How to use a Torrent Proxy for anonymous torrents (setup guide)
Using a Socks5 Torrent Proxy with your favorite Bittorrent client will allow you to easily anonymize your torrent traffic. A properly configured proxy allows you to route 100% of your torrent traffic through a remote server, which will hide your real IP address from torrent peers, making your downloads much more not all proxy services are created equal. And not all torrent clients handle proxy connections the same ’s why we created this ’s pretty massive, so feel free to use the Jump Links below to find the exact section you’re looking for…ContentsChoosing a Torrent Proxy ServiceHow to get your proxy username/passwordPrivate Internet AccessNordVPNIPVanishTorguardProxy setup guide for (separated by torrent client)uTorrentVuzeDelugeQBittorrentVerify your proxy is working properlyVPN or Proxy: Is one better for torrenting? Torrent clients that don’t have proxy support‘Torrent Proxy’/ Tracker Proxy Websites (to unblock torrents)Frequently Asked Questions How to choose a proxy service for Torrents/P2PFirst things first, you’ll need a subscription to a proxy service if you don’t have one already. And let me make two things very clear:Make sure to choose a ‘Zero-Log’ proxy service (for maximum privacy)It must be Socks5 and not /’ll look in-depth at our recommended proxy services, as well as understanding the criteria of what makes one proxy better-suited for torrents. But for simplicity’s sake, …These are the best proxies for BitTorrent:Private Internet Access (Socks5 + VPN included)NordVPN (Socks5 + VPN included)IPVanish (Socks5 + VPN included)Torguard (Socks5 + VPN sold separately)Next, let’s take a closer look at each of these ivate Internet Access ($3. 33/month)Private Internet Access is the best deal available if you want a torrent-friendly Socks5 proxy & VPN service primarily for anonymous torrenting. PIA has the best combination of essential torrent features, for less than the cost of a cup of coffee per yet, Private Internet Access allows 5 simultaneous connections and are the world’s only VPN who’s ‘No Logs’ privacy policy has been verified in plans include unlimited bandwidth on their Socks5 proxy server in the our Private Internet Access reviewNordVPN ($5. 95/month + Netflix Support)NordVPN’s feature set is almost identical to Private Internet Access (Zero Logs, Socks5 + VPN, torrent-friendly). However, they have one awesome advantage… NordVPN is one of the only VPNs in the world that still works with Netflix. They’ve been able to successfully avoid the Netflix VPN block for you want 1-click access to Netflix’s global catalog from anywhere in the world, choose NordVPN review w/ Netflix unblocking SmartPlay technologyIPVanish ($6. 49/month + Fastest VPN in the World)IPVanish is a zero-log VPN service based in the USA. They fully allow torrents/p2p and include both Socks5 Proxy service and VPN service in one all-inclusive package. A bit pricier than PIA, IPVanish is the undisputed king of speed, outperforming all contenders in our speed tests. Their software is also more user-friendly than both PIA and NordVPN. If you’re willing to pay for performance (and don’t need Netflix support) go with Our IPVanish reviewHow is a Proxy different from a VPN? And which is better? This is a common question. In simple terms, a proxy is like a VPN, minus the encryption. In other words, a proxy will hide your IP address without scrambling/encrypting the data you’re that doesn’t necessarily mean a VPN is better. You see, BitTorrent traffic is identified based on the IP address that appears in your torrent swarm, not by directly monitoring your data stream (which only your ISP can do). However…A VPN is certainly more secure, which is why most of the Socks5 proxies we feature in this article actually include Proxy + VPN service in the same subscription at no additional gives you the option to use either (or both) to match your security needs. Many people opt to run a VPN 100% of the time for day-to-day security, and also configure a proxy just for their torrent AdvantagesNo software to installKeeps torrent traffic separateHides IP Address like VPNFaster speeds than VPN (on average)One-time setupAny OS (Mac, Windows, Android)Proxy DisadvantagesNo encryptionSome clients ignore proxy settingsFewer server locationsSometimes magnet links don’t work How to get your Proxy Login InformationEach of these companies has a unique method of assigning usernames/passwords for their proxy service. Each service also uses a unique proxy address and port make sure you use the correct settings for your portant note:While a few VPN services allow you to use the same username/password combo for the Socks5 proxy, most don’t. So for these other services, you’ll need to generate a custom username/password for your proxy inside your account panel on their website. Services that have generate separate proxy credentials include: Private Internet Access, IPVanish & the tabs below to select your proxy provider. We have instructions to find all the information you will need to configure your preferred torrent client:Username/PasswordProxy Address/HostnamePort #Private Internet AccessNordVPNIPVanishTorguardPrivate Internet Access proxy settingsPIA has a single proxy location, a high-speed SOCKS cluster located in the Netherlands. Here’s all the login details you need:Hostname/Address: mPort: 1080Username/password: Different than VPN login (see below)Private Internet Access requires you to use a different proxy username/password than for their VPN service. You generate your proxy credentials from inside your PIA account panel on their to your account panel on mScroll to the section labeled ‘PPTP/L2TP/SOCKS Username/password’Keep this page open for easy copy/paste into your torrent clientGenerate your Proxy login/password in account panel NordVPN proxy settingsNordVPN hosts their Socks5 proxies on the same servers as their VPN network. They allow SOCKS connections in over 40 countries, and 10 of these countries allow P2P/Torrent connections. The full server list can be found Hostname/Address: See below, to pick a server and get hostnamePort: 1080Username/Password: Same as VPN credentialsTo pick a P2P proxy server and find the Hostname:Go to the NordVPN Server ListScroll to the ‘P2P’ sectionChoose a country location. We recommend: Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, LuxembourgClick ‘Show Server’ to expand the server list for that location and view the proxy addressChoose specific server and copy the Address. We used mChoose