked, it will narrow down the amount of hosting services that VPN provider can use. +
This means higher ping/latency for some ISPs/telecoms; low latency is important for online gaming and video conferencing, among others.
@ -226,47 +240,32 @@ This means higher ping/latency for some ISPs/telecoms; low latency is important
** The most problematic: Android TV, iOS/iPadOS, and Linux (especially distros not based on Ubuntu or Fedora).
*** Linux support for most VPNs lack a graphical interface, and lack features included in their Windows and/or macOS VPN software.
====
.Honest VPN reviews or information.
[%collapsible]
====
. https://youtube.com/channel/UCXJWKuGh0qedrYviGEJmlWw[Tom Spark's Reviews] on YouTube, or directly at his https://www.vpntierlist.com/[VPN Tier List] website.
. https://web.archive.org/web/20220929090559/https://thatoneprivacysite.xyz/choosing-the-best-vpn-for-you/[An archive of "That One Privacy Site"], dated 19th December 2019. +
TIP: https://web.archive.org/web/20220929090559/https://thatoneprivacysite.xyz/choosing-the-best-vpn-for-you/[An archive of "That One Privacy Site"], dated 19th December 2019. +
Use it as a second opinion on what justifies a good paid VPN provider.
TIP: Kape Technologies owns many popular VPN review websites to unfairly promote their products as the "best": +
TIP: After enabling USB tethering, enable "Data Saver". This tells Android to restrict data to USB tethering and what app is at the forefront only.
. Disconnect from the VPN.
. Use https://fast.com[Netflix's Speedtest], then after that's complete use https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat[Waveform's Bufferbloat Test]. +
This will test for throttling of streaming servers (Netflix), various forms of data fingerprinting, and tethering/hotspot detections.
. Connect to a VPN on the tethered-to (client) device, then repeat the above step.
.If the VPN can't connect.
[%collapsible]
====
=== If the VPN can't connect:
. Check if IPv4 or IPv6 is being used to reach the VPN server.
** For T-Mobile, connecting through IPv6 may be required.
. If the VPN still can't connect, try each supported protocol in this order:
** WireGuard -> IKEv2/IPSec -> SoftEther -> OpenVPN (UDP, port 443) -> OpenVPN (TCP, port 443) -> OpenVPN over SSL (TCP, port 443)
== 4. Getting better internet speeds
. Search for "Roaming" in the Settings app, then disable Roaming.
** Roaming to a different telecom usually means unavoidable throttling. Usually roaming only happens when signal strength is either very poor or non-existent from your telecom. +
For example, T-Mobile USA's agreement with AT&T allow the usage of AT&T towers, but only up to 250kbps download & upload speeds is allowed while roaming on AT&T's network.
. Use Network Signal Guru to set the allowed LTE bands to only the "LTE 4x4 Bands" listed on https://cacombos.com/device/G025E[cacombos.com] for your device.
[.lead]
Reasoning for each open-source VPN protocol choice:
* *WireGuard*: fastest on reliable internet; easily blockable by DPI firewalls.
* *IKEv2/IPSec*: sometimes faster than WireGuard on unreliable internet. Depending on the VPN provider, IKEv2 can either be resistant to DPI firewalls (hide.me's implementation), or not at all.
* *SoftEther*: bypasses most DPI firewalls with good speeds in general, but is more complicated to set up for non-Windows OSes.
* *OpenVPN3*: resistant to DPI firewalls if tls-crypt is used alongside port 443; China, Iran, and Egypt require OpenVPN over SSL which further reduce speeds. This protocol isn't efficient and has latency issues.
___
====
== Appendices
@ -288,6 +287,7 @@ Third-party scripts
. `/jffs/scripts/wan-event` used for Asuswrt-Merlin is a refined version of https://www.snbforums.com/threads/wan-start-script-also-run-on-wan-stop.61295/#post-542636[this script].
___
====
*You've reached the end of this guide.* Star it if you liked it.
felikcat
1 year ago