How to Torrent Safely & Anonymously in 2021 | CyberNews
Peer-to-peer (P2P) torrenting can be risky. From unwittingly downloading malware to accidentally downloading copyrighted material, you could risk infecting your computer with viruses, having your connection throttled by your ISP or even facing fines.
The key to safe torrenting is anonymity and security, and luckily we have a solution that covers both of these – using a reliable VPN. The best VPNs keep your data safe and hide your online activity, as well as offering other great features that will help you torrent.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know about how to protect your data and stay anonymous while torrenting.
Downloading torrents is as easy as a few clicks. But to be certain you’re downloading safely, you’ll want to be using a VPN, too. Here’s how to torrent safely with a VPN in a few simple steps.
How to torrent safely – quick guide
Choose a VPN that’s reliable and ideal for torrenting. We recommend NordVPN.
Download and install a VPN. Make sure you choose a VPN that is compatible with your device.
Connect to a sure you connect to a P2P-optimized server.
Optimize your VPN’s security settings. This will help you keep your data secure.
Visit a reputable torrent site and start downloading.
How to torrent safely – a detailed guideWe’ve shown you how to connect to a VPN and start torrenting safely in a few simple steps. Read on to find out more about the various factors that can ensure your torrenting is safe and hidden. Here is a more detailed look at some of the factors to consider when you’re downloading torrents online.
1. Use a good VPN
The first thing to do before you start torrenting is get your VPN set up and installed. But with so many VPNs to choose from, it can be difficult deciding which one to go for. For safe torrenting, you should pick a top VPN that’s reliable, fast, secure, and primed for torrenting.
By using a premium VPN, you’ll be able to connect to fast servers all over the world. This way, you can completely hide your IP address, and even make it seem like you’re in a completely different country.
You’ll also find servers that are optimized specifically for torrenting, so they’ll be fast and secure to ensure your torrents download as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, torrenting can be risky for a number of reasons – malware being one of them. When you download torrents, you open your device up to the source of the torrent downloads, and this can sometimes lead to malware and other digital undesirables sneaking in.
Thankfully, the best VPNs also have strong security features to keep you safe. For instance, NordVPN includes a tool called CyberSec that blocks malware, phishing attempts, cyberattacks like DDoS, and even irritating pop-up ads.
Remember, since VPNs hide your real IP address, you’ll also be able to access any torrent site you like, even sites that have been banned in your country.
2. Choose the right torrent siteThere are plenty of sites that offer torrents as downloads on the internet. From specialized torrent listing sites to forums and blogs, you can find torrent links all over the web.
However, whenever you download anything onto your computer, you should be certain that the source is genuine, otherwise you risk downloading a fake file, something other than what you wanted, or even dangerous malware.
For these reasons, it’s important you download torrents from reputable websites. Top torrent sites will often have clear systems in place which will show you that a torrent has been verified as genuine. This means, it will be exactly what it says it is and free from any sneaky surprises.
The Pirate Bay is one of the most well-known torrent sites in the world, and it has a huge selection of torrents available to download. The Pirate Bay also has handy symbols next to each torrent so you can see if they’ve been verified as genuine.
Torrent sites that require membership via sign-ups, such as TorrentLeech, are also a great choice. They will usually verify every torrent on the site, so you can be sure that whatever you’re downloading is safe.
Annoyingly, a lot of the best torrent sites with the most verified torrents are blocked by ISPs around the world. But an easy solution to get around this is simply to use a VPN. Then you can hide your IP address and visit whichever site you want from wherever you are.
3. Choose the right torrent clientTo download a torrent, you will also need a specific application known as a torrent client. You can’t just download torrents straight to your computer because torrent files are actually sent in many tiny parts from many different locations. The torrent client manages all these ‘bits’ and puts them together for you so you get the complete file once the download is finished.
There are lots of torrent clients to choose from, and they all have different features, ease of use, and functions. Ideally, you want a torrent client that won’t take up much space on your device, is easy to use, and has good features, including security.
We recommend the following torrent clients:
Vuze – Vuze is a slick torrent client with the best looking interface out of all the P2P clients. It’s easy to use, intuitive, and has features including chat, forums, remote control, and magnet link support. If you opt for the paid version, you’ll even get protection from viruses and no ads.
qBittorrent – qBittorrent is an excellent all-rounder. It’s easy to use and completely free, with no ads on the app. It also has some great features including a torrent search engine built into the app and secure, encrypted transfers.
BitTorrent – BitTorrent is ideal for people who are new to torrenting. It’s very simple to use and has some handy features, such as commenting, so you can see how previous users have got on with certain torrents.
uTorrent – one of the most well-known and popular torrent clients, uTorrent is fast, lightweight, and easy to use with a clean and simple layout. However, you will have to deal with seeing ads within the client.
4. Choose the right torrentsSo you’ve got your VPN set up, you’ve downloaded a torrent client, and you’ve found a great torrent site – next, it’s time to download some torrents. As we touched upon earlier, you always need to be wary when you’re downloading any sort of file from the internet. This is especially the case with torrents, as there are many cybercriminals and hackers out there who are trying to take advantage of people by tricking them into downloading bad torrents.
So you need to be really sure that the torrent you’ve chosen is legit and free from malware. One way to do this is to only download verified torrents from a big, well-known torrent site you know you can trust.
You should also look out for torrents and downloads that seem suspicious. For instance, say you find a torrent for a program or video you know has not been released yet, this is likely to be a fake.
Similarly, perhaps, the torrent is claiming to be a high-quality HD file but the actual torrent size is very small – this is likely to be fake.
Common sense goes a long way with downloading files from the internet. If the site you’re downloading from does not seem legit, or the torrent is too good to be true, it’s best to avoid or you may find you’ve got a folder full of malware instead of the file you want.
A good way of vetting your torrent is by using a VPN that has built-in malware blockers. This will instantly alert you if you’ve accidentally downloaded malware in a torrent.
5. Get good antivirus softwareYou should always have good antivirus software on your computer to protect yourself from malware, hacks, and cyberattacks. This is even more important if you’re going to be downloading torrents, as you’ll be opening up your device to other connections – and some of these may have bad intentions.
Brands such as Norton and McAfee have been making top-tier antivirus solutions for years. If you have a good antivirus product in place on your device, it will monitor and scan any files you download and immediately let you know if there’s any malware. Good antivirus software will usually also then remove or isolate the malware before it has a chance to do any damage, so you can torrent safely.
However, some types of viruses and malware find a way of sneaking through, so a good idea could be to double up your protection by installing a VPN that has robust security features too. If you have a VPN that’s blocking malware as well as an antivirus program set up, you should be well protected from bad torrents.