your torrent server location. Make sure there is a checkmark under ‘Socks5’ columnThe Port # is 1080 for all server locations. Proceed to the next step with setup instructions for your specific torrent client. IPVanish proxy settingsIPVanish has one massive proxy cluster located in the Netherlands. To login, you must use a specific proxy username/password that is different from your VPN credentials. Instructions below…Hostname/Address: #: 1080Username/Password: Generated from account panel – you have your socks username and password, proceed to the next step to setup IPVanish with your preferred torrent rguard has several locations for their p2p proxy service. You can manually choose a server by its IP address (shown in your Torguard account panel) but we recommend using the default proxy address and let Torguard choose the fastest server name: (or)Port #: 1080, 1085, 1090 (your choice)Username/Password: Emailed to you when you signed up for TorguardAbout the Hostname: it doesn’t matter whether you choose the or proxy address. Both belong to Torguard’s ‘Smart’ router, which will find the optimal proxy server for you based on your location and how crowded each server We love the fact that Torguard provides multiple ports that you can run the proxy on. Many VPNs (PIA and IPVanish for example) only allow you to run on the default 1080 port. The problem with this is that some internet providers (Comcast is one example) block all traffic on port you get slow speeds while using the proxy on 1080, choose 1085 or 1090 as your port # oceed to the next section to get specific setup instructions for your preferred torrent client. Configure your Torrent ClientWe have proxy setup guides for the following torrent clients:uTorrent/BittorrentDelugeQBittorrentTixati (not 100% secure)If your favorite client isn’t listed here, it most likely doesn’t support the proxying of peer connections. If this is the case, a VPN is your best option for improving torrent use the tabs below to find our setup guide for your preferred client:uTorrentVuze/AzureusDelugeQBittorrentOtheruTorrent/bittorrent proxy setupuTorrent fully supports the proxying of peer and tracker communications. We’ll look at the recommend proxy settings. Afterwords we’ll discuss the (optional) port forwarding and encryption access uTorrent Proxy setttings:Go to: Menu > Options > Preferences > Connections (tab on the left)uTorrent Proxy Settings (with important settings numbered). Using PIA proxyWe’ll look at the important settings 1 by 1. They’re numbered as in the illustration:[1] Connection Tab: Select the ‘Connection’ tab of the preferences menu to access the proxy settings. [2] Proxy Type: Choose ‘Socks5’ from the dropdown menu (true for all the VPN/proxy services in this article)[3] Proxy: This is the proxy address assigned by your torrent proxy service. This was covered in the previous step. [4] Port: The port # your Socks5 proxy uses. It’s 1080 for PIA, IPVanish, NordVPN. Torguard uses 1080, 1085, or 1090[5] Authentication: Check this box in order to enter your username/password[5a, 5b] Username/Password: Specific to your proxy service. You should have copied/generated your login credentials in the previous portant: Make sure you have all boxes numbered 6-10 checked. These are important privacy settings that will make sure that uTorrent uses the proxy tunnel for ALL connections. You don’t want to leak identifying information to trackers or torrent peers. [6] Use Proxy for Hostname Lookups: Make sure that tracker requests are routed through the proxy tunnel and proxy IP address. [7] Use proxy for Peer Connections: All peers in a swarm will see your proxy IP address[8] Disable Local DNS lookups: Prevent DNS leaks and make sure that uTorrent uses the proxy servers’ DNS servers, not your own (prevent IP leaks). [9] Disable Features that leak identifying information: Turns off any uTorrent features that could accidentally leak information about your identity, location, or real IP address. Important for maximum privacy. [10] Disable Connections unsupported by the Proxy: Some torrent clients will route ‘unsupported connnections’ outside the proxy tunnel. uTorrent is much more secure and lets you disable any unsupported connections. This ensures that 100% of your uTorrent traffic is routed properly through the proxy tunnel and your true IP address is never exposed. uTorrent Encryption & DHT SettingsThese settings will let you enable (optional) protocol encryption. This is a weak (but fast) encryption algorithm designed to obscure your torrent traffic as it passes through your ISP’s servers and prevent throttling/blocking. You can also turn off DHT, but DHT is required for magnet links to function so we recommend you leave it these settings at: Menu > Options > Preferences > BitTorrent (tab)Choose Encryption: Recommended ‘Enabled’ or ‘Forced’Enabled: This setting will allow you to encrypt connections between any peers that also have encryption enabled. It will still allow unencrypted connections to non-compatible peers. Access to 100% of available Forced mode requires that all peer connections be encrypted. You can only connect to other peers in ‘Enabled’ or ‘Forced’ mode. This mode is more secure, but will likely reduce your total number of available peers. This usually isn’t an issue but could make it hard to download torrents with few should also read: How to use uTorrent like a PROHow to setup a Proxy in Vuze/AzureusVuze has selective support for proxied connections. Vuze does not support peer connections via HTTP(s) proxies at all, though we’re only using SOCKS5 proxy services in this supports UDP tracker connections (not peers connections) and allows outgoing peer communications via TCP. For more info, see their Socks proxy Line: A Socks proxy does work with vuze and can anonymize peer communications (if set up properly). However most users would be better off using a VPN instead, as it is much more secure for downloading torrents safely with #1 – Put Vuze in ‘Advanced’ modeIn order to access the Vuze proxy settings, you first need to put Vuze in ‘Advanced’ user mode:Open Vuze and go to: Menu > Tools > Options > Mode (tab)Change user mode to ‘Advanced’ to access proxy settingsThen hit click the ‘Toggle’ icon to the left of the ‘Connection’ [1] tab and choose ‘Proxy’ [2] from the dropdown menu to bring up the proxy Proxy settings in options menu. Numbered to show important settingsHere are the important settings to change:Step #2 – Tell Vuze to use proxy for trackers and peersTracker SettingsEnable