Downloading Torrents using bit torrent platform has become natural for us today. People prefer torrent for instant sharing of large files rather than cloud where they struggle to upload files. Moreover, cloud storage services provide limited storage capacity or charge higher prices.

What Is Torrenting?

Torrenting is a practice of sharing digital content via BitTorrent Client. It is a download manager which handles torrent file extension.

Several peers share small pieces of digital content in an efficient manner through BitTorrent trackers and the BitTorrent client, later on, reassembles the complete file when download completes.

BitTorrenting comprises of:

Torrent File – The torrent is a file which contains metadata (information) of digital content and BitTorrent trackers locations (Trackers are special servers, that assists in the communication between peers using BitTorrent protocol).

BitTorrent Client – It is a download manager use for downloading the content from peers’ machines. It handles the communication via BitTorrent Protocol for successful P2P file sharing and reassembling the pieces into a whole file.

BitTorrent Protocol – It is a communication protocol of P2P file sharing which is used to communicate with other peers on the torrent network and distribute data.

BitTorrent Tracker – The tracker server keeps information of where the copies of files reside on peer machines, which one are available when a BitTorrent client requests a file and helps in efficient coordination between peers and reassembly of copied files.

Trackers are only required for the initial communication and information transfer. However, after initial P2P file download is started, P2P communication can continue without the need of tracker.

After the development of Distributed Hash Table (DHT) method for “tracker less” Torrenting, BitTorrent trackers has largely become redundant.

Other Technical Terms Related to BitTorrent:

Seeders - These are people who generously share the file while downloading it.

Leechers – These are the people who do not share file while downloading it. Trackers usually ban leechers from affecting P2P file sharing.

Swarms – A group of peers is sharing the same file on torrent.

Is Downloading Torrents illegal or Not?

It depends what you download. Sharing of digital content whose distribution violates copyrights falls under illegal use. For example, copyrighted music, movies, documents, software, etc. However, if the license if free for commercial or non-commercial distribution is legal.

Why We Need To Download Torrents Anonymously?

A Torrent is a platform opens for general public. People use it to share copyrighted content such as movies, songs, documents, software, etc. Copyrights owners are aware of this fact and actively seeks people who download and distribute their content over torrent.

When you start downloading copyrighted content over the torrent, your original IP, location, and respective ISP is exposed to the swarm of peers. Any peer can copy your IP address and see your information instantly.

Copyright owners can track your location in the same way and lodge a complaint to your internet service provider which could send you warning letters or send you a legal notice on behalf of copyright holders.

How To Download Torrents Anonymously?

There are several methods through which you can download torrent anonymously:

BitTorrent Client Built-in Encryption

BitTorrent Clients i.e. BitComet, Azureus, BitTorrent, and uTorrent have built-in encryption features to support anonymous Torrenting. To enable them, follow these steps:

BitComet Client

1. Head on to Options> Select Preferences > Select Advanced > Click on Connection.
2. Navigate to ‘Protocol Encryption,’ you’ll find three fields Always, Auto Detect, and Disable. The Auto-Detect option allows more incoming connections but less anonymity and encryption.

Azureus Client

1. Head on to Tools > Select Options > go to Connection > Select Transport Encryption.
2. Click on checkbox ‘Require encrypted transport‘ option.
3. Choose RC4 encryption from ‘Minimum encryption level.’

BitTorrent/uTorrent Client

1. Head on to Options > Select Preferences > BitTorrent.
2. Navigate to ‘Protocol Encryption,’ it’ll have three options ‘Forced,’ ‘Enabled,’and ‘Disabled.’ The Enabled option allows more incoming peers connection but less protection and anonymity.

Web Proxies

A proxy funnels traffic through another server; this way peers will see the IP address of that server instead of your original IP address and location. Few VPN providers have the web proxy support e.g. PIA VPN has Socks5 proxy, and NordVPN offers free web proxy service. However, do note that free web proxies aren’t completely anonymous and susceptible to leaking your private information. To setup web proxy, follow these steps:

Step #1: Sign Up PIA VPN for Socks5 Proxy. (You can save 52% with cheap rates $ 3.33/m: Visit PIA VPN now and avail the offer). Login to PIA client control panel.

Step #2: Navigate to PPTP/L2TP/Socks Passwords, and click on ‘regenerate password,’ save username and password.

Step #3: Open uTorrent and navigate to Options > Preferences > Connection. Head to Proxy server, and select socks5 under ‘Type’ and enter the following details:

Proxy Type: Socks5

Proxy Host: (Copy proxy server from the control panel)

Proxy Port: 1080

Username: Copy paste from step #2

Password: Copy paste from step #2

Tick on all the check boxes under ‘Proxy Server’ and ‘Proxy Privacy.’

VPN Connection

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is the best method to download torrents anonymously. It encrypts all of your web traffic and hides your IP address from all the peers on the torrent network. It protects your privacy and security against government spying, hackers, data snoopers, and ISPs monitoring.

How To Setup A VPN Connection

Setting up a VPN connection is easy. Follow each step to establish a VPN connection successfully.

Step #1: Choose a VPN provider and visit their website to make your purchase.

Step #2: Check your welcome email for details. Log in to the website with the given details and download a VPN software client.

Step #3: Download and install the VPN software client, click on install when an option to install a TAP client appears.

Step #4: Open the VPN software client and select your desired location or let the Smart Select feature select the nearest location for you.

Step #5: Click on ‘Connect.’ After successful connection, your identity becomes private again.

Conclusion

Torrenting is the most efficient way of sharing large digital content over the internet. But there are downsides to P2P file sharing as well which you can avoid by downloading torrent anonymously. And the best method to not only encrypt the entire internet traffic but also to allow anonymous torrenting is using a VPN connection. VPN protects your online privacy and security against government surveillance across the globe, protect you against hackers and data snoopers, or prevent ISPs from throttling your internet speed.