Why is a VPN necessary for safe torrenting? Torrenting can be risky, but with a VPN installed and set up on your device, you’ll be protected from most if not all of the risks that are involved with torrenting files online.
Here are some of the main benefits of torrenting with a VPN:
1. Avoid ISP throttlingWith an unprotected internet connection, everything you do online will be visible to your ISP. If torrenting large files is frowned upon by your ISP (as is the case with many ISPs), it may throttle your connection. This means your speeds and bandwidth will be reduced drastically.
When you use a VPN, all your online activity, data and traffic is completely hidden from your ISP. So it will have no reason to throttle your connection, even if you are downloading torrents. A VPN is how you download torrents without your ISP knowing.
2. Access restricted contentMany ISPs block access to well-known torrenting sites, as do many employers, schools, and colleges. If you want to access a torrent site but find you’re blocked from doing so, a simple way around any sort of content restriction is simply to use a VPN.
VPNs change your IP address and hide all your activity, so no one can see what you’re doing online. You can also connect to a completely new server in a new country – one that doesn’t have any restrictions on it.
3. Keep your IP address safeIf you’re downloading torrents onto your computer with a torrent client, your identity, location, and IP address will be on display to anyone who’s connected to the torrent file. This opens you up to potential hacks, cyberattacks, and malware.
You can make sure you remain completely anonymous while torrenting by using a VPN. The VPN will hide all your personal details, mask your IP address and encrypt your data, so you’ll be safe and secure.
How to configure a VPN for safe torrentingTo make sure you’re as safe as possible with torrenting, you should not only download a VPN, but you should make sure it’s properly configured to protect you from online threats.
You can do this by first installing the VPN, and then heading to the settings section to make sure all the important security settings are activated.
Here are the settings to look out for:
Turn on the kill switch – sometimes this is switched off in default settings, so turn it on.
Set the highest encryption – Make sure your VPN is set to 256-bit AES encryption so that all your data is as secure as possible.
Use a secure protocol – it’s best to use a OpenVPN protocol, and not PPTP, which is older and not as secure.
Enable leak protection – switch both IP and DNS leak protection on.
Utilize split tunneling – This keeps some of your online traffic, like torrenting, encrypted with the VPN, and leaves other sites on your regular IP address. It is useful when you need to keep some sites on your normal IP, such as delivery services and online banking.
What are the dangers of torrents? Torrenting is a great way of downloading the files you need, but it’s not without its risks. From unwittingly downloading malware to opening yourself up to hackers, there are a selection of dangers associated with torrents.
You can protect yourself from a lot of these dangers by using a VPN, but it’s important to know what you’re protecting yourself from.
Let’s take a look at some of the main risks that can come with downloading torrents.
Malware – unfortunately, torrent files are rife with malware. Cybercriminals often use tempting torrents as a trojan horse with malware loaded into the download. All it takes is for you to make one wrong download and your device can be infected with all sorts of dangerous malware, including spyware, viruses, and ransomware.
Copyright problems – some people also use torrents to transfer copyrighted material. Sometimes torrent can be mislabelled, and if you accidentally download something that’s technically been stolen, you could face some problems. Your ISP could reveal your data to the copyright holder, which could lead to fines, or even worse, if you are found guilty of breaking copyright laws.
Throttling – a less severe but extremely frustrating consequence of torrenting is when your ISP throttles your internet connection. Torrents can often be large file sizes, and they take a lot of bandwidth to download. If your ISP notices you are torrenting, it could drastically slow down your internet speed and reduce your bandwidth. This means your downloads and browsing will be very slow.
Hackers – when you download torrent files, your IP address is opened up to the various sources that are sharing the files. This means you’re exposed to hackers who can quite easily steal your data, install malware on your device, spy on your online activity and more.
Data protection – since your device is exposed when you’re sharing files and downloading torrents, this means your personal info and data is easily accessible to cybercriminals and hackers.
If you fall victim to any of the above issues, it could have a serious impact on your life. Luckily, VPNs solve all of these issues. From hiding your IP address to concealing your online activity from your ISP to shoring up your security, with a VPN, you really can torrent safely.
VPNs we recommend for safe torrentingNow that you’ve seen just how useful VPNs can be when you’re torrenting, which VPN should you use? We’ve tested out a number of VPNs and have put together a handy shortlist of the top three VPNs for torrenting.
1. NordVPN
Based in:PanamaServers/countries:5, 500+ servers in 59 countriesUnblocks Netflix:YesCurrent deal:Now 72% OFF + 3 Months FREE!
Visit NordVPN
NordVPN is our ultimate choice for torrenting. It’s very fast, has over 5, 000 servers to choose from in 60 different countries as well as the robust security features you need to stay safe.
NordVPN offers servers that are completely dedicated to torrenting, which means your downloads will always be optimized for speed and safety.
NordVPN’s privacy and security features are perfect for torrenting. With 256-bit AES encryption keeping your data safe as well as DNS protection concealing your identity, you can torrent knowing your personal details are completely shrouded from hackers and your ISP.
The jewel in the crown is NordVPN’s CyberSec security suite. You get a range of features, including anti-malware, ad blocker, botnet control and trackers. This comprehensive selection of features will put a wall of protection up when you’re torrenting. And NordVPN boasts two kill switches that automatically kick in if your connection cuts out.
NordVPN comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, and 24/7 live chat support.
2. Surfshark
Based in:British Virgin IslandsUnblocks Netflix:YesCurrent deal:Get Surfshark, now 81% OFF!
Visit Surfshark
Surfshark is another strong VPN that’s ideal for keeping yourself safe when torrenting.
With over 3, 200 servers in 65 different countries, Surfshark has the variety you need to gain access to any site and keep your IP address hidden. All of Surfshark’s servers are optimized for torrenting, too. So whichever you pick, you’ll always get fast downloads and smooth streaming.
Surfshark has an array of security settings to keep you safe online. Its CleanWeb feature protects you from malware and blocks annoying pop-up ads. And Camouflage Mode makes sure your ISP will never be able to tell that you’re using a VPN.
You also get MultiHop and AES-256 encryption, split tunneling, and a kill switch. With all of these features in place, you’ll always be able to torrent safely and securely.
Surfshark also has apps for the majority of devices, from desktop computers to smartphones. Its intuitive interface is easy to use, even for tech newbies.
With live chat on hand 24/7, if you ever need help with setting up your VPN and optimizing it for torrents, you can reach out for help.
Surfshark is one of the cheaper premium VPNs and it represents great value for money. And just so you can be sure, you get a 30-day money-back guarantee.