Proxying of Tracker Communications [3]: Torrent trackers you connect to will use the proxy tunnel and see your anonymous proxy IP address. Make sure to restart Vuze for this setting to take effect. I have a SOCKS proxy [4]: Lets Vuze know you’re using a Socks proxy, not HTTP. This is important because you can only use a Socks proxy for peer [5]: Your proxy hostname/address (provided by your proxy service and discussed in the previous section)Port [6]: The port number your proxy runs on. Most use the default ername/Password [7]: Your own proxy login credentials. Make sure you generated unique proxy credentials if your proxy requires event Local DNS Lookups [8]: Check this box to make sure all DNS requests go through the proxy tunnel (prevent DNS leaks) Socks [9]: After you’ve entered and double-checked your proxy settings, click this button to have Vuze attempt a connection through the proxy tunnel. This will let you know whether things are configured Peer Proxy SettingsIt’s also essential to enable the proxying of Peer communications in Vuze. Check all the boxes as shown below, and make sure to choose ‘V5’ as the Socks Vuze to use proxy for Peer ConnectionsVuze Encryption (optional)If your Internet Provider deliberately blocks or throttles torrent traffic, you can use Vuze’s built-in encryption to disguise your torrent data. If your ISP is using more advanced DPI inspection/torrent-blocking technology, you’ll be better off running Vuze through the VPN tunnel (instead of the proxy) change your Vuze encryption settings go to:Menu > Tools > Options > Connection (toggle) > Transport Encryption [1]Turn on Vuze transport encryption to circumvent torrent blocking/throttlingRequire Encrypted Transport [2]: Check this box to enable mum Encryption Level [3]: Set this to RC4 (strongest)There are two modes you run Vuze encryption in…Forced Mode (only allow encrypted connections): Leave boxes [4] and [5] unchecked to make sure you only allow encrypted connections. Enabled Mode (allow encrypted and unencrypted peers): Check boxes [4] and [5] to use encryption when available but still allow unencrypted connections if necessary. This is less secure but will give you access to 100% of peers sharing a Proxy SetupDeluge has the better proxy support than almost any competing torrent client. They allow you to proxy all of the most important torrent connections, including:TrackersWeb SeedsDHT/Peer-exchangePeersNote: You have to choose a proxy server for each of these, but you can use the same proxy for all connections. You just have to set it up 4 times as we’ll show #1 – Configure Deluge Proxy SettingsTo access Deluge’s proxy settings, go to:Edit > Preferences (or Ctrl+P) > Proxy (tab)It’ll look like this:What Deluge looks like with no proxy set upWe’re going to change all 4 of these sections to have the exact same proxy settings. Here are the settings you’ll want:Type: SocksV5 w/ Auth (allows you to enter username/password)Username/Password: Your login credentials. Provided by your proxy service or generated from your VPN account panel (PIA & IPVanish) Proxy address your provider uses (e. g. or etc)Port: The port # your proxy uses. Most use the default port of 1080Here are the completed proxy settings, using Private Internet Access as an example. Replace the appropriate settings with your own proxy services’ Proxy setup completed with PIA (as an example)Step #2 – Setup Encryption (Optional)You can choose to enable encryption on Deluge if you believe your ISP is blocking/throttling/slowing torrent to: Edit > Preferences > Network (Tab)Then look to the bottom of the window for the section labeled ‘Encryption’ gives very fine-grained control over what portion of the torrent protocol to encrypt and whether to force encrypted connections or just use them when are the two most common modes we recommend:Forced, Full-Encryption Mode:Inbound: ForcedOutbound: ForcedLevel: Full StreamEncrypted Entire Stream: CheckedWhen setup properly, it will look like this:Full-Stream, Forced EncryptionEncryption ‘Enabled’ ModeThis mode will allow you to use as much encryption as your peers allow. It will still use insecure connections if there are not enough encrypted peers bound: EnabledOutbound: EnabledLevel: EitherEncrypt Entire Stream: CheckedSettings should match these shown here…Deluge with Encryption ‘Enabled’ but not requiredThat’s it, your Deluge torrent proxy is all set up. Proceed to the next section on testing your proxy setup. QBitTorrent Proxy SetupQBittorrent has excellent proxy support (much like Deluge). They allow proxying of both peer and tracker connections, effectively hiding your IP address from #1 – Change your QBittorrent proxy settingsGo to: Tools > Options > Connection (tab) [1] > Proxy server (section)In the ‘Connection’ tab of the QBittorrent options menu, you’ll see the proxy settings towards the image below shows a proper setup using Private Internet Access. You’ll want to insert the correct host, port, username/password for your proxy provider. QBittorrent Proxy settingsType [2]: SOCKS5Host [3]: Your proxy’s host addressPort [4]: Port number your proxy operates on. Most use the default – 1080Use proxy for peer connections [5]: Check this. It ensures that all connections peers are routed through the proxy tunnel (so they can’t see your real IP address). Disable Connections not supported by proxies [6]: Check this. We don’t want QBittorrent routing any connections thentication [8]: Make sure to check this box so you can enter your proxy username/passwordUsername/Password [9]: Provided by your proxy serviceStep #2 – Add Encryption (Optional)Deluge has built-in support for protocol encryption. This may allow you to prevent your ISP’s attempts to block/throttle/slow your torrents. This probably won’t defeat more sophisticated DPI torrent-blocking, in which case you’re better off using a change the Deluge Encryption Options go to: Tools > Options > Bittorrent (tab)Look for the single line labeled ‘Encryption Mode’ are three choices:Disable Encryption: Never use encryptionPrefer Encryption: Use encryption as often as possible (whenever enough encrypted peers are available)Require Encryption: Only connects to encryption-enabled peers. This may reduce your overall number of peers you can connect to, but you will have 100% full-time ’s it! QBittorrent is all setup. Proceed to the ‘Check your settings’ Torrent ClientsWhat about other torrent clients? Can you use a proxy with Tixati, Frostwire or Transmission? Answer: The short answer is no. Transmission (one of the most popular