What Is Torrenting? Torrenting is file sharing, but it’s different than your everyday type of file sharing. Normally, when you download a music file or a video, you just click on the download link and the download begins. You are downloading the entire file from that one web site. When you torrent a file, you are downloading the file which has been split into many parts and each part comes from a different providing computer. This is call peer to peer P2P sharing. You can not do this with your regular browser, you need a special app that will save the many parts and put them back together for you. BitTorrent or uTorrent for example.
Is Torrenting Legal?
Well, torrenting is basically file sharing which is definitely legal anywhere in the world, however, if the files are copyrighted or contain some sort of illegal material, that is different. Since the issue of copyrights is gray, at best, many countries have made torrenting of any kind illegal.
Is Torrenting Safe?
File sharing online of any kind can have it’s risks even when a file is downloaded from some sort of official site if the file was first uploaded by a malicious user. It’s best to have anti-virus software actively scanning the download for malware no matter where you are downloading.
Torrenting has been know to be even more risky compared to other types of file sharing due to the popularity of downloading movies, music, and other videos. These files can and often do include malware and can really spoil your day. Look for a trusted download source. Many torrent sites will show an icon denoting a trusted upload. There is also usually a comment or review section for each download that can tip you off to a problematic file.
Best Practice is Use a VPN
Every expert will tell you that you must use a quality VPN service for your torrenting. A VPN will hide your IP address, your ISP will not know what you are doing, and all your data will be encrypted.
Here is a quick step by step guide:
- Research VPNs and choose a VPN that has good reviews.
- Download and install the VPN.
- Connect to a server on the VPN.
- Optimize your VPN’s security settings.
- Visit a reputable torrent site.
- Start downloading.
Although a premium VPN will offer some protection from malware, we should mention again the importance of high quality anti-virus software on your device. Good anti-virus software will not only detect viruses, but also block hacking attempts and other forms of cyber-attacks.
Why Is A VPN Necessary For Safe Torrenting?
If your ISP frowns on torrenting large files, they might throttle your connection speed, but with a VPN, all of your online activity is hidden from your ISP. Many ISPs, employers, and schools block content from known torrent sites, but again using a VPN keeps them in the dark. And last, but not least, your own IP address will not be visible to others on the torrent site.