3. ExpressVPN
Based in:British Virgin IslandsServers/countries:3, 000 servers in 94 countriesUnblocks Netflix:YesCurrent deal:Get ExpressVPN, now 35% OFF! ExpressVPN rounds up the top three and it’s another excellent VPN option. Their fleet consists of 3, 000 servers running in 90 different countries, so you will always be able to connect to a top speed server near you wherever you are in the world.
Fast and secure, ExpressVPN’s TrustedSever no-log policy means none of your activity or data is ever recorded. Not even ExpressVPN can see what you’re doing online, and neither can your ISP, or anyone else for that matter. ExpressVPN’s privacy options are fantastic.
It’s very secure too, with 256-bit AES encryption, a kill switch, and DNS leak protection keeping your data protected from cybercriminals.
User friendly and intuitive, anyone will find ExpressVPN easy to use, and you can connect 5 devices with your account. That’s helpful since ExpressVPN’s apps are available on a range of platforms, so you can have it on your tablet, laptop, router, and more.
Like the other top VPNs on this list, ExpressVPN also offers 24/7 live chat to help you with any problems or queries, as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try the product out and see if it suits your needs.
If you’d like to read a more detailed guide with in-depth comparisons of the best VPNs for safe torrenting, visit our guide.
The final wordTorrenting is a great way of downloading files from the internet quickly and efficiently, you just need to make sure you’re doing it right. Only download torrents from reputable websites, make sure the actual torrents you’re using are legit, use a good P2P client, avoid going for copyrighted material and, most importantly, get a VPN.
With a recommended VPN on your device, all of the risks associated with torrenting are hugely reduced. You’ll be completely hidden from hackers, your ISP, cybercriminals, and copyright owners. Malware will be blocked from infecting your devices, and you won’t have to put up with distracting pop-up ads.
VPNs are easy to use, good value for money, and highly effective. A VPN will also help you log on to sites that might be blocked or geo-restricted in your location. If you want to torrent safely, hidden from your ISP, and optimized at the best speeds – you need a VPN.
FAQs
Is torrenting legal?
Yes, torrenting is completely legal – it’s simply a method of transferring and sharing files online. But if you download a file that is copyright protected, your ISP may warn you, throttle your connection or alert the authorities. With a VPN, you can hide your online activity from your ISP, so no one can see what you’re downloading.
Do I need to hide my IP address when downloading torrents?
Hiding your IP address when torrenting is highly recommended, as this will prevent your ISP from discovering what you’ve been downloading and uploading. The best way to hide your IP address is by using a VPN. With a VPN, you can torrent as much as you like, and your IP address will stay hidden.
Will a VPN protect me while torrenting?
Not only does a VPN completely hide your location, your IP address, and encrypt your data, but the best VPNs also come with a range of security features. You can use the VPN to protect yourself from cyberattacks, annoying pop-ups, and malware, so it’s the best way to stay safe while torrenting.
Can you get caught torrenting if you use a VPN?
If you’re using a VPN while you’re torrenting, it’s virtually impossible to get caught. This is because your IP address is completely hidden. Your personal data will be encrypted, and not even your own ISP will be able to tell that you’re torrenting.
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What is Torrenting? Is it Safe? Is it illegal? Will you be caught?
Looking to find out more about torrenting? We explain exactly what torrenting is, how to torrent safely, and what to do if you get caught.
@pabischoff UPDATED: April 8, 2021
Three questions I’m often asked are: Is torrenting safe, is torrenting legal, and what happens if I get caught? This post answers those questions and looks at the methods torrenters use to stay safe and anonymous.
What is Torrenting?
Torrenting is the act of downloading and uploading files through the BitTorrent network. Instead of downloading files to a central server, torrenting involves downloading files from other users’ devices on the network. Conversely, users upload files from their own devices for other users to download.
Torrenting is the most popular form of peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing, and it requires torrent management software to connect to the BitTorrent network. Such software can be downloaded for free for a number of different devices.
Everyone downloading or uploading the same file is called a peer, and collectively they are known as a swarm. Because of how BitTorrent works, a peer can download a file from several other users at once, or upload a file to multiple other users simultaneously.
Torrenting is often associated with piracy because it’s frequently used to share files that are protected by copyright, including movies, games, music, and software. However, torrenting has many legitimate uses as well, such as lessening the load on centralized servers by distributing the hosting burden among users.
Torrenting safety and legality: In short
Is torrenting legal or illegal? Torrenting itself isn’t illegal, but downloading unsanctioned copyrighted material is. It’s not always immediately apparent which content is legal to torrent and which isn’t. Some fall in a gray area, so you may find yourself unwittingly on the wrong side of the law.
Your internet service provider (ISP) and copyright trolls monitoring the BitTorrent network can take action if they catch you illegally torrenting. This can range from a warning letter and throttling (slowing down) of your internet connection speeds to legal action – although the latter is increasingly rare.
Digital privacy-conscious torrenters will use VPN services, or virtual private networks, to keep their internet activity hidden from their ISP. With a wide range of applications, some VPNs are better suited for torrenting than others. If you want to keep your ISP from snooping on your activity, choose a VPN connection that: a) doesn’t keep a log of your activity, b) isn’t based in a country where the legal system can be used to demand customer records, and c) is fast enough that it won’t slow entire downloads. We’ve rounded up the providers that fit these criteria and others in our list of the best torrenting VPN services.
How to torrent safely
It is relatively simple to torrent safely and keep your online activity private. Note that while a VPN for torrenting will keep your activity private and safe from prying eyes you may still be susceptible to malware from some public torrent sites. Follow these 5 steps to torrent privately with a VPN.
Here’s how to torrent safely:
Download and install a VPN matching the criteria mentioned above. We recommend NordVPN.
Enable your VPN’s kill switch, if it has one.
Connect to a VPN server, preferably in a P2P-friendly country
Once the connection is established, open your torrent client and start downloading as usual
Your online activity is now encrypted by your VPN
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Torrenting without a VPN
Torrenting without a VPN means your internet service provider (ISP) can see your online activity including the sites you visit and the content you view. In certain countries, including the US, ISPs are allowed to share this information with third parties including intellectual property owners. A VPN will keep your online activity private from your ISP.
Is uTorrent safe?
uTorrent is the official torrent client from the creators of the BitTorrent protocol. It is proprietary—not open source—software maintained by a legal US company. Like BitTorrent, the uTorrent software itself is legal, although it can be used for digital piracy. The official uTorrent is free of malware and can be used safely and privately in combination with a VPN. It does not, however, prevent users from downloading malicious files that can infect their device.