Mac clients) doesn’t support proxies at all. Tixati does include proxy settings, but if the proxy goes down it will route your torrents through the unsecured tunnel (bad). Frostwire doesn’t work correctly with proxies same is true of the web-based torrent clients like uTorrent web, as well as most android torrent apps other than Flud and Line: Vuze, Deluge, QBittorrent and uTorrent are the only multi-platform clients with full proxy support. If you’re using any other torrent software, you should get a VPN instead. How to verify your proxy is workingEach torrent client handles failed proxy connections differently. Some will just route torrent traffic through your regular connection (bad). Others won’t connect at all until you insert the correct proxy settings (good) way, you’ll want to check your torrent IP address to verify that your peers can only see the proxy servers’ IP address, not your ’ll do this with a free tool that lets you download a custom magnet link and add it to your torrent client. Then, the tool reports what IP address you’re showing to peers, and you can compare it to your web-browser’s IP method works with all torrent #1 – Go to #2 – Download the Tracking Torrent [Fig. 1]: You can either copy simply download the magnet link or copy and paste the magnet link address into your torrent #3 – Verify: Wait a bit (5 seconds to 1 minute) and if the proxy is working correctly you should see it pop up on the tracker page along with your new proxy IP address [Fig. 3], which should be different than the IP address you accessed the page with. [Fig. 2]Step #4 – View your proxy IP address in your Torrent client: You don’t have to save this magnet hash# or bookmark the page for future tracking, you can actually see your current torrent IP address by viewing the ‘Trackers’ tab of the tracking torrent in your torrent reenshots from uTorrent and QBittorrent:Go to the ‘Trackers’ tab for the tracking torrent to view your current IP addressThat’s it. Basically all you’re checking for is that your torrent client is using the proxy IP address. It should be different than your web browser’s IP this point your proxy setup should be complete, but we’ll go in-depth on some additional considerations in the sections more detail read: How to check your torrent IP address Is a VPN better than a Proxy? Not necessarily, and many people use both majority of people use only a VPN for private torrenting. The main reason is simplicity. There is no in-client configuration required to use a VPN, it just works. The other main VPN advantage is all the top torrent clients have a built-in encryption option, this is lightweight (not strong) encryption and depends on other peers having encryption enabled also. So if you want to make 100% sure your ISP cannot see your torrent traffic, use a said, 99. 9% of torrent monitoring is done based on your IP address (which a proxy hides) not traffic monitoring. Most ISPs could care less what you’re a proxy has several advantages of its own…Advantages of a proxyNo encryption: Encryption is a valuable security tool, but it’s also slow. Your data must be run through an algorithm (sometimes 100+ times) both when it is encrypted and decrypted. This results in slower speeds. By using a proxy, you can hide your IP address from torrent peers, but still keep nearly 100% of your internet speeds. A VPN will usually be browser address and torrent IP address are different: This makes it much harder to link the download of a. torrent file to the download of the actual underlying files (after you open the. torrent file in your client). Since each will be downloaded from a different IP address and there is no link between the two (assuming you followed our advice and chose a provider that doesn’t keep any logs) if you want the advantages of a proxy, but also want the strong encryption of a VPN…just use both! Configure the proxy inside your torrent client as normal, but make sure to start the VPN before you open your torrent software. Then, the torrents will run through the VPN & proxy using both a VPN + Proxy:Your torrents will be secured with extremely strong encryption (your ISP cannot see your downloads)Your browser IP address and torrent IP address will both be uniqueAnd since all of the services we featured in this article allow at least 3 simultaneous connections, you can do all of this with a single subscription. Nice right! Torrent Clients that don’t support Proxy connectionsThere are several prominent clients that don’t handle proxy connections properly (will route them insecurely). Several also will only proxy tracker communications, not peer communications (much more important) a result, you should always use a VPN (not a proxy) with:TixatiTransmissionFrostwireAll Android clients (except Flud & tTorrent) WebsitesThe term ‘Torrent Proxy’ has another meaning as well: shorthand for specially websites designed to workaround torrent-site blockades. A so-called tracker proxy will fetch the contents of a popular torrent website on your behalf, which you can access from a different (unblocked) all of the world’s most popular torrent websites have 1 or more include:MininovaKickass Torrents (no longer exists)The Pirate BayWhile these proxy sites work in the short-term, it’s just a temporary solution. Most will eventually find themselves blocked or taken down as part of expanding best solution to unblock torrent sites (or any blocked website) is to use a VPN. Period. Learn equently Asked QuestionsThese are the most commons questions about using a proxy for bittorrent, and problems users may encounter. Feel free to ask additional questions in the comments below or on Twitter I use a Free Proxy? Technically it is possible to use any proxy that doesn’t block p2p connections. However there are several reasons you would never want to use a ‘free’ proxy Free Proxies are HTTP or HTTPs: HTTP proxies are designed or HTTP traffic (the language of websites) and as a result, they only work when communicating with trackers. You can use an HTTP proxy to communicate with torrent peers, meaning peers will still see your real IP address. This defeats the entire purpose of using a, HTTP proxies will route non-TCP connections outside the proxy tunnel (bad) proxies keep logs: The goal of choosing a non-logging proxy service is to make it nearly impossible to create a link between the IP address of your torrent client (the proxy IP) and your real address. This makes your torrents highly anonymous, and very difficult to trace by a 3rd proxies rarely work, and are slow when