How To Safely And Anonymously Torrent Files

 Torrenting is very risky and if not handled properly can lead to some serious consequences. Consequences could be installing malware or virus, ISP throttling or facing legal consequences such as paying fines and facing jail term.

So to avoid all these risks let's look at steps of how you can safely and Anonymously torrent files with no complication at all.

How to safely torrent files complete guide 

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1. Choosing a VPN

First things first before torrenting any file you will need a VPN. There are multiple VPN's you could use in this case. If you don't know which vpn to use, check the below article for the best VPN's.

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Why you need a VPN

Most torrent sites are usually blocked by ISP's and accessing them without a vpn is almost impossible. Here are some of the advantages VPN will give you:

• Access Geo-restricted content. Most VPN changes your IP address making you seem you are located somewhere. This feature helps you to access sites that may have been blocked by your ISP
• Online privacy and security. Most VPN's block malwares on the internet providing you with a safe browsing and also by changing your IP address it ensures that privacy online is guaranteed so you become anonymous.
• Strict No Logging policy. Most VPN'S service have this which ensures that they don't keep or record any of your activities online. This means not even your ISP or them can see or track your activities online.

Those are few of the advantages of a VPN. If you would like to know more about VPN, click here.

2. Choosing Torrent Sites

You need to be careful on which sites you decide to get your torrent files from. Choosing a wrong site can cause serious implications such as infection by virus or malwares.

Here are factors you should consider before using a torrent site :

• Reputation and Reviews: Research the site's reputation. Look for reviews and user feedback on forums, Reddit, or other trusted sources to see if the site is considered safe and reliable.
• User Community: A strong, active user community can be an indicator of the site's reliability. Check for active forums, comments, and ratings on torrents.
• Verified Torrents: Choose sites that have a system for verifying torrents, indicating that the files have been checked for malware and are from trusted uploaders.
• Quality of Content: Look for sites that provide detailed information about the torrents, including file size, number of seeders and leechers, and file contents.
• Advertisements: Be cautious if the site is filled with intrusive or suspicious ads. Reputable sites usually have fewer and less aggressive ads.
• HTTPS Connection: Ensure the site uses HTTPS, which provides a secure, encrypted connection.
• Update Frequency: Check if the site is regularly updated with new content and if the torrents are current.
• Site Layout and Usability: A well-designed and user-friendly site is usually more trustworthy. Be wary of sites with a chaotic layout or broken links.Redirection and Pop-ups: Avoid sites that frequently redirect you to other pages or bombard you with pop-ups, as these are often associated with malicious content.
• Search Functionality: A good torrent site should have an effective search function to help you find what you're looking for easily.

Examples of reputable sites are RARBG and 1337x.to but  not limited to this there are also more.

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3. Choosing Torrent Client

Getting torrent sites is not the end of the process since you can't download them directly to your computer. Torrent files are bits of the files that are uploaded by many servers. Torrent clients such as ubit torrent, BitTorent and UTorerent assembles this small bits into a complete file which you get after a complete download.

Choose a torrent client that is:

• Widely used and maintained
• Has built in security features, such as firewall and encryption protection
• Allows customizable settings for optimal security
• Has a friendly user interface

4. Verifying torrent files

Before downloading, check the torrent’s:

•  File size and hash (to ensure integrity)
•  Number of seeders and leechers (to gauge popularity and potential risks)
•  Comments and ratings (to identify potential issues)
•  Avoid suspicious torrents: 
• Steer clear of:

       Zero-leech torrents (rarely seeded)

        Business or commercial torrents (may contain malware)

        Torrents with unusual file extensions (e.g., .exe, .bat)

5. More safety precautions

Malware bytes

Consider instaling Malware bytes. Malwarebytes is an anti-malware software designed to protect computers and mobile devices from a variety of threats, including malware, ransomware, spyware, and other malicious software. It offers real-time protection, threat scanning, and removal features. 

Key aspects of Malwarebytes include:

• Malware Detection and Removal: It scans and removes malware, including viruses, worms, Trojans, rootkits, and more.
• Real-Time Protection: Offers real-time protection to block malware, ransomware, and other threats before they can harm your system.
• Ransomware Protection: Includes specific defenses against ransomware attacks.
• Web Protection: Blocks malicious websites and prevents phishing attempts.
• Performance Optimization: Provides tools to clean and optimize system performance by removing unwanted programs and files.
• Compatibility: Available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.

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Sandboxie

Consider installing sandboxie. Sandboxie allows users to run applications in an isolated environment, preventing them from making permanent changes to other programs and data on the system. This is particularly useful for testing untrusted software, browsing the web securely, and protecting against malware and other threats.

Key features of Sandboxie include:

• Isolated Environment: Runs applications in a controlled, isolated space to prevent changes to your actual system.
• Web Browser Protection: Safely browse the internet, preventing web-based malware from affecting your system.
• Program Testing: Test and evaluate software in a sandbox without affecting your main system.
• File and Registry Protection: Keeps your files and registry safe from potentially harmful changes.
• Ease of Use: Provides a straightforward interface for creating and managing sandboxed environments.

Sandboxie is a versatile tool that enhances system security by allowing safe execution and testing of potentially unsafe applications.

6.How To Configure A VPN for Safe Torrenting

Configuring a VPN is procedure to ensure that you will torrent safely. Depending on the VPN you use go to the settings and enable the following:

•   Turn on the kill switch .Sometimes this is switched off in default settings, so turn it on.
•  Set the highest encryption .Make sure your tool is set to 256-bit AES encryption so that all your data is as secure as possible.
•  Use a secure and fast protocol .It’s best to use the WireGuard protocol if you want to torrent safely, and not PPTP, which is older and not as secure.
•   Enable leak protection .Switch both IP and DNS leak protection on.
•  Utilize split tunneling.This keeps some of your online traffic, like torrenting, encrypted with the VPN, and leaves other sites on your regular IP address. It is useful when you need to keep some sites on your normal IP, such as delivery services and online banking.

7. Consequences of torrenting without using a VPN

Torrenting a file is great but note also it comes with a lot of risks which if not taken seriously can cause serious damage. Let's take a look of the some of the negative impacts:

•    Malware. Unfortunately, torrent files greatly come  with malware. Cybercriminals often use tempting torrents as a trojan horse with malware loaded into the download. All it takes is for you to make one wrong download and your device can be infected with all sorts of dangerous malware, including spyware, viruses, and ransomware.
•   Copyright problems. Some people also use torrents to transfer copyrighted material. Sometimes torrents can be mislabelled, and if you accidentally download something that’s technically been stolen, you could face some problems. Your ISP could reveal your data to the copyright holder, which could lead to fines, or even worse if you are found guilty of breaking copyright laws.
•  Throttling . A less severe but extremely frustrating consequence of torrenting is when your ISP throttles your internet connection. Torrents can often be large file sizes, and they take a lot of bandwidth to download. If your ISP notices you are torrenting, it could drastically slow down your internet speed and reduce your bandwidth. This means your downloads and browsing will be very slow.
•  Cybercriminals. When you download torrent files, your IP address is opened up to the various sources that are sharing the files. This means you’re exposed to threat actors who can use any visible information to execute DDoS attacks and more.
• Data protection . Since your device is exposed when you’re sharing files and downloading torrents, this means your personal info and data are easily accessible to your ISP and other users.

In light of what discussed take all the necessary precautions needed