The use of peer-to-peer (P2P) networks in torrents are associated with potential risks and threats, from unwanted malware downloads to accidental downloads of copyrighted content. There is also the possibility of the system becoming infected, disconnected by the ISP, or fined.
Anonymity and security are two key points for a secure torrent, and fortunately, the use of a reliable VPN as a solution addresses these two factors. The best VPNs maintain information security, hide the user’s online activity, and provide easy torrents by providing other great features.
In this guide, we will explain all the essentials of protecting data and remaining anonymous during torrents.
Downloading from a torrent is easy with a few clicks, but you must also use a VPN to ensure a secure download. Here are some simple steps to get a secure torrent with a VPN.
How to use torrents safely?
1. Choose a reliable and ideal VPN. NordVPN is convenient, and there are plenty of internally licensed VPNs that you can find in one go.
2- Download and install the desired VPN. Try to choose a VPN compatible with your device.
3- Connect to the server. Make sure you are connected to an optimal P2P server.
4- Make VPN security settings. This helps keep your information safe.
5. Use a reputable site for torrent links.
In the following, we will show how to connect to the VPN and start the torrent securely in a few simple steps, and we will also introduce the various factors to ensure a secure torrent and hiding. In addition, the factors to consider when downloading torrents are examined in more detail.
1- Use a good VPN
Setting up a VPN is the first thing you need to do before starting a torrent. The availability of multiple VPNs makes it difficult to choose. For a secure torrent, you should choose a premium VPN that is reliable, fast, secure, and torrent-friendly.
With a great VPN, you can connect to fast servers worldwide and completely hide your IP address; it looks like you are in a completely different country.
In addition, you can find optimized torrent servers that are fast and secure, ensuring that torrents are downloaded as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately, downloading torrents can be dangerous for various reasons, such as malware. The download source accesses the device while downloading the torrent, which can sometimes lead to malware and other digital malfunctions.
Fortunately, good VPNs have strong security features that keep the device secure. NordVPN, for example, contains a tool called CyberSec that blocks malware, phishing attempts, cyber-attacks such as DDoS, and even pop-up ads.
Note: Remember that because the VPN hides the real IP address, you can access any torrent site of your choice, even banned sites in the country.
2. Choose a suitable torrent site.
There are many sites on the Internet that offer torrent links for download. You can find links from specialized torrent sites to forums and blogs all over the web.
However, when downloading, you must make sure that the source is the original; otherwise, there is a risk of downloading a fake file, unwanted file, or even dangerous malware.
It is important to download torrent links from reputable websites. In most cases, popular torrent sites have specific systems that indicate that the torrent has been verified. It means that it is exactly what he says, without any unwanted and strange things.
Pirate Bay is one of the most popular torrent sites globally and has a large collection of torrent links for download. You can also identify whether they are genuine by providing defined icons next to each torrent link.
You should also sign up for some torrent sites, such as TorrentLeech. Usually, on these sites, all the torrent links are verified so that you can download anything with confidence.
One annoying thing is that many of the best torrent sites are blocked by ISP-approved torrent links. But using a VPN is an easy solution to this problem. You can hide your IP address and log in to your favorite site anywhere.
3. Choose the right torrent client
You can not download torrent links directly to your system because torrent files are sent in very small parts from different places. You need a special program known as a torrent client (torrent client) to download via torrent. The torrent client manages all these “bits” and collects them, and you will receive the file in full when the download is complete.
There are many torrent clients to choose from, each offering different features, usage, and functions. Ideally, look for a torrent client that does not take up much space on the device, is easy to use, and offers good features such as security.
We recommend the following torrent clients:
Vuze: A simple and super client with a good user interface among P2P clients with a very clean environment and easy to use. It also has a chat, forum, remote control, and magnet link support features. In the paid version, even viruses and advertisements have been removed.
- qBittorrent: A great versatile client. It is easy to use and completely free with no in-app ads. It also has great features like the built-in torrent search engine that provides secure and encrypted transmission.
- BitTorrent: This client is ideal for novice torrents. It is very easy to use and includes some useful features such as commenting, so you can check how previous users have performed in specific torrents.
- uTorrent: One of the most well-known and popular torrent clients, it is fast, light, and easy with a clear and simple design. However, it would be best to start with the ads in it.
4. Choose the right torrents.
After setting up a VPN, downloading a torrent client, and finding a great torrent site, now is the time to download torrent links. As we said, you should always be careful when downloading all kinds of files from the Internet. This is especially true of torrent links because many cybercriminals and hackers try to take advantage of them by tricking people into downloading bad torrents.
So it would be best if you made sure that the selected torrent is legal and free of any malware. One solution is to download only verified torrent links from reputable major torrent sites.
Also, always be on the lookout for suspicious torrent links and downloads. For example, torrent links to unpublished programs or videos may be fake.