In detail
The BitTorrent protocol rose to become the most popular medium for peer-to-peer file sharing in the world after the demise of centralized services like Napster and Limewire. Unlike those services, torrenting is almost completely decentralized save for the trackers that allow users to search and download torrent files and magnet links. Torrent files and magnet links are used to find other users on the network who host the desired file or files but do not actually host those files for downloading.
Is BitTorrent safe and legal?
The BitTorrent protocol is not in itself illegal or unsafe. It is just the means to share any type of file, and plenty of legal torrenting services do exist. The most popular torrent trackers, such as ThePirateBay and KickassTorrents, however, operate in a legal grey area, offering users free access to copyrighted content. Sharing and downloading copyrighted content by BitTorrent, or other means, is illegal in many countries and can be unsafe since sites including KickassTorrents have been shown to host malware.
These trackers would argue that they simply find and organize information that is already out there, and they do not illegally host any copyrighted content on their own servers. Just like the BitTorrent protocol itself, they are the means to an end. Not everyone is convinced. Major trackers have come under heavy legal scrutiny from content creators and distributors who argue the trackers enable and encourage theft.
The blame ultimately shifts to the users, the millions of individuals who host files on their personal computers, downloading and uploading movies, games, software, music, ebooks, and more. Users connected to the same tracker are called peers, and they fall into two categories. A leech uses a torrent file or magnet link to download the file from other users on the network who already have the file. These users who already have the file are called seeds. When a leech is finished downloading a file (or even just part of a file), he or she becomes a seed, allowing other leeches to download the file from his or her computer. As a general rule, it’s considered proper pirate etiquette to seed as much as you leech.
Comparitech does not condone or encourage any violation of copyright law or restrictions. Please consider the law, victims, and risks of copyright piracy before downloading copyrighted material without permission.
Legally speaking, seeding and leeching copyrighted material fall into different criminal categories. Think of it like buying illegal drugs: purchasing the drugs for personal use is definitely a crime, but a relatively minor one. Turning around and selling those drugs to others is a much more serious offense. Finding the original source of the drugs, or in this case the HD rip of the new Avengers movie, would be the best case scenario for law enforcement, but that isn’t always possible. The trackers act as the shady back alley marketplaces where all of these transactions go down, but they don’t personally handle any of the drugs.
What happens if you are caught torrenting?
The prosecution of torrent users has been sporadic. The chances of actually going to court or having to pay a settlement are pretty slim, but the penalties can be extremely high. The frequency of copyright holders suing torrenters for copyright infringement peaked in the late 2000s. Copyright pirates were sued for wildly disproportionate amounts of money, and most settled out of court.
These public scare tactics shone poorly on the recording and movie industries because they were portrayed as petty millionaires bullying poor college students. Direct lawsuits are much less common these days, but the campaign against torrenters is far from over.
Copyright trolls
Now the job of going after individual copyright pirates has been outsourced to a growing number of small businesses known as copyright trolls. These companies locate torrenters who illegally download copyrighted content through their real IP addresses. They then approach the copyright owners and sign a deal that lets them take legal action on their behalf. Others are hired directly by Hollywood production companies to sniff out pirates.
With legal leverage and a list of names, the copyright trolls then go after torrenters via mail, email, or even by going door to door and handing out settlement letters. These letters are not legally binding documents or injunctions. Copyright trolls use intimidation, fear, and shame to make torrenters pay without ever going to court. A common tactic is to threaten to sue for over $100, 000 but only ask for $3, 000 or so in the settlement. That makes the $3, 000 look like a good deal, but going to court is costly and risky for them, so don’t give in if you receive such a letter.
What to do if you receive a settlement letter
The most common way to receive a settlement letter is through your internet provider. A copyright troll will go through the court system to subpoena your ISP and force it to email customers with a legal threat and hand over personal details.
According to US law, an IP address is not a person. If you were contacted through your ISP, chances are that’s because the copyright troll doesn’t know your actual identity yet. If the letter doesn’t contain any identifying information on you, keep it that way and do nothing. Your case could be dismissed before the date that your ISP is set to reveal your personal details to the troll. If you respond and identify yourself, that gives the troll a more direct means of targeting you.
This is a game of probability for copyright trolls. If they send out 1, 000 threatening emails and 50 people reply, they only need a handful to actually cough up money to make it worth their time. Chances are it’s more cost effective for them to move on to the next swarm of torrenters than pursue the remaining 950 people.
If things escalate and you decide to take action, lawyer up. Here’s a list of attorneys compiled by the Electronic Frontier Foundation that specialize in these sorts of cases.
ISP penalties
Depending on your ISP, it may take actions against you on its own behalf. That could mean throttling your internet connection or threatening to hand over personal details to a copyright troll. Why does your ISP even care? Because torrenting takes up a lot of bandwidth, and that bandwidth costs ISPs money. On top of that, an ISP could be receiving kickbacks from content owners and their associates.
How to protect yourself
To avoid any legal ramifications, it’s best to simply not torrent. However, if you insist on torrenting, take the time to protect your online privacy and keep copyright trolls at bay.
Use a VPN when torrenting
The best way to torrent safely is by using a VPN. A VPN accomplishes two things: first, it re-routes all your internet traffic through a server in a location of your choosing, which changes your real IP address to one used by hundreds or thousands of other people (assuming your VPN uses shared IP addresses, which most do). This adds a significant layer of anonymity and makes it much more difficult for anyone to track you. Second, a VPN encrypts all your torrent traffic before it leaves your computer. That means your ISP cannot monitor your internet activity, nor can anyone else. And because all your traffic heads to the VPN server first, ISPs can’t even tell where it’s going.
Using a quality VPN is key; don’t settle for a “free” service or VPNs that log your activity, cap your bandwidth and data, or don’t provide sufficient DNS leak protection. Not all VPNs tolerate torrenting. You can check out our list of the best VPNs for torrenting here, which are services with fast download speeds and a focus on online privacy, security and anonymity like NordVPN, Surfshark, and ExpressVPN among others.
Other alternatives
If you don’t want to pay for a VPN, you might be considering Tor. Tor is similar to a VPN in that it routes your traffic through several volunteer “nodes” while encrypting traffic. We recommend a VPN over Tor for a couple reasons. First, Tor is slow, and usually best for simple browsing and other low-bandwidth activity. Second, connecting to Tor could actually draw more attention from your ISP and law enforcement, as it’s a well-known tool for hackers and criminals.
