In this digital era, torrenting comes with a backlash. Technically, there is a disadvantage to everything, and torrenting isn’t an exemption. In many countries, the government usually monitors torrent platforms that they can shut down. They seek info for those contributing and benefiting from such streams. Even though torrenting isn’t legal, it’s good to avoid detection and unnecessary hustle.
How to Torrent Safely and Anonymously
The web is full of copyrighted content that you can easily download on your PC. Depending on where you live, this can get you into too much trouble. Even though you can manage not to download illegal files, you can unknowingly download malware-laden content. And because torrenting has a bad reputation for being used to pirate content such as music, software, and movies, many ISPs don’t take torrenting lightly. If you like torrenting, ISP might reduce your bandwidth or suspend your account. Here is how to download torrents safely and anonymously.
Use a VPN
Using a trustworthy VPN is the definitive way to download torrents safely and anonymously. A VPN works by forwarding your data via one of its private servers, thus making it appear anonymous to other people. Without a VPN, your online identity, personal info, and online activity will be visible to unwanted third parties. For instance, your ISP can easily see what you do online, and you can become vulnerable to hackers.
Furthermore, your ISP can even minimize your download speeds once they notice that you are downloading multiple huge files. A reliable VPN hides your traffic, and you can easily avoid speed throttling for quick downloads. To download safely, ensure you choose a VPN with military-grade encryption that masks your IP address.
Use a Proxy
Another way to download torrents safely and anonymously is by using a proxy service. You can easily conceal your IP address and location with a reliable proxy. They usually send your requests through an anonymous server with a different IP address than yours before reaching the destination. So, once you connect to a proxy server, you assume its IP and hide your true online identity.
SOCKS5 is one of the recommended proxies for torrenting. It uses proxy servers to create Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connections via random IP. Your new IP address will stop being visible to other users once you join a torrent swarm. For this reason, you’ll be able to download torrents anonymously. However, a proxy does not encrypt your traffic, so anyone can easily snoop on what you are doing.
Select the Right Torrent Site
Multiple sites provide torrents as downloads on the internet. From forums to specialized torrent listing sites to blogs, you will come across torrent links all over the internet. But before you download anything onto your PC or mobile device, you should ensure that the source is genuine. If not, you risk getting fake content, something other than the file you wanted, or even worst, malware. That’s why it is critical you get torrents from reputable platforms.
Top torrent websites usually have a clear system that will indicate that a file has been verified and is genuine. Platforms such as Torlock, The Pirate Bay, and TorrentLeech are some of the best. Unfortunately, such sites are usually blocked by ISPs. The best way around this is by using a proxy or a VPN. For instance, you can use Torlock proxy to mask your IP and download any material without worrying about your ISP reducing bandwidth.
Get a Good Antivirus
It’s a good practice to always have reliable antivirus software on your mobile devices or computer to shield yourself from hacks, malware, and cyberattacks. This practice is vital when downloading torrents since you will open your computer to connect with others. Once you have a good antivirus on your computer, it will scan and monitor any materials you download and inform you whether there is any malware. Good antivirus software can remove or isolate malware before it damages your computer.
Conclusion
Torrenting is the best way to gain free access to various types of content. However, it can be risky, especially if you do not take the proper security measures to shield yourself from cyber threats. So, feel free to use any of the options discussed here to safely and anonymously download torrents.