Torrenting Safely in 2024

Peer-to-peer (P2P) torrenting users risk downloading malware, accessing unauthorized content, and having their computers infected with viruses, which could limit their online connection and lead to severe repercussions.

Torrents are unique because many websites maintain and distribute them. During a torrenting situation, P2P network users will “seed” downloaded data for uploads they can send to other P2P users. While this procedure makes it easy to download torrents, users must understand the risks associated with such a task. This article will discuss torrenting, its challenges, and how to stay safe online.

Disclaimer: Torrenting is an excellent method for accessing and sharing content on the Internet. However, we do not encourage or condone any copyright violation or circumvention of restrictions, including tactics that involve torrenting or downloading illegal content. 

What is BitTorrent?

BitTorrent is a P2P file-sharing communication protocol that allows users to transfer data and electronic files across a decentralized Internet. Users usually download Internet data from HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol). However, BitTorrent is a distributed transfer protocol instead of an HTTP or FTP.

What Challenges Exist When Torrenting?

Various network security issues can arise when downloading, uploading, or distributing torrent files. Here are a few of the problems you may face when torrenting:

Legality Risks

BitTorrent is a completely legal file-sharing P2P technology. However, users must understand how to implement this service without crossing the boundary of illegal acts. While the technology is not illegal, sometimes users will work with the file-sharing tool unlawfully. They could download or upload copyrighted files in countries where it is illegal.

Business Insider explains that BitTorrent’s legality is similar to weapons: while purchasing and possessing a firearm may be lawful, utilizing it maliciously is a criminal offense. Therefore, whether or not you choose to use BitTorrent for legitimate or illicit purposes determines the actual legality of the tool. Copyright infringement penalties can span from a simple fine to criminal prosecution, so be wary of where and how you implement BitTorrent.

Monitoring Torrent Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

The privacy enhancing technology on BitTorrent is one of the biggest network security issues on the platform. While it is easy to download huge torrent files in chunks, all IP addresses within a file are made public so that torrenting services can track your activity.

Your Internet Service Provider (ISP), which provides Internet access, automatically checks your connections to see if you are downloading torrents. If the ISP sees behavior it does not condone, it will “throttle,” “shape,” or slow down your connection before sending you a “strike” notice that could suspend or block your account.

Third-Party Eavesdropping is another form of monitoring companies can use to see what activity occurs within a torrent. A third-party service shares the same torrent, joining the “swarm,” or team of people in the torrent, and then tracks each IP address back to its source. This behavior directs intruders to your ISP, permitting hackers into your server.

Private Torrenting

Kademlia-based Distributed Hash Table (DHT) BitTorrent can help centralized torrent trackers discover and monitor IP addresses and torrent users. Simple software can identify company IP addresses to store peer contact information during a torrent swarm. Then, each peer can track one another.

How Can I Torrent Safely?

There are various best practices you should employ when torrenting. Here are a few of the most valuable tactics to keep in mind when moving forward in your torrent journey:

• Watch out for malware threats and fake torrents that can be as risky and likely on torrent proxies as they are over email. Inspect files before downloading to prevent network security issues from flooding your server.
• Integrate a VPN to hide your IP address and encrypt your data, protecting you from cybercriminals and phishing attacks in network security.
• Avoid downloading dead torrents that do not have the latest updates. Current torrents will have the most seeders, so your files download quickly and effectively.
• Seed files once you download them so others can access the data. If you cannot seed the file indefinitely, seed it until you have a 1:1 ratio of downloaded and non-downloaded pieces before removing the torrent from the client.
• Install antivirus software to prevent cybercriminals from discovering exploits in cybersecurity from where they can download malware threats and destroy your server. Safeguard your system with automatic data and network security mechanisms.
• Use cloud security scanners to eradicate malicious torrents and maintain a pleasant web-browsing experience.

How Can I Prevent IP Address Monitoring? What is a VPN?

To ensure secrecy and ultimate security when torrenting, consider utilizing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to download data securely. Having a reliable VPN can assist you in maintaining data and network security. A VPN focuses on encrypting your data to prevent unauthorized users and cybercriminals from accessing sensitive information and login credentials you would prefer to keep private. Consider rerouting your torrent traffic with an IP address others cannot trace to your non-logging VPN proxy or seedbox.

Torrent proxies are temporary connections that redirect traffic to another server so that your IP address stays secure. This privacy enhancing technology helps protect your information and maintain data and network security. The torrent proxy reroutes traffic so that a BitTorrent swarms the false IP address instead. A VPN can prevent P2P users and torrent proxies from tracking your IP address, location, and identity.

Torrent users prefer having a VPN to prevent ISP restrictions from limiting the size of a file download. ISPs also prevent users from having the most secure Internet connection, and VPNs encrypt a server to prevent cloud security breaches before they can occur. A VPN can improve security posture when downloading torrents onto your PC so that your name, location, and IP address remain concealed from intruders. Hackers cannot reach a server they do not know how to access.

How Do I Set Up a VPN?

Here is a step-by-step breakdown of how you can set up a VPN to improve your security posture:

1. Determine your current IP address by asking Google, “What’s my IP?”
2. Sign up for a VPN service that you can download on your device. Windows and Mac users can install the programs through provider websites, while iOS and Android users must use the App Store or Google Play.
3. Launch the VPN application and sign in with your credentials from step two.
4. Choose a server location that you can use for your IP address.
5. Use the “Connect” icon to link your server to the private network.
6. Confirm your new IP address by asking Google, “What’s my IP?” and ensure that the IP address differs from the original.

How Can I Select the Right Torrenting Site and Client?

Prevent network security risks by downloading torrents from legitimate websites that will not harm your server or threaten your data. We have compiled a few concepts to remember when downloading files from torrent sites.

When choosing a torrenting site, remember to access torrents only from trustworthy websites that use obvious methods to prove their authenticity. Files on a genuine torrenting site will have the extension “.torrent,” not a.exe or .bat, which are most likely unsafe and invalid torrent downloads. Rely on older torrent websites since they prove more secure and believable and do not distribute malicious executable files.

Websites also require a torrent client, which can send small pieces of a file to different locations. However, you must ensure the client is legitimate, easy-to-use, and functional. A client is ideal if it takes up little space while providing these features. Consider qBittorrent, a simple, free, ad-less application with in-app search engines and encrypted transfers. Also, look at uTorrent, a quick, lightweight cryptography interface that is straightforward and secure.

What is a Seedbox? Why Should I Use One?

A seedbox is an optimized, remote server that torrent users can utilize for a faster Internet connection. If you use this torrenting software, you can perform all of your procedures there instead of on your PC, which makes it a great alternative to Virtual Private Networks. You can seed files without using the Internet or turning on your computer, keeping your IP address hidden from cybercriminals. Here are a few steps for installing a seedbox:

1. Download the torrent metadata file to your computer. This is the “.torrent” file you have.
2. Upload the metadata file through a web interface and download each file individually. Consider starting the process with the magnet URL.
3. Set up the download from the seedbox to the computer with an HTTP or FTP file browser, whichever comes with the web application.

Final Thoughts on Torrenting Safely in 2024

Torrenting is an efficient and secure way to download files from the Internet. The guidance we have provided in this article can help you find a legitimate, reputable P2P website, avoid copyright issues, and install a VPN to prevent network security issues from entering your server. By keeping you and your ISP far away from any attacks in network security, you can block the top malware threats and cloud security breaches.