Another popular app among torrenters is Peerblock. Peerblock is a desktop firewall with a regularly updated blacklist of IP addresses. These IP addresses belong to entities that try to track your activity online, especially on peer-to-peer networks. Unfortunately, the blacklist is only updated once upon installation. After that, users must pay to keep them updated. Even if you’re willing to pay, it’s unlikely that the blacklist could contain every possible IP address for copyright trolls, universities, and law enforcement. A copyright troll just needs to connect to the swarm–all the devices connected to a single torrent–with an IP that isn’t on that blacklist to get your IP address.
Usenet
Instead of torrenting, another alternative is Usenet. Usenet is a paid service-usually between $10 and $20 per month–where you download files from centralized servers instead of a network of peers. Usenet downloads are much, much faster; often as fast as your ISP can handle. Usenet is more private as well. The connections take place between you and the provider’s network of servers, and the best providers offer an SSL-encrypted connection. Some even throw in VPNs for good measure. Torrents, on the other hand, require that you share at least some identifying information to connect to the tracker and peers.
Finally, downloading a Usenet file doesn’t mean you have to seed it for other internet users afterward. Legally, this makes you less of a target because you’re not supplying strangers with copyrighted content, at the same time consuming fewer computer resources and internet bandwidth.
Usenet providers make files available for a certain number of days. How many depends on the provider, but the standard is 1, 200 days after the original posting. Until that time is up, users have full access to that file. Torrents only stay up as long as people seed the file.
We’ve rounded up some of the best Usenet providers here.
Public vs private trackers
A “tracker” is like a search engine that indexes files on the BitTorrent network. Trackers can be private or public, and the former usually requires an invitation from an existing member.
ThePirateBay, KickassTorrents, and Demonoid are all examples of public trackers. Anyone can just go to their respective websites and search without logging in or requiring any sort of authentication. Likewise, anyone can upload files for others to download. These uploads are not moderated, so users must judge whether a download is safe and accurate based on comments and the reputation of the uploader.
Private trackers are more exclusive both in terms of who can upload and who can download within a group. They vary wildly in terms of content and quality, but many members of private trackers attest that they have higher quality files, faster downloads, longer retention, and an overall more consistent and safe experience.
The law views private trackers the same as public trackers. Internet piracy is piracy whether you do it in public or within a private group.
Streaming vs torrenting
Many people have moved away from downloading entire files through BitTorrent and opt instead to stream video content either on their web browsers or through customized programs like Kodi. When it comes to safety and the law, what’s the difference?
Legally speaking, you’re probably still breaking the law when you stream illegal content from a pirated source. However, this depends largely on your country. In the UK, it’s outright illegal. In India, a court ruled that it is absolutely not illegal. In the US, it’s still a grey area, as there’s been no precedent of anyone being convicted for copyright piracy after streaming copyrighted video content from an unsanctioned source.
Those who upload the videos without compensating or asking permission from the copyright holder do so illegally. That’s pretty much standard no matter where you are.
Not only do laws tend to be more lenient toward streaming content, but it’s also more difficult for copyright trolls and law enforcement to catch users in the act. When you download a torrent, you can see the IP addresses of everyone else you’re uploading to or downloading from. But streaming transmits a video directly from a website to your device, with no third parties involved.
Don’t get too comfortable, however, as there are still risks. The website could be logging IP addresses or other information about its users, which it could then hand over to law enforcement or a copyright troll. Your ISP could monitor your activity and see that you are watching pirated content. These are risks that can be mitigated by connecting to a reputable VPN.
When it comes to security, streaming video carries just as many risks as torrenting. Websites that stream pirated content tend to be chock full of intrusive ads, malware, and phishing threats. Kodi users are subject to man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks and other threats from the add-ons they download.
More tips
As a rule of thumb, avoid downloading movies that were released on DVD and Blu-Ray in the past 60 days, especially big-hit blockbusters. That’s when movies make the vast majority of their post-box office money, after which their income significantly drops off. Copyright holders will put most of their anti-piracy resources into going after torrenters of new releases to minimize the financial damage. The same goes for TV series, shows and video games.
Users of Popcorn Time, the free movie-streaming app, should tread just as carefully as torrenters. Many Popcorn Time users don’t realize that the app actually streams directly from torrents and will even seed a file so it is uploaded to other users. All the risks associated with Popcorn Time apply in equal measure to torrenting.
Choose your torrents wisely. The most popular torrents on ThePirateBay and KickassTorrents are probably the ones being most closely monitored by copyright trolls. However, don’t pick totally unpopular ones either. Read through the comments section, where users often run virus scans on torrent downloads and post the results. They will also give you a general review of the quality.
Even if the comments are positive, run your own virus scans as well. Ideally, use multiple antivirus programs to run an array of scans, as each of their virus libraries can differ. Not all antivirus programs play nice with each other, however, so mixing two or more must be done with care. We recommend Bitdefender to scan all downloads before opening. This is especially important when downloading games and software, which are often “cracked” by the uploader. Cracks make it easier to bypass DRM schemes that validate content with the publisher, but they also make it easier to distribute hidden malware, spyware, and viruses. Check out Comparitech’s antivirus reviews section here.
Torrenting FAQ
Why did BitTorrent install adware on my computer? BitTorrent is a network and protocol used to share files, so BitTorrent itself cannot install adware on your computer.
However, the programs used to connect to the BitTorrent network and download files, called torrent managers or torrent clients, can and often do come with adware. The files you download can also contain malware and adware.
Stick to reputable torrent managers and, if prompted, refuse any offers to install additional software alongside them. These additional programs are often adware.
Likewise, be sure to only download and upload torrents you downloading a shared torrent from Google drive illegal? If you’re downloading something from Google Drive, then it’s not a torrent. It’s just a download. The file might have originally been downloaded through BitTorrent, then uploaded to Google Drive where others can download it.
Semantics aside, if the content of the file is protected by copyright, then yes, it is illegal to download pirated files from Google I just download a torrent from a public place? Most torrenters use public trackers to find and download files through BitTorrent. So in that sense, yes, you can download a torrent from a public place provided you have a torrent client installed on your device.
The files themselves are downloaded from other BitTorrent users who have downloaded the file and are now uploading it to fellow users.
Private trackers are also available and are often safer, but typically require an invitation from an existing I go to jail for torrenting? It depends on the circumstances, but no, it’s highly doubtful you would go to jail for torrenting. Most lawsuits regarding torrenting are civil suits, not criminal ones, so if a penalty is levied, it’s usually a fine or some other monetary compensation.
That being said, it also depends on what country you’re in, what you torrent, and whether you also seeded the file so it could be downloaded by other users. Check your local laws and are the risks of torrenting music? The music recording industry has, on occasion, aggressively targeted torrenters who engaged in music piracy. These days, litigation is mostly done by copyright trolls who target torrenters on behalf of recording studios. They’ll send out settlement letters demanding hundreds or even thousands of dollars to torrenters whom they can identify. They usually go through internet service providers to contact torrenters. Your ISP could throw you under the bus, and that’s not a gamble we recommend taking. By using a VPN, you can greatly reduce the risk of being identified by a copyright troll.