5. Get a good antivirus software
It would be best if you always had good antivirus software on your system to protect against malware, hacks, and cyberattacks. This is even more important when downloading torrent links because the system becomes available to other sources and communications when torrenting.
Antiviruses like Norton and McAfee have been working on first-class solutions for years. Installing a good antivirus on the device scans and scans downloaded files and notifies immediately if there is any malware. Good antiviruses usually remove or remove malware before it gets damaged so you can safely torrent.
Why is a VPN essential for a secure torrent?
Downloading via torrent can be dangerous, but by installing a VPN on the device, you will be safe from most of the risks associated with torrents (if not all).
Here are some of the key benefits of torrent with VPN:
1- Prevents control and suppression of ISP.
All online work for the ISP can be viewed on unprotected internet connections. If the ISP notices the torrent of large files, it may interrupt the connection. This means that the speed and bandwidth will be drastically reduced. All activities, data, and online traffic are completely hidden from the ISP when using a VPN. So there will be no reason to stop the connection, even when downloading the torrent. VPN is a torrent download method without ISP notification.
2. You will have access to restricted content.
Many ISPs block access to popular torrent sites. Using a VPN is a great solution for accessing a torrent site without barriers, and you can also access any restricted content.
VPNs change the IP address and hide all activities so that no one can see your online activities. You can also connect to a completely different and new server in another country, a server with no restrictions…
3- Keeps the IP address secure.
If you use a torrent client on your system to download torrent links, the identity, location, and IP address of all people connected to the torrent file will be displayed. Therefore, the possibility of hacking, cyber-attacks, and malware also increases.
Using a VPN can ensure that you remain completely anonymous when downloading from a torrent. The VPN hides all personal information and IP addresses and encrypts the data to stay safe and secure.
How to configure VPN for secure torrent
After installing a VPN, you need to make sure it is configured correctly for extra security.
After installing VPN, go to settings and enable all-important security settings.
Settings to consider:
- Enable switch kill; sometimes, this option is disabled in the default settings.
- Set the highest level of encryption, and set the VPN to AES-256-bit encryption to keep all information safe.
- Use a secure protocol. It is best to use an OpenVPN protocol rather than PPTP, which is older and less secure.
- Enable protection against unauthorized IP and DNS data transfer.
- Use split tunneling. Maintains some online traffic such as torrents and VPN encryption, leaving other sites on a regular IP address. Useful when you need to keep some sites on their regular IP, such as online banking services.
What are the risks of using torrents?
Torrent is a great way to download files, but it is not safe. There are all kinds of torrent risks, from unwanted malware downloads to hackers’ access.
You can use VPN to protect yourself from many of these risks, but it is important to know what you are protecting.
Some of the major risks when downloading torrents are:
- Malware: Unfortunately, torrent files are full of malware. Cybercriminals often use tempting torrents such as Trojans with malware embedded in downloads; they make one mistake once downloaded. The device may be exposed to dangerous malware such as spyware, viruses, and ransomware. Infected devices.
- Copyright issues: Some people use torrents to transfer copyrighted content. Torrent links are sometimes labeled as fake, so if you accidentally download something that is technically stolen, you may run into problems. If you are accused of violating copyright laws, your ISP can disclose your data, resulting in fines or worse.
- Stop: A less severe but frustrating consequence of torrents is when the ISP stops the internet connection. In most cases, torrent files are large and require a lot of bandwidth to download. If the ISP notices these torrents, it will drastically slow down the Internet and reduce bandwidth. As a result, the download will be very slow.
- Hackers: When downloading torrent files, Various file-sharing sources access the IP address. This means that you are exposed to threats from hackers who can easily steal data, install malware on the device, spy on online activities, etc.
No data protection: Because the device is made available to other sources when sharing files and downloading torrent links, personal information and data will likely be readily available to cybercriminals and hackers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is torrent legal?
Yes, torrent is completely legal. It is a way to transfer and share files online. But if you download a copyrighted file, the ISP may warn and disconnect. With a VPN, you can hide your online activity from the ISP so that no one can see the downloaded file.
Do I have to hide my IP address when downloading from a torrent?
We highly recommend hiding the IP address during torrents, preventing the ISP from detecting the downloaded or uploaded file. The best way to hide your IP address is to use a VPN. With a VPN, you can torrent as much as you like, and the IP address is also hidden.
Does the VPN protect torrents?
VPN hides geographical location and IP address and encrypts data, but good VPNs offer great security features. You can use VPN to protect against cyberattacks, pop-ups, and malware. So using a VPN is the best way to stay safe during a torrent.
Is it possible to get caught in a torrent if we use a VPN?
It is virtually impossible to get caught if you use a VPN while torrenting. Because it completely hides the IP address, personal data is encrypted, and even the ISP cannot detect that you are torrenting.