Access Movies, Games, Apps, Books and More with Torrents

Have you used torrents before? If you have, you would know that it is a decentralized collection of websites that facilitate peer-to-peer file-sharing. 

If you’ve only heard of torrents but haven’t tried them before, here’s something to help you know what it is, how it works, and the things you need to consider when using torrents. 

Though the term ‘torrents’ has become synonymous with getting almost any file online, it is much more than that. A torrent is a file shared on a BitTorrents protocol. The main difference between normal downloading and torrent downloading is the backend process. 

How It Works? 

When you download a torrent/ file, the files are divided into various packets and scattered across the servers. These packets are downloaded individually and combined together to form the main file. 

The packets move through different systems and leave a trail before finally being downloaded to your computer. It’s done using a tracker that collects the IP addresses ensuring the file has been downloaded at the client-side aka your computer. 

People like us upload the files on torrents. Others like us download the files. That’s why it’s called Peer-to-Peer downloading. The main reason to break the file into packets is to facilitate easy uploading and downloading of large files. It helps save bandwidth and speed up the process. 

Why Use Torrents?

The torrents network is a great place to sync large files without suffocating the bandwidth. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook use similar networks to manage the vast amounts of data they collect from users.

You can find just about anything on torrents-

• Books (academic to novels to magazines) in electronic format 
• Documentaries made by famous establishments like Nat Geo, Discovery, BBC, etc.
• Movies from the bygone era to the latest releases 
• Software for personal use (from photo editing to music creator to writing software and much more)
• Games you wanted to play but didn’t know how to download 
• Fonts for personal and commercial use 
• Expensive online courses (from technical to science to languages, etc.)

Of course, the torrents network is not limited only to the above aspects. You can download music files and a lot more as long as you know what you want. 

How to Use Torrents?

So, how to download a torrent file on your computer? Unlike other website downloads, you cannot simply open a site and click on download. You have to follow a procedure. 

Do not start without using a VPN to protect your IP. There are way too many people on torrents, and leaving your computer vulnerable and easy to track is never a good idea. What’s more, any VPN will not do. Yes! 

The VPNs for torrents/ torrenting have to hide your IP when you’re uploading and downloading from the network. Blocking the sites will not be enough. Also, go for the one that has a kill switch. The instant your VPN is down, your connection will be cut off to prevent exposing your presence. 

Then, you’ll have to visit a reliable torrent search engine that works. Not all torrent websites are genuine or legal. It’s your responsibility to be careful and choose a trustworthy site for downloading the required files. 

But hey, before you do that, you need to download and install a protocol like BitTorrent or µTorrent, or Transmission. The interface will facilitate the download and upload process. Read the comments to know if the file is safe to download. Then click on download and wait. 

Terms For Torrents

Searching for torrents can be confusing and overwhelming if you don’t know the dos and don’ts. Let’s understand the common terms for torrents and what they mean before reading about things you need to be aware of when using torrents. 

Seeder: The number of people sharing the same file on the network. The torrent network includes an array of websites (legal and illegal).

Peer: The person who is downloading the file from the network. For example, you’re a peer when you download a torrent file and upload one from your side. 

Swarm: The users who are downloading the same file. You and many others who want a copy of the same movie, books, games, etc. Those who’re sharing a common file are also clubbed as a swarm. 

Tracker: The server that keeps track of your activity on torrents. While this helps maintain a record, it could also risk your computer and privacy. 

Leecher: The user who downloads a file but doesn’t share anything in return is a leecher. You’re a peer when you give something in return and a leech when you only take. Makes sense, doesn’t it? If there are more leechers than the seeders, the download speed decreases.

Things to Consider When Using Torrents

Privacy and legality are two major concerns when using torrents. We’ve solved the privacy issue by using a strong VPN. The copyright issue is a little hard to work with. There are countless pirated and genuine files on the network.

You have to limit your torrents usage to reliable search engines and sites that share safe content and won’t result in copyright infringement. This will also safeguard your computer from being attacked by viruses and malware. 

Conclusion

Keep the above factors in mind and use torrents to access the files you require. Do remember that using pirated stuff is illegal irrespective of where you download it from.