How to Torrent Safely & Anonymously — Updated Guide 2021
Downloading torrents can be a dangerous business — every time you download a torrent using an unprotected internet connection, you’re taking a big risk. Without proper protection, you could infect your device with malware, spyware, and viruses. Also, hackers and unwanted third parties could exploit your private information.
The easiest way to stay safe and anonymous when torrenting is to use a reliable VPN. It encrypts your traffic and anonymizes your connection, which means no one can see what you do online. And since hackers can’t penetrate your encrypted connection, your data won’t fall into the wrong hands.
My favorite VPN for safe torrenting is ExpressVPN. Its robust security features, no-logs policy, and fast speeds make it a fine addition to your torrenting tools. You can even try ExpressVPN’s torrent-friendly features completely risk-free because it‘s backed by a money-back guarantee. If it doesn’t work out, just ask for a refund within 30 days.
Torrent Safely & Anonymously Today!
Quick Guide: How to Download Torrents Safely & Anonymously in 2021
Download a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN because of its P2P-optimized servers and fast speeds.
Connect to any server. This keeps you secure and anonymous when torrenting.
Start torrenting now! Download a torrent from a trustworthy torrent site and extract the file on a reliable torrent client.
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How to Torrent Safely and Anonymously in 2021 – The Ultimate Guide
Step 1: Get a reputable VPN
Using a reliable and trusted VPN is the best way to torrent safely and anonymously. It works by redirecting your data through one of its private servers, making it look anonymous to other users. If you don’t use a VPN, your personal data, online identity, and activity will be exposed to unwanted third parties.
For example, hackers can target you with attacks, and your ISP can see everything you do online without hiding your IP and encrypting your traffic with a VPN. ISP’s sometimes even cap your download speeds if they see you’re downloading a lot of large files. A VPN makes your traffic unidentifiable, so you can bypass speed throttling for faster downloads.
To torrent safely, make sure you pick a VPN that has military-grade encryption and hides your IP address. This makes your connection impenetrable and conceals your identity and location from prying eyes. A reliable VPN will also have a large server network with P2P-optimized servers so that you can download torrents quickly without any bandwidth throttling.
Step 2: Always have your VPN connected
Forgetting to connect to your VPN before opening your torrent client could jeopardize your safety. Torrent clients will immediately begin seeding when you open them, which fully exposes your IP address. Don’t forget to close your torrent client properly when you’re done too, as closing the window alone isn’t enough. Also, make sure you’re 100% certain that your torrent client is closed before disconnecting from your VPN.
Step 3: Get a reliable torrent client
To download a torrent, you need to use a reliable torrent client. Since one torrent consists of many files from different locations, you can’t just download a torrent from the internet and be over with it. The torrent client’s job is to manage and bring all the files together, so you can obtain the complete package after downloading.
When choosing a torrent client, you want one that is easy-to-use, lightweight, and customizable. It should enable a decent degree of customization and functionality so that you can torrent safer. Here are some torrent clients I recommend:
uTorrent — The most popular torrent client with a clean and simple interface. It also allows you to customize its features, although it does come with ads.
BitTorrent — Comes with a user-friendly interface that has a drag and drop feature, making it ideal for beginners. But like uTorrent, it has ads.
Deluge — An open-source client that is compatible with many extensions. However, it’s no the easiest to use.
qBittorrent — Allows plenty of customization and is free of ads. Unfortunately, it doesn’t enable extensions.
Using a good torrent client is key to safe torrenting
For more information on finding the right torrent client, check out this article.
Step 4: Configure your VPN and torrent client
Properly configuring your VPN and torrent client will eliminate any privacy and safety risks while torrenting. Your IP address won’t be exposed, and your connection will be encrypted, which prevents hackers from uncovering your identity and obtaining your data. ExpressVPN has all of these handy security options, but generally, these are the settings to enable/configure on whichever VPN you choose:
Kill switch — This disconnects you from the internet if your VPN suddenly drops out. It’s sometimes turned off in your default settings, so make sure it’s on.
Advanced protocol — Enable the OpenVPN protocol, which is the best protocol for torrenting. It provides a great balance of speed and security, which serves torrenting well.
AES-256 bit encryption — The strongest level of encryption that scrambles your data. When your data is scrambled, it becomes impenetrable and unreadable to third parties.
DNS leak protection — A DNS leak will accidentally expose your browsing activity to third parties, so this feature prevents that from happening.
Split Tunneling — This lets you choose the apps that use and don’t use your VPN connection. It’s not necessary but handy if you want to keep some sites on your real IP when torrenting.
It’s always a good idea to customize both your torrent client and VPN’s security settings
The primary setting to configure on your torrent client is IP binding. It lets you approve connections from specific IP addresses and blocks all others. In this sense, it’s pretty similar to a kill switch. You should also use a torrent IP address checker if it’s available, as it ensures that your actual IP address is hidden.
Step 5: Install an antivirus software
Good antivirus software provides an extra layer of protection in addition to your VPN. It scans all the files you’ve downloaded for any malware, spyware, or viruses. If any of them are uncovered, the antivirus removes or isolates the problem before it worsens.
Prominent antivirus providers include Norton, McAfee, Windows Defender, Avira, and Malwarebytes, all of which are affordable and easy to install.
Step 6: Download a safe torrent
Downloading a safe torrent is crucial because the wrong one can be filled with malware. Hackers usually fill torrents with malware and disguise them to wreak havoc. Therefore, make sure you only download torrents that have been verified for safety.
A good place to start is to use a trustworthy torrent site that’s well established. Don’t download a torrent from an obscure site that you found off a Google search, as Google often displays the URLs of fake sites.
Some reliable torrent sites include:
The Pirate Bay
YTS
1337x
RARBG
Limetorrents
Another issue is that a lot of torrents are protected by copyright, especially new ones. Since they’re illegal to download, I don’t recommend downloading them. To stay protected from this threat, it’s best to downloaded torrents from legal sites like the Internet Archive and Public Domain Torrents.
When a torrent has been downloaded, examine its files, get rid of files, and look up any unfamiliar extensions before opening them.
Additional Tips to Help You Torrent Safely & Anonymously
In addition to the steps above, you can take these extra measures to ensure a greater level of safety and anonymity:
Look out for a high seeder/leecher number — In torrenting, a seeder shares a full copy of a file with other users. On the other hand, a leecher is someone that downloads those files. If a torrent has many seeders and leechers, it’s more likely to be safer because of its regular activity. It’ll also be faster to download too, which is another plus.