they do work: Ever tried to browse the web with a ‘Free’ proxy? You’ve probably had to try 5 or 6 before you even get a connection, never mind the awful speeds and increased ads they Line: Beware of anybody offering something for price is a factor, get Private Internet Access. It’s dirt cheap and works great! Should I just use a VPN? It’s personal preference. Some people enjoy the added security/encryption a VPN offers. Others hate having to remember to turn on the VPN every time they torrent, and proxy speeds are usually, several torrent clients (Including Transmission and Tixati) simply don’t support peer-to-peer proxies. So you’ll have to use a VPN if you won’t switch Line: If you want the best of both worlds, use both. Each of the services we recommended in this article allow multiple connections at the same time, so you can use a VPN + Proxy. I got a ‘Proxy Connection Error’If the proxy isn’t connecting properly in your torrent software, it’s usually one of these reasons:You don’t have the right username/passwordYou don’t have the right host/addressYou started a VPN connection after the proxy was connectedUsername/Password: Double-check to make sure that you followed the proxy credential generation process if you use a proxy service that requires different username/password than your VPN subscription. PIA and IPVanish are the two most popular services that do name/Address: Double-check that these are correct. You can contact your provider’s support team if necessaryVPN: If you tray to connect to a VPN after your torrent client is already open (and you’re using a proxy) it will cause an error. This is because the proxy server is seeing a login request from a totally different IP address but the same username/password. This looks like a threat/hack so it blocks the attempt. Simply restart the torrent client (with the VPN still connected) and it should work any questions? Let us Please SHARE this guide. It is the culmination of more than 20 hours of effort. Happy torrenting!
Is Torrenting Illegal? – All You Need To Know About Torrenting! | Techjury
Is Torrenting Illegal?
Torrenting is often associated with internet piracy and copyright infringement. The open access to high volumes of free music, movies and games just raises a red flag, doesn’t it?
Is torrenting illegal? How exactly does this tech work? And should you use it to download content from the web for free?
The answers to these questions aren’t as straightforward as you’d imagine.
So, we’ll begin with the basics and cover everything from what torrenting is to how to use it safely.
And once we answer it all, you may view this technology beyond its general reputation.
Now, let’s start!
What Is Torrenting?
Torrenting is the act of downloading and uploading files through the BitTorrent network. This is a communication protocol for peer-to-peer file sharing, which enables data exchange in a decentralized manner.
Now, in layman’s terms:
Basically, torrenting is like other forms of downloading, but the way you get files isn’t as clear-cut as it usually is. And also, you have more freedom when it comes to sharing your own data.
When fetching data from an HTTP protocol, it comes from an advanced server designed to handle traffic from large numbers of people at the same time.
With torrent applications, things work a bit differently.
Rather than being stored in one place, files you download come from hundreds of servers or even more. What’s even more unusual is that they’re almost exclusively personal computers. This means advanced hardware takes no part in this type of data exchange.
How did it all start?
The beginning was 20 years ago when a programmer, Bram Cohen, came up with a new way to transfer large files. It was a response to the incredibly slow internet at the time, which couldn’t facilitate large data moves.
Now that you know what torrenting is, it’s time to come up with an answer to the question – how does torrenting work?
How Does Torrenting Work?
Downloading files via peer exchange may sound confusing. In reality, the entire concept isn’t that difficult to grasp.
So, what’s the first thing you’re supposed to do when downloading something this way?
Well, first, you need either a torrent file or a magnet link to click on.
The former is a file on your computer that uses the. torrent filename extension and starts the download process upon a double click. The latter is a link that contains all the information your client needs to start scraping the file right away.
This sends out a request for the file you want, and your program tries to locate it on other computers running their file-sharing software.
Therefore, you can access data from more than just one place. So, when you download torrent films, for example, each file comes in bits and pieces from different users.
When you start downloading something, your torrent will choose from which servers to gather data. It’ll do so based on where it can find the file parts you need.
The transfer load is distributed between computers exchanging files to ensure no one’s bandwidth gets overloaded.
Let’s look at an example.
We’ll imagine you decided to share a 500MB file from your computer in a traditional manner. In case 1, 000 people try to get it from you, all at the same time, it would exhaust your upload bandwidth entirely. The result — everyone’s torrent app will have to spend hours trying to download it.
Torrents eliminate issues like this with a simple solution. They let users scrape pieces of data from multiple places with that specific file (a. k. a. the swar) until they get the full version. The absence of a central server means no one’s internet will suffer an enormous decrease in speed. And the users downloading the file will still get it at the end of the process.
Even if the original sharer stops distributing it, other users can still do it once they complete the download. That’s because of the peer-to-peer foundation of BitTorrent.
So, unless you change the preferences in the program you use, you’ll automatically share the computer file you’ve downloaded with users online.
This completes the cycle and ensures the original file remains available to everyone.
How quickly does one obtain something this way often depends on the seeders vs leechers ratio.
Wondering what these two concepts are?
We’ll explain that as well.
Seeding
With most torrent programs, when you download a file, you automatically become a seeder. This means other users can scrape it from you whenever you’re online.
Of course, you can stop seeding whenever you want to.
