Anyone using cellular for home/office internet?

[Canard]

I don’t know of a way to change host files don’t work on TVs.

Note also that Chrome has a habit of completely bypassing local host files.

Interesting ... Thanks.

I did not think about Smart TVs, because I do not use one, although I own one. I just use it as a monitor, preferring to have greater control and understanding of my media system.

Chrome I have very limited experience with other than with tearing my hair out trying to set up a laser printer for one of my wife's cousins and discovering that it was not on the limited support list. My impression is that it is stable and good for its intended purposes. OK as long as you don't intend to colour outside the lines.

But if we want to start pushing things in the direction of pointless overkill (and causing potential problems for everyone on the network), some routers allow the installation of custom hosts files, and anyone with basic Raspberry Pi and networking skills can set up a Pi Hole server.

Pi-hole – Network-wide Ad Blocking

pi-hole.net

 

[GAD]

Interesting ... Thanks.

I did not think about Smart TVs, because I do not use one, although I own one. I just use it as a monitor, preferring to have greater control and understanding of my media system.

Chrome I have very limited experience with other than with tearing my hair out trying to set up a laser printer for one of my wife's cousins and discovering that it was not on the limited support list. My impression is that it is stable and good for its intended purposes. OK as long as you don't intend to colour outside the lines.

But if we want to start pushing things in the direction of pointless overkill (and causing potential problems for everyone on the network), some routers allow the installation of custom hosts files, and anyone with basic Raspberry Pi and networking skills can set up a Pi Hole server.

Pi-hole – Network-wide Ad Blocking

pi-hole.net

Host files are supposed to override all DNS lookups and they are local to the operating system on which they reside. The hierarchy in a nutshell is cache > host file > local DNS > Remote DNS (It's more complicated than that, but the point is made).

PiHole only works if your client uses it for DNS. My point about Chrome is that Google has a habit of bypassing any configuration you make in order to user their own DNS servers. This is a huge security hole IMO that no one talks about because it violates the very basic principles of how networking works in an operating system. These rules have been in place since the '70s and Google just decided to bypass them all for their own "stability".

Any app can do the same thing. Most don't because that's incredibly obnoxious, but Google gave up their "Don't be Evil" slogan some time ago.

I found all of this out because I wrote a program called "TimeWasters" that would black-hole traffic to sites that you can configure where you waste time. Spend too much time on LTG and need to get some work done? Put LTG into the TimeWasters file and then turn it on for a set period of time and you will no longer be able to get to that site until the time expires. This was all done by programmatically configuring hosts files and there was no limit to the number of domains you could block. When my daughter asked to use it I set it up and it didn't work which is when I dug in and found out that no matter what I did Chrome bypassed it all: cache, host file, DNS config - all of it. Chrome ignores the operating system and acts as its own OS.

 

[chazmo]

Wow, that's good info, GAD. It's hard to see why they'd bypass the OS' networking capabilities and instead put this in place in Chrome itself, but maybe raw Chromebooks (that only really run Chrome) weren't able to do a good job? But isn't Chrome OS just Linux? I have to admit, I'm out of touch. Trying to understand the motivation ...

 

[GAD]

Wow, that's good info, GAD. It's hard to see why they'd bypass the OS' networking capabilities and instead put this in place in Chrome itself, but maybe raw Chromebooks (that only really run Chrome) weren't able to do a good job? But isn't Chrome OS just Linux? I have to admit, I'm out of touch. Trying to understand the motivation ...

Most people are clueless about DNS and DNS misconfiguration and/or terrible ISP DNS practices can make for a terrible user experience. My guess is that Google decided to bypass all of that in the name of "stability".

 

[Canard]

Host files are supposed to override all DNS lookups and they are local to the operating system on which they reside. The hierarchy in a nutshell is cache > host file > local DNS > Remote DNS (It's more complicated than that, but the point is made).

PiHole only works if your client uses it for DNS. My point about Chrome is that Google has a habit of bypassing any configuration you make in order to user their own DNS servers. This is a huge security hole IMO that no one talks about because it violates the very basic principles of how networking works in an operating system. These rules have been in place since the '70s and Google just decided to bypass them all for their own "stability".

Any app can do the same thing. Most don't because that's incredibly obnoxious, but Google gave up their "Don't be Evil" slogan some time ago.