Always take note of the seeder and leecher number of each torrent
Read reviews and comments — Most torrent sites allow users to leave comments and reviews for each torrent. Be sure to take note of these as they will warn you of any dangerous torrents. But don’t just rely on this alone, as hackers will sometimes leave fake comments to lure suspects.
Reading user comments is helpful when torrenting
Use a private torrent site — Private torrent sites work on an invite-only basis and regularly moderate their torrents. They act as a community where users only share files between members. Notable private torrent sites include IPTorrents and PassThe Popcorn, and invitations can be obtained by being active on places like Reddit.
A private torrent site gives you access to a supporting community
Download files into a sandboxed environment — A sandboxed environment isolates your files so that you can check them for malware without risk. Being sandboxed prevents any malware from leaking and infecting your device. The way to do it is to use a sandbox program like Sandboxie, which is easy to install and use. Another option is to install a virtual machine on your device, which acts as another operating system.
The Best VPNs to Torrent Safely and Anonymously
The best VPNs for safe and anonymous torrenting come with world-class security and privacy features, fast speeds, and optimized P2P servers. They also have trusted money-back guarantees, so you can test them without risk before committing to an ongoing subscription.
VPN — Ultra-Fast Speeds to Download Large Torrents Quickly and Safely
Lightning-fast speeds for downloading torrents
Military-grade encryption, automatic kill-switch, and DNS leak protection keep you safe
Strict no-logs policy to keep you anonymous when torrenting
Split tunneling to conserve bandwidth
5 simultaneous device connections
30-day money-back guarantee
Compatible with: Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, routers, Apple TV, and more
ExpressVPN’s torrenting speeds are lightning-fast — regardless of your location. When I tested 4 of its US servers, my download speeds maintained an average of 48. 5 Mbps. This allowed me to download a 2 GB file in under 3 minutes. Since the US servers I used are 10, 000 kilometers from my actual location, I was rather impressed. With fast speeds like this, you can download large files safely in just a few minutes.
Its state-of-the-art security features will keep you well protected. Top security agencies use AES 256-bit encryption to protect sensitive data, while its kill switch called “Network Lock” protects your data when your VPN drops out. With features like these, you can ensure that your data won’t be safe and secure when torrenting.
ExpressVPN’s kill switch secures your connection at all times so you’re always safe when torrenting
None of your torrenting activity will be recorded either, thanks to its no-logs policy. If authorities were to investigate ExpressVPN, then there would be nothing to get hold of. Its TrustedServer technology also helps, as it wipes all of the data on its system after every reboot. In short, hackers and ISPs can’t uncover your identity and collect data about you.
Even though ExpressVPN is great for torrenting, I found it to be a bit expensive. But you can get in on its current sale and save 49% on your subscription.
Also, it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee so that you can test its features without any risk. After I used ExpressVPN for 27 days, I asked their 24/7 live chat team for a refund. I told the customer service rep that it wasn’t for me, and she went ahead with my request. After 5 business days, I was fully refunded.
2. IPVanish — Torrent Safely on as Many Devices as You Want
Unlimited P2P connections mean no restrictions when torrenting
Military-grade encryption and kill switch to keep you safe on torrent sites
Strict no-logs policy keeps you anonymous when torrenting
Split tunneling to choose which traffic to encrypt
Unlimited simultaneous device connections
Compatible with: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and more
IPVanish enables an unlimited number of device connections under one subscription. When I tested this out, I connected my MacBook Pro, Android tablet, smartphone, and old Windows laptop while torrenting and streaming shows simultaneously. I didn’t notice any interruptions or drop in my speeds the whole time.
It keeps you safe and anonymous when torrenting with its military-grade encryption and no-logs policy. Military-grade encryption makes your data undetectable to third parties by scrambling it, while a no-logs policy keeps you anonymous. The no-logs policy also stops your online behavior from being recorded, which makes you undetectable when torrenting. But keep in mind that it doesn’t come with a built-in ad-blocker.
IPVanish comes with some robust security features
What makes IPVanish ideal for torrenting is that all of its 1, 900+ servers are P2P optimized. This means you can torrent without bandwidth restrictions, switch servers as many times as you want, and hide your IP address. I didn’t have any problems downloading torrents with its US servers, and I even noticed a slight increase in speeds.
But I was a bit disappointed with IPVanish because it doesn’t accept cryptocurrency payments. However, it made up for it by accepting credit cards, online gift cards, and PayPal. There’s even an online sale right now, where you can save 66% on your subscription.
You can even try IPVanish completely free before committing as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. I didn’t even have to contact customer support to get a refund. All I had to do was submit a refund request online without giving a reason. After 4 business days, I was fully refunded.
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3. CyberGhost — Enhance Your Torrenting Experience By Blocking Ads
Ad-blocker for Windows and Android that block ads on torrent sites
7, 260 servers in 90 countries, including optimized servers for P2P sharing
AES 256-bit encryption and multiple security protocols to secure your connection
Split tunneling to conserve bandwidth when torrenting
7 simultaneous device connections
45-day money-back guarantee
Compatible with macOS, Windows, Linux, Android, iOS, and more
CyberGhost has its own ad-blocker for Windows and Android, which is great for torrenting. When I tested it on my Windows laptop, I noticed that it blocked ads on both the torrent site and the client I was using. Not only does it enhance your experience, but it’s good for privacy because advertisers can’t collect your data.
CyberGhost has its own ad-blocker for Windows and Android
It also offers specialized servers for torrenting, which are part of its network of 7, 260+ servers in 90+ countries. The benefit of them is that they prevent bandwidth throttling and ramp up your security against online threats. And since they’re easy to find, you can optimize your torrenting experience with one click.
You can torrent safely and anonymously with ease, too, thanks to its robust security and privacy features. CyberGhost uses AES-256 bit encryption, which is impossible to penetrate, while it hides your IP address and adheres to a no-logs policy. It means you can hide your activity and identity while torrenting.
Just know with CyberGhost that its short-term plans are pretty expensive. But you can get a better deal with a long-term plan, which also comes with a generous 45-day money-back guarantee. You can also get 83% off your subscription right now too.
And since it’s backed by a 45-day money-back guarantee, you can test it completely free. I tried to get a refund by asking live chat, who asked me 1 question before going ahead with my request. After 5 business days, I got my money back.