Just keep in mind that zero seeds mean it’s impossible to download the file.
Leeching
In the world of torrenting, people who download data from servers without seeding it are called leechers.
Some scrape more than they upload, while others upload absolutely nothing once they get the file they want.
Is Torrenting Safe and How to Torrent Safely?
BitTorrent is best known as a place for pirate movies, games, music, and other types of content.
This is something ISPs are aware of, which is why you may often hear the question “is torrenting safe? ”
It’s just that there’s so much copyrighted content floating online, and it’s so easy to get access to it. Quite often, ISPs send warning letters and links to anti-piracy educational resources when they identify BitTorrent users.
While the practice should be approached with caution, it’s not as unsafe as it may seem.
Depending on where you’re based, the worst thing that can happen is your provider reducing your bandwidth or suspending your account.
If you don’t want that to happen, you’re probably wondering how to torrent safely.
The good news is that protecting your privacy when downloading files isn’t difficult. You can do it even if you don’t have any special computer skills.
Also, you can choose between two common tools for doing so — VPN and Proxy.
VPN
If you don’t want anyone to know that you’re downloading content using BitTorrent, you can change your virtual location.
And how do you do that?
The answer is — using a VPN.
This little tool can make it appear as if you were browsing the internet from a different city, state, or country.
In addition, it can encrypt all the traffic passing through the tunnel, ensuring you stay safe when downloading.
That’s why VPN and torrenting go hand in hand.
We have a list of the best VPN services for torrenting, including some big names like NordVPN, ExpressVPN, PIA, Surfshark, and more.
Proxy
Proxy also ensures you stay safe when torrenting It also changes your IP address, but it substitutes it with its own.
That way, your privacy remains intact, and you don’t even have to show your actual IP.
If you opt to download data this way, you can check out our list of the best proxy server services for this year.
Now’s time to answer the big question – Is torrenting illegal?
When you think about it, it will make sense that this type of file transfer isn’t allowed. After all, it’s most commonly used to share copyrighted content with other internet users.
However, the tech behind BitTorrent hasn’t been designed specifically for this use. Therefore, there’s nothing illegal in torrenting itself.
But if you download unsanctioned copyrighted material, you break the law.
This also isn’t as clear as you’d imagine. There’s a lot of a gray area about what’s legal to torrent and what isn’t.
Still, even if you download something that obviously isn’t allowed, there’s a big chance you won’t be held responsible. This depends on your location, though.
For example, some countries have fines for all types, including movies, TV shows, and music torrenting.
These countries are:
Germany
France
Great Britain
Finland
Japan
UAE
If you plan to download something while in one of these countries, using a VPN is an absolute must.
But there’s more…
Some countries have a different policy against torrenting. Here’s a list of those that have a history of shutting down these types of sites:
US
Italy
Portugal
Russia
Latvia
China
Malaysia
Australia
South Africa
Many internet users aren’t aware of how it all works. That’s why we’ll check out another example.
For instance, is torrenting illegal in the USA?
Using this type of file transfer isn’t illegal in the USA. You can safely share data this way and not worry about breaking the law.
However, the moment you upload or download something copyrighted, your actions become subject to a fine.
And is torrenting illegal in other places around the world?
In many other countries, the answer is yes. However, depending on where you are, the fines are rarely imposed, meaning that in most of them you can freely download/share any type of content.
Even in that case, using a VPN or Proxy is a good idea.
Do’s and Don’ts of Torrenting Use
So, what should you and shouldn’t do when torrenting?
Let’s take a look!
Do Use a VPN or Proxy
Earlier, we talked about what both of these are. Therefore, you already know how they can shield your privacy when downloading.
Even if you don’t plan on picking up anything copyrighted, ensuring torrent anonymity is a good idea. When using a VPN or Proxy, you know no one has a clue that it was you who downloaded something.
Plus, many of these services have extra security features that can come in handy.
Do Choose Torrent Sites Carefully
Torrenting is way more popular than it may seem. There are plenty of websites where you can go to and start downloading content.
Unless you want to risk downloading infringing files, you should be very careful about what site you use.
The best thing you can do is find one that adheres to all laws and get your data from there. Vuze, Inc., for example, has a zero-tolerance policy for copyrighted content.
Do Be Careful When Seeding
Another important part of how to torrent safely is to be careful when seeding.
Whether you’re just seeding or want to share data, you have to know what you’re doing. The last thing you want to do is click on that “upload file” button and break some sort of law.
Don’t Use PirateBay
PirateBay has a bulk of content that’s just waiting to be downloaded.
However, it’s one of the places that expose you to an abundance of torrents monitored closely for infringement.
Unless you have plenty of experience with this tech, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere for content that’s not copyrighted.
Don’t Upload Your Own CD Rips
This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised by how many people engage in movie torrenting by uploading their own CD rips. Whatever type of computer file formats you have on original CDs or DVDs, sharing it this way can get you in trouble.
Even if you live in one of the countries where torrenting is legal, you don’t want to get copyrighted material out there.
What Happens if You’re Caught Pirating?
While torrenting is legal, downloading and sharing content someone else has protected isn’t. Digital piracy does come with consequences that vary depending on where you live.
We already mentioned earlier that ISPs pay attention to what type of data you’re transferring using torrent. When they detect that you’re engaging in illegal activities, they can send you a warning or even reduce your bandwidth.
But that’s not the only reason why torrenting without VPN or Proxy isn’t recommended.
In some countries, you can earn a fine just for downloading a movie from using this tech.
For example, in Germany, this penalty can go all the way up to €1, 000.
In the US, copying data and sharing it with programs like µTorrent can even lead to imprisonment and/or a $250, 000 fine.
