What is VPN for Torrenting?
Torrenting online can be risky if you do not take proper precautions. It exposes you to many cyber threats like viruses, malware, and spyware. If we put legal issues aside, downloading and uploading files through torrent sites may also cause some troubles to your online security.
The most effective and easiest way to stay safe and anonymous while torrenting is to use a powerful VPN software which encrypts your traffic and anonymizes your connection. It also prevents anyone from seeing what you do online. And since hackers can’t penetrate your encrypted connection, your data will remain secure and safe.
Using a VPN for torrenting helps you use Virtual Private Networks to stay private and hide your uploading and downloading activity.
How to Torrent Safely with a VPN
Here are the steps I follow to torrent safely with VPN software:
Step 1) Go to NordVPN Website. Press the Start Now button. This will takes you to the subscription page.
Step 2) NordVPN offers three plans: a) 1 month, b) 1 year, and c) 2 years.
Choose your desired plan. Continue to create an account, select and pay via desired payment option.
Step 3) Your NordVPN subscription has started.
You can log in to the NordVPN website and download the installation file for your desired platform. Below we download the app for Windows.
Step 4) Select P2P option
P2P automatically connect the fastest NordVPN torrent servers
Step 5) Open the uTorrent client
Double click on the uTorrent app icon on your desktop to open the app
Step 6) Open any trusted torrenting site
In this example, we have used limetorrents, and we will download the latest Hollywood movie. For that, we need to select the Movies option at the left corner
Step 7) Select the title you want to download
Check the list available on the limetorrents site, and download the movie you want to watch
Step 8) Download your torrent file
On the next window, and select the download torrent option
Step 9) Save the torrent file on your PC
Give a name and your torrent download file
Step 10) Open the torrent file
Open the downloaded torrent file by clicking on the bottom left corner popup
Step 11) Check the movie name and start downloading
You will see that your uTorrent software will open automatically. You can check the name and press the OK button
Step 12) Wait for the download to complete
You can see your download status, downloading speed, and estimated time to complete the download, depending on your Internet speed
What are the Dangers of Torrenting?
Here’s what can go wrong when you download torrents:
- Copyright Trolls: Copyright trolls collect IPs from users in the torrent swarm. Then, they forward the IPs to copyright agencies and use them to track down users’ IP addresses, send them threatening emails and ask for huge amounts for torrenting piracy.
- Port Scanning: Sometimes, hackers could use your IP to scan your network’s open ports. They might also be able to find security vulnerabilities they can exploit to take over your network and hack your devices.
- DDoS Attacks: If someone sees your IP in the torrent swarm, they may use it to locate your network and flood it with unwanted traffic, resulting in lost Internet access for many hours.
- Malware: Cybercriminals or hackers can upload malicious torrents on public trackers. If you download and use the files, the malware certainly infects your device in the form of spyware, adware, or ransomware.
- Bandwidth Throttling: Your ISP can see you’re using torrent sites, and they can spot torrent traffic. If they throttle your torrenting, you’ll get very slow speeds.
Why is a VPN Necessary for Safe Torrenting?
VPNs are beneficial for all Internet users. However, if you torrent frequently, it is good to use a Virtual Private Network that offers IPv6 leak protection.
VPN software protects P2P file-sharers while torrenting in two basic ways:
- The concept of VPN for torrenting comes between you and the Internet. So, anyone on the Internet can only see the IP address of the VPN server instead of your real IP address.
- The connection between the device and the server always remains encrypted. It also helps prevent your ISP from seeing that you are using a torrent app to download torrent files.
Avoid ISP throttling:
In any unprotected Internet connection, everything you do online remains visible to your ISP. So, if your torrent large files which are easily noticed by your ISP, your ISP may throttle your connection. As a result, your Internet speed and bandwidth will be reduced significantly.
Now, when you use a VPN, all your online activities remain anonymous, and the traffic is completely hidden from your ISP. Therefore, your ISP has no reason to throttle your connection, even if you are downloading torrent files.
Access restricted content:
There are many ISP service providers that block your access to popular torrenting sites, as do many employers and educational institutes. However, if you still want to access torrent sites prevented by your ISP, you need to use BitTorrent VPN to avoid such issues.
Keep your IP address safe:
If you are downloading torrents on your PC with BitTorrent, uTorrent, Pirate Bay, or any other torrent site, your identity, location, and IP address will be visible. It can be seen by everyone who’s connected to the torrent file.
This can easily open your computer system to potential hacks, cyber-attacks, malware, and spyware. If you are using a VPN, your torrenting activities will remain anonymous. VPN software like NordVPN hides all your details, masks your IP address, and encrypts your data so that you will remain safe and secure.