I found all of this out because I wrote a program called "TimeWasters" that would black-hole traffic to sites that you can configure where you waste time. Spend too much time on LTG and need to get some work done? Put LTG into the TimeWasters file and then turn it on for a set period of time and you will no longer be able to get to that site until the time expires. This was all done by programmatically configuring hosts files and there was no limit to the number of domains you could block. When my daughter asked to use it I set it up and it didn't work which is when I dug in and found out that no matter what I did Chrome bypassed it all: cache, host file, DNS config - all of it. Chrome ignores the operating system and acts as its own OS.

Again, very interesting and slightly worrisome ... thanks.

I misunderstood when you first mentioned Chrome. I was thinking OSes and hosts files and the OS on Chrome Books. You were talking about the browser, which is slightly more worrying.

I use the Chrome browser for things that do not work well in other browsers--DRM related things seem to work more reliably with Chrome which is probably because sites favour Chrome over other browsers.

I have not tested this extensively, but it is my current impression that Chrome forks, Chromium, Vivaldi, Opera, Brave, etc, do not behave in the same way with regards to DNS as Chrome does. Interesting, but not interesting enough that I am going to go looking for the old Netbook to test this impression.

TimeWasters sounds totally cool. There are times when I could definitely use it.

 

[chazmo]

No, not at all, Cynthia. T-Mobile's home internet is unlimited data, which again is analogous to my cable service. It's treated like a separate "line" on the service. So, my T-Mobile bill comprises 2 lines for my 55+ plan cellphones ($70/mo) and a third "line" for the home internet ($40/mo).

Sooo..... My first negative (potentially) experience with T-Mobile's home internet. I got the following email from them today indicating that I may (soon) be dissatisfied with the service. I will keep you posted:

Thanks for being a T‑Mobile Home Internet customer! To ensure the best network experience for all customers, we have updated our fair use policy. During times of congestion, customers using more than 1.2TB in a month (more than 2.5x the average user) may notice lower priority among other internet customers.

Check out our Open Internet policy for details.

 

[GAD]

Data capping is common practice for pretty much all consumer Internet these days. I imagine you’d be hard pressed to find a service without it.

This Easter I discovered that my brother in law has T-mobile cellular Internet in his house. He’s an attorney and his biggest requirement is online gaming for his two high school boys and streaming services for TV. So far he’s happy with it after a year or so.

 

[chazmo]

Yeah, I will have to see if it actually affects me. I'm using over a terabyte/mo, so mail seems directed at me. I tried reading the "Open Internet Policy" and it's about 10 pages of gobbledy-gook... Anyway, interesting that you've met someone else who is happy with it. I sure am; but I'm worried. Especially since the tower that serves me is not actually T-Mobile's service.

 

[Wilmywood]

Yeah, I will have to see if it actually affects me. I'm using over a terabyte/mo, so mail seems directed at me. I tried reading the "Open Internet Policy" and it's about 10 pages of gobbledy-gook... Anyway, interesting that you've met someone else who is happy with it. I sure am; but I'm worried. Especially since the tower that serves me is not actually T-Mobile's service.

chazmo I got that email also, we'll see how it goes

 

[chazmo]

chazmo I got that email also, we'll see how it goes

wilmy, have you been satisfied with the service thus far? And, are you provided by a roaming service, or by T-Mobile? You can tell by looking at your phone and seeing if "UG" is shown next to 5G or not.

 

[Wilmywood]

wilmy, have you been satisfied with the service thus far? And, are you provided by a roaming service, or by T-Mobile? You can tell by looking at your phone and seeing if "UG" is shown next to 5G or not.

I only use TMobile for internet, not phone, and I have been satisfied for the most part, although I do have an occasional issue with them changing my IP address, which screws up my Hulu+LiveTV and I have to call and reset the IP for them. I am told that is standard for wireless internet in general, and not just TMobile.

 

[GAD]

I only use TMobile for internet, not phone, and I have been satisfied for the most part, although I do have an occasional issue with them changing my IP address, which screws up my Hulu+LiveTV and I have to call and reset the IP for them. I am told that is standard for wireless internet in general, and not just TMobile.

It's odd that Hulu cares because that is standard for all Internet providers everywhere. Most don't often change it, but if you want a guaranteed static IP you have to pay for it.

 

[Wilmywood]

It's odd that Hulu cares because that is standard for all Internet providers everywhere. Most don't often change it, but if you want a guaranteed static IP you have to pay for it.

Right. I think it's because I have Hulu +LiveTV and location is important apparently, so when the IP changes I have to have it reset in order to watch LiveTV, the rest of Hulu is unaffected. It affects none of my other streaming.