That’s why you have to be extremely careful what kind of data you’re working with when using this tech. Also, you should only engage in torrenting with VPN or Proxy.
Is Torrenting Illegal? – Conclusion
So, the act of torrenting itself is 100% legal. All you do is transfer data differently than you do with a standard HTTP protocol. You can use torrent programs to download and share files with other users.
However, the moment you start transferring copyrighted data, you’re breaking the law. Based on your location, fines for that can be extremely high and even involve jail time.
This only shows how careful you have to be when downloading with torrents.
Some countries don’t impose any rules against piracy, but knowing what kind of content you’re handling is always a good idea.
We highly recommend VPN or Proxy set up just in case.
SOCKS vs. HTTP Proxy: Which is better & safer … – Download Privacy
A good VPN is our #1 recommended tool for secure, private torrents. But many people still use a proxy server either as the primary privacy layer, or as a 2nd IP change (used with a VPN).
There are two common proxy types that are widely available:
HTTP/HTTPSSOCKS5
It is very important to understand the difference between these two proxy protocols, especially if you intend to use them for torrenting. That is because each is designed to carry different types of traffic, and one (HTTP proxies) can’t handle BitTorrent files downloads at all.
This guide will teach you:
The strengths and limitations of HTTP vs SOCKS proxiesWhich proxy type to use for specific applicationsWhy you should NEVER use an HTTP proxy for torrentsOur favorite zero-log SOCKS proxy services (some included free w/ VPN)
Overview: Key differences between SOCKS & HTTP proxies
Before we dive into specifics, here are they important differences in the way SOCKS and HTTP proxy protocols work.
An HTTP/HTTPS Proxy:
Is built to transmit hypertext traffic like a webpageIs an ‘Application Layer’ proxyCan be encrypted (HTTPS)Can communicate with HTTP torrent trackersCANNOT transmit BitTorrent file ‘pieces’ between torrent peersCANNOT hide your real IP address from peers
Bottom Line: An HTTP proxy is not suitable for torrent privacy because peers will still see your real IP address. You can use an HTTP proxy to unblock torrent trackers or sites that may be blocked by a firewall.
A SOCKS Proxy:
Can transmit almost any sort of trafficCan include an encryption layer (usual SSH)Can communicate with HTTP or DHT trackersCAN transmit file data between BitTorrent peersCAN hide you real IP address from peers
Bottom Line: A SOCKS5 proxy is a low-level proxy, meaning it isn’t restricted to specific applications or traffic types. A SOCKS5 proxy can handle BitTorrent peer communications and will obscure your IP address in swarms.
A SOCKS5 proxy is the best type of proxy to use for torrent privacy.
HTTP Proxy (in-depth)
As their name suggests, HTTP Proxies are specifically designed for the proxying of HTTP data. HTTP is the protocol used to transfer website data. Anytime you visit a website, the address will be “. HTTP is the protocol by which all data is transferred from the web server to your computer.
HTTP proxies are great at doing this. If you need a proxy for your web browser (for example to unblock netflix from outside the USA) and HTTP proxy will work great. If you try to use an HTTP proxy for other protocols, however, you will start to have problems.
HTTP Proxies are also available in an encrypted form (known as HTTPS) that allows data to be transferred securely using light SSL encryption. This can help the proxy tunnel through a firewall or prevent monitoring by 3rd parties (such as an internet service provider).
Advantages of an HTTP Proxy
Designed for a specific purpose: An HTTP proxy is designed to do one thing extremely well; transmit HTTP data. If you’re looking for a proxy for web-based browsing, an HTTP proxy will be stable and highly with Encryption: The encrypted version of an HTTP proxy, (known as HTTPS) is widely available and quite secure, using open-source encryption algorithms. An encrypted proxy can protect sensitive communications like email, or prevent your ISP from throttling or monitoring your web available for free: Most free proxy services you’ll see on proxy lists across the internet are HTTP proxies. They’re easy to set up, and don’t require authentication. However free proxies do have certain risks and limits.
Reasons an HTTP proxy isn’t suitable for torrenting
By its very design, the HTTP proxy was designed to do one thing extremely well. But that specific excellence comes with trade-offs.
#1 – HTTP Proxy can’t transport torrent traffic: An HTTP proxy simply can’t carry certain types of traffic, especially lower-level (transport layer) TCP & UDP packets used for BitTorrent data transfer.
Even worse, this limitation isn’t obvious in most torrent clients. In fact, Vuze, uTorrent & QBittorrent (to name a few) will all route peer connections outside of the proxy tunnel (unsecured) if you use an HTTP proxy.
#2 – HTTP Proxies don’t support UDP: Bittorrent is heavily reliant on UDP packets, which are flat-out not supported by HTTP proxies. Many torrent trackers (how your torrent software finds peers) rely on the UDP protocol. Also, DHT exclusively uses the UDP protocol to find additional peers. Without UDP support, your torrent downloads will likely be extremely slow.
#3 – Many Public HTTP Proxies will block torrents altogetherPublic proxy servers are often designed to allow users to freely access websites without restrictive firewalls. They don’t want torrent downloads using huge chunks of their server bandwidth and they will often block common torrent ports or blacklist torrent downloaders.
#4 – HTTP Proxies will be much slowerA number of factors combine to dramatically slow torrents downloaded via HTTP Proxy. First, packets tend to get misrouted due to HTTP Proxy header rewrites (#1 above). Lack of UDP support (#2) means you can’t use DHT to find additional peers. And finally, HTTP proxy servers (especially free ones) tend to be extremely crowded which means you’ll likely get only a fraction of your available bandwidth for torrent downloads.