Tips for Torrenting Safely
Here are some important tips I recommend for Torrenting Safely:
- Ensure that you have an Antivirus installed:
A good antivirus program helps you to protect against malicious torrents. The Windows operating system comes with Windows Defender, which is good for catching most viruses. You can enable Windows Defender from your Control Panel. However, you should not have any other antivirus program installed in it.
- Look for torrents with lots of seeders:
You should look for torrents with lots of seeders. Lots of seeders generally mean that the torrent contains no viruses. This is because torrent client users have checked and found no viruses and then started sharing it. However, this can’t be considered a guarantee against the virus.
- Check the comments before downloading:
You should also check the torrent’s comments section, which helps you determine if it contains any viruses. If there are many comments but nothing about a potential virus, then chances are better that it doesn’t have any virus. On the contrary, if many comments discuss viruses, you must avoid that torrent, even if it is your favorite movie or game.
- You should avoid file types that are prone to viruses:
You should not download torrents for programs, as executable files like .exe, .bat are the most common way of transmitting viruses. Cracked programs are also very dangerous files you may download through torrents.
- Join a private torrent community:
If you have joined a private torrent community, you’re likely to get torrents without viruses or malware. This is because the torrents are all created and shared by members of that community. Thus, they are certainly more trustworthy.
- Use a VPN Software:
The safest way to torrent is using VPN software. Following is a handpicked list of Top VPNs for safe torrenting with their popular features, pros, cons, and website links. This list contains both free and paid software.
BEST VPN for Torrenting
The service provider | ExpressVPN | NordVPN |
Number of servers: | 2000+ | 6400+ |
Security & Privacy | Yes | Yes |
Unblocks Streaming Sites? | Yes | Yes |
Supports P2P? | Yes | Yes |
Countries Supported | 105 | 111 |
24/7 customer support | ✔️ | ✔️ |
Max devices allowed | 8 | 10 |
Our Review |
Excellent – 9.8
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Excellent – 9.7
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Free trial | 30 days | 30 days |
Link | Try Free Now | Try Free Now |
1) ExpressVPN
I reviewed ExpressVPN and found it to be one of the most popular VPNs for torrenting. It helped me stay protected from scammers and allowed me to access unlimited websites and games without any issues. According to my research, it’s great for privacy as it does not log any personal information such as IP addresses or DNS queries. In my experience, this tool is a top choice for anyone who values online security and freedom.
It offers online protection using leak proofing an encryption facility. It helps users stay secure by hiding IP addresses and encrypting their network data.
Features:
- Data Encryption: ExpressVPN provides high-level encryption for secure torrenting across servers.
- IP Masking: It masks your IP address, ensuring anonymity while downloading torrent files.
- Fast Speeds: As per my experience, I benefitted from using ExpressVPN for faster torrent downloads.
- No-Logs Policy: ExpressVPN offers a strict no-logs policy, enhancing privacy during torrenting.
- Server Selection: You can access multiple servers optimized for high-speed torrenting globally.
- Kill Switch: It has an automatic kill switch, protecting your data in case of VPN dropouts.
Key Specs:
Server Network: | 2000+ servers in 105 countries |
Split Tunneling: | Yes |
Data Allowance: | Unlimited |
Torrenting: | Yes |
Kill Switch: | Yes |
No-logging policy: | Yes |
Ip Addresses: | Dynamic |
Simultaneous Connection: | 8 devices |
Free Trial: | 30-Days Money-back Guarantee Check Now! |
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
12 months | 6 months | 1 month |
---|---|---|
$8.33 per month | $9.99 per month | $12.95 |
30-Days Money-back Guarantee
2) NordVPN
NordVPN impressed me with its ability to protect and encrypt data while torrenting. I checked how it prevents ads and malware from disrupting the experience, which is great for privacy-focused users. I was able to download torrents from popular sites like BitTorrent and Pirate Bay. In my experience, NordVPN does not track or share your data, making it one of the top choices for secure torrenting.
Features:
- Double VPN Feature: You can enhance security by routing your connection through two servers simultaneously.
- P2P Optimization: NordVPN provides servers optimized for P2P sharing, perfect for torrenting activities.
- P2P Support: I could access dedicated servers optimized specifically for torrenting.
- User-Friendly Interface: The easy-to-navigate design makes torrenting accessible for everyone.
- Strong Encryption: NordVPN uses AES-256 encryption to secure your torrenting activities.