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4. Private Internet Access — Customizable Security Features For Safe Torrenting
29, 650+ servers in 70+ countries that are P2P optimized
Customizable security features, including military-grade encryption and protocols
Strict no-logs policy that doesn’t record your torrenting activity
10 simultaneous device connections
Private Internet Access (PIA) enables customizable security features that are suited to torrenting. For example, you can choose between AES-128 or 256-bit encryption and from several advanced protocols. In particular, its SOCKS5 protocol is great for torrenting because it increases your download speeds.
Private Internet Access gives you greater control over your security settings
Its massive server network of 29, 650+ servers worldwide consists of servers that are optimized for P2P sharing. When you use them, you can download torrents quickly from anywhere. When I tested its US and UK servers, I noticed an increase in speeds when downloading a couple of torrents. Since I’m far away from both places, I was very impressed.
You can also stay 100% anonymous when downloading torrents, thanks to its strong no-logs policy. This feature hides your IP address, activity, and location from unwanted third parties, which prevents a digital footprint from being left behind.
PIA concerns me because it’s based in the US, which is home to the 5 Eyes Alliance. However, its no-logs policy proves that it doesn’t store user data, making me more at ease. Also, PIA has a sale right now where you can save 83% on your subscription.
It’s also possible to test PIA’s features without risk too, thanks to its 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested this out by asking them for a refund after 30 days. After they asked me 1 question, they proceeded with my request, and I was fully refunded in 5 business days.
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5. PrivateVPN — Hides Your IP Address to Bypass ISP Throttling
Unlimited bandwidth that lets you torrent without throttling
100 servers worldwide in 60 countries for fast, stable connections
DNS leak protection and an automatic kill switch safeguards you when torrenting
Uses split-tunneling to encrypt selected traffic when downloading torrents
6 simultaneous device connections
7-day free trial or 30-day money-back guarantee
Compatible with: Mac, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux, and more
PrivateVPN lets you torrent without restrictions by hiding your IP address. When your IP address is hidden, your ISP can’t throttle your bandwidth when you’re downloading torrents. During my tests, I connected to 3 of its US servers to download some torrents, and they increased my speeds by 17%.
PrivateVPN is well suited for safe torrenting
Its servers are all optimized for torrenting, too, as they are compatible with all the major P2P clients. This means you’ll always find a reliable server for downloading torrents and stay well protected from online threats. Regardless of where your server is located, you can enjoy a fully optimized experience with PrivateVPN.
Your data won’t fall into the wrong hands either, thanks to its military-grade encryption and automatic kill switch. Military-grade encryption scrambles your data and makes it unreadable to third parties, who won’t be able to get hold of it. Meanwhile, a kill switch will stop your data from being exposed accidentally.
Just note that PrivateVPN doesn’t accept payments through Google Pay, but it widely accepts credit cards, PayPal, and even cryptocurrency. It also has a sale right now that lets you save 77% on your subscription.
You can even test PrivateVPN for free before committing because it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee. I tested it by asking them for a refund after 30 days. They went ahead with my request when I told them it wasn’t for me, and I was refunded by the end of the week.
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FAQs on Torrenting Safely and Anonymously
Is torrenting legal?
The method of downloading torrents is legal, but the file you download might be protected under copyright. That means if you don’t have permission to download it, it’s illegal to do so. This is just one reason why torrenting can be a dangerous online activity, so you need to make sure you aren’t downloading any files that could get you in trouble. You can also use a VPN to stay protected from the dangers of torrenting, as it keeps you anonymous and encrypts your connection.
Is torrenting safe with a VPN?
Yes! Torrenting with a VPN is very safe. A powerful VPN will encrypt your data and hide your IP address, which significantly increases your safety. When you use military-grade encryption, your data becomes unreadable to hackers, which means they can’t exploit it. And when your IP address and torrenting activity are hidden, it means no one can uncover your identity, target you with attacks, and see what you’re doing.
What is a copyright troll?
A copyright troll is an individual or company that tries to take action against people that are downloading illegal torrents. They are able to identify targets through their IP addresses, so even if your intention is to download legal files, it’s always best to stay anonymous by using a VPN. Copyright holders often hire copyright trolls to go after people that are illegally distributing their content as well. When they identify the lawbreakers through their IP address, they’ll send a settlement letter and use scare tactics to make them pay the full fine.
Do I need to hide my IP address when torrenting?
I strongly recommend hiding your IP address when torrenting. The best way to do this is to torrent with a powerful VPN. Its ability to mask your real IP will keep you safe from numerous online threats, such as cyberattacks and malware, and let you download torrents anonymously. Another benefit is that it’ll stop your ISP from throttling your bandwidth, which gives you faster speeds.
How does P2P file sharing work?
P2P file sharing works by creating a virtual network that allows multiple users to share files with each other. But P2P file sharing reveals your IP address to other parties, who can use it to target you with attacks. Therefore, it’s best to use a VPN to hide your IP address. Each torrent consists of several files that are hosted on different computers rather than a singular server.
So when you request a file download from a P2P network, every computer works together to upload it onto your device. Once all the different parts are uploaded, then the full download is complete. The benefit is that you can download files much faster than downloading them from one server.
Can I use a free VPN to torrent safely?
It is possible, but I’d strongly advise against it. The truth is that you’re much better off using a top-tier VPN that comes with a money-back guarantee. Unfortunately, many free VPNs enforce daily data caps, which are usually very small (around 500MB/day). This only lets you torrent for a minimal time. Added to this are the restrictions they put on speed.
Another downside is that they are known to collect and sell their users’ data. This is done to make a profit, however, it can land you in serious trouble when torrenting. It also means that free VPNs will bombard you with annoying ads too, a lot of which are infected with viruses. If you’re serious about safety and anonymity when torrenting, then a free VPN must be avoided.
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Torrent Safely and Anonymously Today!
Torrenting is a great way to download large files much faster. However, there are always security and privacy risks involved with torrenting, but a reliable VPN can help solve these issues. It’ll replace your actual IP address and encrypt your data so that you can torrent safely and anonymously.
The VPN I recommend for safe torrenting is ExpressVPN. It hides your IP address and uses military-grade encryption, which results in faster download speeds and a safer torrenting experience. And since it’s backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee, you can try all of its security features without any risk. If you don’t like it, you can ask them for a refund.
To summarize, the best VPNs for torrenting are…
Privacy Alert!
Your data is exposed to the websites you visit!
The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.
VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we’ve tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it’s currently offering 49% off.
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Frequently Asked Questions about how to use utorrent safely
Is it safe to use uTorrent?
Like BitTorrent, the uTorrent software itself is legal, although it can be used for digital piracy. The official uTorrent is free of malware and can be used safely and privately in combination with a VPN. It does not, however, prevent users from downloading malicious files that can infect their device.Apr 8, 2021