X

How to Use Torrents Safely & Protect Yourself from Risk

Using torrents can be a great way to download large files quickly, but torrenting can be dangerous if not done properly.

Aside from the legal issues of downloading content that may not have been uploaded legally, downloading or uploading files through torrents can expose you to a range of cyber threats.

To help protect you from potential risks, we reached out to the team of programming homework experts at AssignmentCore for some advice about torrenting safely.

In this article, we’ll examine what the experts have to say about the best way to torrent while protecting yourself from risk.

Download a BitTorrent client.

Although torrenting has been around for years and is very popular, the most commonly used browsers don’t support torrenting automatically.

In order to use torrents, you will need to have a dedicated torrenting client that will help you to download and assemble torrents.

When looking for the right BitTorrent client for you, be sure to look for a reputable client with a track record of quality service and privacy protection. Not all BitTorrent clients are created equal, so you will want to make sure you pick one that best meets your needs. 

Use a (VPN) Virtual Private Network.

A VPN encrypts your data and passes it through an intermediary server between the origin point and the destination. This helps protect both you and your data in two ways.

First, it hides what you’re doing from your internet service provider and other third parties so they can’t see what you are downloading.

Second, it masks your IP address so other people using the torrent service can’t see who you are or where you’re located. This will keep potential cybercriminals from tracking you.

Additionally, if your ISP blocks torrent services, a VPN may help you to circumvent those blocks.

Finally, using a VPN also helps you to avoid internet throttling from ISPs. Many ISPs oppose torrents, even legal ones, and will throttle the speeds of users who torrent too much.

Hiding your torrents behind a VPN can keep your ISP from finding out and slowing your speed. Here are some most popular VPN:

Be Alert for Malware and Fake Torrents.

Most torrents contain the material they promise, but a growing number of harbor malware, especially torrents that promise pirated content or illegal material.

Creators of this malware hope to use your desire for illegal goods to sneak dangerous code onto your computer.

Review the comments and other authentication information on a torrent site to help determine which uploaders have a track record of providing quality material.

Be sure that your antivirus software is up to date so it can scan any downloads to your computer for potential problems and threats to stop them before you are infected.

Avoid Dead Torrents.

The more people who are sharing a file in the swarm, the faster your download speed. If only a few people are sharing, then the speed will likely be very slow.

If there is no one sharing, you won’t get your file at all. For the best and safest results, choose a popular file with a lot of seeders to help make sure that you get fast speeds and a file that is more likely to be safe and free from malware.

Follow BitTorrent etiquette.

It’s a good idea to stay on your fellow torrent users’ good sides by following standard etiquette. Don’t simply download files. Seed files, too, so others can download them from you.

You don’t have to host files forever, but it’s a good idea to try for a 1:1 ratio, meaning that you will seed the same volume of data that you download.

That way, other users will see you as a trustworthy user and be less likely to target you for data breaches.

Additional Tips on Using Torrents.

Torrenting can be fun and it can also be a powerful way to get files that you might not otherwise be able to obtain. However, don’t let torrenting get in the way of your goals.

There are often more direct and legal ways to obtain the same information.

If you think that there is a risk that you might suffer negative consequences if you get caught torrenting a particular file, the best advice will always be to avoid doing so.

It’s not worth the negative consequences when there are often other means for obtaining the same files. If you must torrent, torrent safely and legally.

The experts at AssignmentCore put together this list as a service to help you develop better torrenting habits, but that’s not all that they do.

Their programming experts also produce coding assignments for students who need help with their homework.

If you or someone you know is looking for a service where you can pay someone to create programming homework assignments for you, do contact them to learn how they can help.

Categories: Tech
Joey Riggs: