Torrenting has been gaining quite a lot of popularity over the years. It is a common method used for downloading files such as songs, books, movies, etc. Due to its popularity, a lot of people think of torrenting as a usual downloading process. However, there is much more to torrenting that just downloading directly!
So what is torrenting?
Torrenting is downloading the file from numerous users who already have that file in their computers, rather than downloading it from one single source or server.
This is known as P2P file sharing technology. Some users connect and share files with others. This helps in facilitating a smoother transfer of files while simultaneously reducing the network load.
There are many different options and methods of doing any task. So when downloading files, you can either download them
- Directly
- Using torrent
Usually, people prefer to use the latter, due to the following reasons
- Downloading files is free
- Since the file is downloaded from different servers, the download process is never down
- You can pause and resume downloads, which makes them easy to manage
- Faster downloads, you can download multiple files in one go
How to use it?
Using torrent is easy, all you have to do is
- Download a torrent client
- Search for a torrent you want to download
- Download the file
- Lastly, add the torrent file to the client
Things to consider while torrenting
So when using torrent, there are certain things that you should consider. One thing that you must think about is the threats of downloading malware
Many files that you access on these sites can be infected with malware programs. With torrent, you can accidentally download files that are infected with malware programs. And once downloaded, these programs will then automatically execute and infect your device as well. Files that auto-execute are more likely to carry malware, so make sure to check what type of data you are downloading.
Which torrents are considered illegal?
Another thing that you should consider is the legal status behind BitTorrent. While the P2P technology is legal, you must understand that some of the files you’re accessing are copyrighted. So accessing material on such sites can be considered illegal and an act of piracy if the material is copyrighted. Therefore, you must check the copyright status of any file before you download it.
How to recognize illegal torrents?
As mentioned above, torrenting itself isn’t an illegal method. However, downloading copyrighted material is. Unfortunately, you cannot always immediately tell which torrent is legal and which isn’t. For this reason, a lot of people fall into a gray area and end up having to face some lawsuits in the end.
So when torrenting, make sure to choose your torrents wisely. Usually, the most popular ones are copyrighted and are closely monitored. However, that does not mean that you should download the unpopular ones either. Make sure to go through the comment sections to see what other users have to say. This will provide you with a general review of the quality of the torrent.
Do bear in mind, even if the torrent has good reviews, make sure to check for viruses yourself as well. Run many scans beforehand to avoid putting your device at risk.
Why should you use a VPN whenever torrenting?
To avoid any legal consequences, it is better to avoid using a torrent. However, if you really must use it, then it is essential to protect your privacy. And, perhaps, the best way to do that is by using a VPN.
A VPN helps by re-routing your internet traffic through a server in a different location. This changes your IP address, to one that is used by thousands of other different people. This allows you to add a layer of anonymity and makes it extremely difficult for anyone to track you.
Secondly, a VPN also encrypts all of your traffic before it leaves your device. This means that neither the ISP nor anyone else can monitor your activities.
However to avail all of these facilities you need to make sure that you’re using a quality VPN. Do not settle for a free VPN as these free services log your activities, they cap your bandwidth and don’t provide sufficient protection either.
Best VPN for torrenting
A good VPN service offers powerful encryption and is impenetrable. It should offer a good kill switch and stealth protocols. The home base of the service should have no data retention laws there. And most importantly the service should have a tested no-logging policy. These features are what make a VPN safe to use.
Following are some of the best VPNs for torrent usage:
- ExpressVPN
- NordVPN
- TorGuard
- CyberGhost
- PrivateVPN
- Private Internet Access