SOCKS/SOCKS5 PROXY (In-depth)
Unlike ‘High-Level’ HTTP proxies, which are designed for a specific protocol, SOCKS Proxy technology is ‘low-level’ and is designed to be an all-purpose proxy which can accommodate virtually any protocol, program, or type of traffic. This makes a SOCKS proxy ideal for the Bittorrent protocol.
SOCKS Version 5 (SOCKS5)There are multiple versions of the SOCKS proxy protocol. SOCKS5 (version 5) is the optimal choice for torrents because it includes full UDP support (which proxies do not), which will allow you to connect to more peers/trackers and experience much faster torrent downloads.
Pro TIP: All the anonymous proxy services recommended on this site use the SOCKS5 protocol.
Reasons why a SOCKS5 proxy is the best proxy type for Torrenting
#1 – Full UDP Protocol SupportSOCKS5 proxies support both TCP and UDP transfer protocols (the 2 data protocols used by bittorrent technology) so you get the full functionality of your torrent client even when you use a proxy. This means you can access UDP trackers and fully utilize DHT to maximize your number of available peers and download speeds.
#2 – Faster SpeedsA SOCKS5 proxy is will allow you do download torrents much faster than other proxy types. This because SOCKS5 offers full UDP support, allowing you to connect to the maximum number of peers.
Also, SOCKS proxies don’t rewrite data packet headers (like HTTP proxies do) which means your data packets won’t be misrouted or mislabled. Less errors = faster speeds.
#3 – Better privacy, more zero-log servers availableThere are multiple non-logging SOCKS5 torrent proxy services. A non-logging proxy offers maximum anonymity for virtually untraceable torrents. Learn why you should always use a non-logging VPN/proxy for torrents.
The Best SOCKS5 Proxy Services for Torrents/p2p
This is a quick overview of the best torrent-friendly SOCKS proxy services we’ve tested over the years.
Many of them are not standalone services, but rather included for free with an existing VPN subscription. This gives you the best of both worlds, at a price comparable (or cheaper than) buying proxy service alone.
#1 – NordVPN | SOCKS5 proxy included with all VPN plans (from $2. 99/month)
No Logs. Period.
Torrent Friendly
p2p-optimized servers in 10+ locations
Torrent-friendly SOCKS5 proxy included
Works with Netflix, Hulu, HBOGo
30-day 100% refund policy
Best Offer: $2. 99/month
NordVPN is an incredible value, thanks to their incredible $2. 99/month subscription plan, which offers a discount of 74% off the retail price.
All plans include their no-log guarantee, VPN service with access on 5 devices, unlimited bandwidth, and a torrent-friendly p2p policy.
If NordVPN has one major weakness, it’s speed. While still fast enough for most uses (15-25 Mbps typical) it’s not nearly as fast as high-speed competitors like IPVanish and ExpressVPN.
But when it comes to value for the money, NordVPN (and PIA, our #2 option) are hard to beat.
#2 – Private Internet Access | SOCKS5 Proxy included w/ VPN (from $3. 49/month)
7-day 100% refund policy
Best Offer: $3. 49/month
Private Internet Access was the first VPN provider to include a SOCKS proxy with their service. It was (and still is) based in the Netherlands, using an ultra-high speed server cluster to serve thousands of users at once.
PIA’s proxy works flawlessly with Vuze, uTorrent and other major torrent clients, and will easily allow you to add a 2nd IP address change if you like.
Our complete PIA torrent & proxy guide will show you how to set everything up.
Read This: How to set up PIA proxy for uTorrent, Vuze & Deluge
#3 – Other non-logging SOCKS proxy services
There are several other torrent-friendly proxy providers that we recommend. Several of these do include the proxy access for free with a VPN subscription. A few others sell them as separate packages.
IPVanish: IPVanish is one of the fastest VPN providers around, and as of 2017 now include a Netherlands-based SOCKS proxy will all plans. Try IPVanish →Torguard: Torguard was one of the first providers to offer dedicated torrent proxy service. They have a nifty auto-installer that will configure your proxy settings for you inside your torrent client. VPN & Proxy packages are sold separately. Try Torguard → IBVPN: Invisible Browsing VPN (IBVPN) is a Romanian VPN company that includes a torrent-friendly proxy in their Torrent VPN plan or their Ultimate VPN package. Prices start under $4/month.
MORE GUIDES AND INFORMATION
We’ve put together several articles to help you choose the right VPN or proxy for your torrents. Here’s a few you should consider.
VPN vs Proxy: Learn whether a VPN or Proxy is the right choice for you. Or you can use both! How to use uTorrent Anonymously: Setup uTorrent with a VPN or ProxyHow to use Vuze Anonymously: Setup Vuze with a VPN or ProxyVPN Services that Include a SOCKS5 Proxy Free
David started torrenting before it was cool. He enjoys hiking, strategy games and eats watermelon year round. He still rocks his Napster t-shirt once a month.
Frequently Asked Questions about best torrent proxy
Can you go to jail for torrenting?
Can You Go To Jail for Torrenting? As long as you only transfer data that isn’t copyrighted, you can’t go to jail nor pay a fine for sharing data this way. … If torrenting is illegal in your country and you get caught downloading copyrighted content, you may be charged with a fine or even a prison sentence.Oct 4, 2021
Is SOCKS5 good for torrenting?
SOCKS5 (version 5) is the optimal choice for torrents because it includes full UDP support (which http proxies do not), which will allow you to connect to more peers/trackers and experience much faster torrent downloads. Pro TIP: All the anonymous proxy services recommended on this site use the SOCKS5 protocol.Jun 13, 2020