Key Specs:
Server Network: | 6400+ servers in 111 countries |
Split Tunneling: | Yes |
Data Allowance: | Unlimited |
Torrenting: | Yes |
Kill Switch: | Yes |
No-logging policy: | Yes |
Ip Addresses: | Static |
Simultaneous Connection: | 10 devices |
Free Trial: | 30-Days Money-back Guarantee Check Now! |
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
2 Years | 1 Year | 1 month |
---|---|---|
$3.09 per month | $4.99 per month | $12.99 |
30-Days Money-back Guarantee
3) FastestVPN
FastestVPN is a VPN software that I found to be great for securing my network with encryption. During my research, I found that it offered high-speed service for smartphones. It helped me protect my torrenting and YouTube TV streaming without any slowdowns. I would recommend it as one of the easiest VPNs for browsing safely.
FastestVPN is one of the best VPNs for safe torrenting that automatically suggests the fastest VPN server. This VPN tool helps you to make your Internet connection secure. It also helps you to switch from one server to another with ease.
Features:
- Data Encryption: FastestVPN provides military-grade encryption, ensuring secure and anonymous torrenting.
- IP Anonymity: It offers complete IP anonymity, protecting your identity while downloading torrents.
- Fast Download Speeds: As per my experience, I received high-speed downloads with FastestVPN during torrenting.
- No-Logs Policy: FastestVPN adheres to a strict no-logs policy, maintaining user privacy during torrenting.
- Ad Blocker: It includes an ad blocker that helps prevent unwanted ads during torrenting sessions.
Key Specs:
Server Network: | 800+ servers in 49+ countries |
Split Tunneling: | Yes |
Data Allowance: | Unlimited |
Torrenting: | Yes |
Kill Switch: | Yes |
No-logging policy: | Yes |
Ip Addresses: | Dynamic |
Simultaneous Connection: | 10 devices |
Free Trial: | 31-Days Money-back Guarantee Check Now! |
Pros
Cons
Pricing:
1 Month | 1 Year | Lifetime |
---|---|---|
$5.00 per month | $1.66 per month | $40.00 |
👉 Use Coupan Code “newyear2025” and Get “93% OFF” on Pro Lifetime Deal
31-Days Money-back Guarantee
Can you Torrent Anonymously?
Yes, you can anonymize your torrent traffic from your ISP, torrent trackers, and members of the torrent swarm if you use a VPN.
Your VPN software encrypts your traffic, meaning nobody can monitor it. So, when your ISP tries to spy on it, they’ll only see gibberish like H3^4#HFN. So, they can not crack that encryption if you use a secure VPN, so your traffic is essentially anonymous.
The VPN also hides your IP. Torrent trackers and members of the swarm will not be able to see your torrent downloading activities. They’ll be able to see your VPN’s IP address. That further anonymizes your traffic, as nobody can use your IP to locate your network or find your location.
To torrent anonymously using a VPN, you need to use a service that doesn’t keep logs. It also needs powerful AES-256 bit encryption, a kill switch, and complete leak protection. For that, you should opt for the above-given VPN software that meets all those requirements and some additional features to help you torrent anonymously.
What are the Risks of Torrenting Music?
The music industry has suffered a lot because of piracy. They aggressively targeted torrenters who engaged in music piracy. These days, litigation is mostly done by copyright trolls who target illegal torrents on behalf of recording studios.
They’ll send out settlement letters demanding huge money to torrenters whom they identify. They usually go through ISPs to contact torrenters. However, using a VPN can greatly reduce the risk of being identified by a copyright troll.
Is Torrenting Legal?
Torrents have a bad reputation because of piracy. Although, torrent itself is not illegal and has many legitimate uses, including downloading open-source software and torrenting files in the public domain.
What is a Copyright Troll?
A copyright troll is a person or firm which acts against those people that are downloading illegal torrents. They can identify targets using their IP addresses, so even if you intend to download legal files, it’s always safer to remain anonymous by using a VPN.
What is IP Binding?
Many popular torrenting sites, like BitTorrent and uTorrent, allow you to bind your device to a specific IP address. This practice is known as IP binding. Doing so will stop any torrent traffic from reaching your device unless you’re connected to your chosen IP address. You can use this method to bind your device to your favorite VPN server. It makes your data safe even if you forget to connect your device.
Copyright owners often hire copyright trolls to go after people that are illegally distributing their content. When they identify the lawbreakers through the IP address, they’ll send a settlement letter and use scare tactics to pay the fine.
Conclusion
I recommend ExpressVPN for torrenting due to its excellent privacy features. Its 256-bit AES encryption and no-logs policy keep your activities secure. I also value its dynamic IP feature and the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously. ExpressVPN hides your IP from torrent swarms, keeping you anonymous, and prevents bandwidth throttling, which speeds up downloads. This makes it a great tool for torrenting securely.