So, what is torrenting? Torrenting is a fast and efficient way to download large files. Instead of using a single server, your computer tracks and downloads “pieces” of your chosen software from multiple servers in your peer-to-peer sharing network, until the full file is downloaded.
I’m often asked, how does torrenting work? Essentially, you upload a tracker file to your torrent client software. This tells your computer how to find the files it needs to download your chosen software.
I’ve tested the best and most popular torrent clients if you want to get started and try downloading software for yourself. Here are my top three recommendations:
- BitTorrent: Best torrent client for most day-to-day users
- uTorrent: Good torrent client with advanced download settings and controls
- qBittorrent: The best client for newcomers to torrenting
Remember, torrenting comes with risks. You could be tracked by people within your P2P network, and you could fall victim to malware disguised as legitimate torrents. Using a strong VPN service vastly minimizes these risks however, and I can recommend my own personal choice, NordVPN.
NordVPN offers the most robust security possible, including a built-in Threat Protection feature that’ll block malware attacks and allow you to torrent safely.
NordVPN
Want to know more about the risks involved with torrenting before you dive in? I’ve summarized those below, in addition to including my research into the best torrent clients to choose!
Torrenting has been around since 2001 when a university student grew tired of slow downloads and decided to fix the problem himself. The solution? The BitTorrent protocol. Over two decades later, and the most popular torrent client has somewhere in the region of 170 million+ active torrent users! But what is torrenting exactly?
Torrenting is an efficient and speedy way to download large software files instead of getting them from a website server. It’s also just as safe as long as you protect yourself with crucial software.
If you’re even a little bit curious about getting involved in torrenting, I recommend downloading NordVPN first to prevent others from tracking you online and stop malware from getting onto your computer.
I’m sure you have more questions – like how torrenting works and whether it is safe or likely to get you in trouble. Don’t worry. I’ll address all of those questions below!
What is Torrenting?
Torrenting is when you connect to the BitTorrent network – a peer-to-peer sharing network – to download and upload software files. Rather than downloading a complete file directly from a website, you’re downloading “pieces” of that file from other users connected to the network. People usually use good free torrent clients to do this.
Torrenting is by far the most popular way of sharing files over a peer-to-peer (P2P) network. Torrent users connected to the network are known as peers. As a group, they’re a swarm. The people you download from are also known as seeds – the source of your file.
What is a torrent?
A torrent, also known as a “torrent file” or “tracker,” is a small file that keeps track of where the actual file you want to download is on a wide network of different computers. It may sound complicated, but it’s actually simpler than you think.
Basically, a torrent is a small file that is used by something called a “torrent client” to let others know, “Hey, I’m looking to download and upload this specific piece of content to and from you.”
The torrent file can be used to share media such as movies, music, books, etc., with others using something called a Peer-to-Peer network or “P2P.”
Why Use Torrents?
There are a bunch of benefits to using torrent clients to download torrent files, such as:
- Downloads are faster: Thanks to downloading from multiple sources at once, your downloads with a torrent client can be faster than traditional methods.
- Hosting large files is inexpensive: With torrenting, you cut out the need for expensive server hosting, especially as the user count increases. The costs involved with sharing files over torrents are virtually inexistent.
- Restart torrent downloads: Torrents can simply pick up where they left off instead of restarting the entire file from scratch. No more getting caught out by a temporary disconnection or patchy signal when you’re downloading files!
How Torrents Work
Traditional torrent downloads usually involve grabbing the files you need from a single central server. Torrents, on the other hand, work by sourcing software from multiple servers at once. People within your peer-to-peer network act as those servers once they have the file on their computer.
Imagine if I needed to download a 100GB file, but there were a thousand other people looking to do the same. If I simply downloaded that file from the same website as the other users, it could cause problems. For one, the server might crash – meaning nobody gets their file. Or, it could be excruciatingly slow because the server’s upload limit has been reached.
Instead, I choose to torrent the file. My computer can track and download small chunks of the software from other users in my torrent swarm who already have that data packet on their computer. This speeds up the process and reduces the likelihood of single points of failure.
How to download torrents safely
I’ve rounded up a mini guide for you so that you can start torrenting safely. Follow these steps to avoid torrenting dangers like malware and tracking:
- Get a recommended VPN for torrenting. My personal recommendation is NordVPN. I’ve been using this provider to torrent safely for years and have never suffered any issues with tracking or malware.
- Install the VPN on the computer that has your BitTorrent client.
- Connect to a torrent-friendly VPN server. This is crucial – these servers are optimized for exchanging high volumes of data. I’ve tested NordVPN specifically with torrenting on these servers, and they’ll give you the best performance.
- Find the torrent you need from a secure website or within the torrent client’s search feature.
- Fire up your BitTorrent client and start downloading torrents securely! Now, you can’t be tracked, and NordVPN will protect you from malware.
Are Torrents Legal?
Yes, torrents are legal – assuming you only download files containing legal content. By this, I mean that being part of a P2P network and downloading and uploading software overall is legal. However, downloading copyrighted or illegal content can get you into trouble in most countries.
Downloading copyrighted content is copyright infringement, or “piracy,” which can carry heavy fines in many regions of the world. Whether or not you get punished depends a lot on where you live. In most countries, especially in Eastern Europe or Latin America, torrenting is illegal, but laws are hardly ever enforced.
Still, this is why most people who torrent use a VPN to hide their identity and location. Even if you’re only downloading legal content, you need a VPN to avoid stumbling across malicious files disguised as legitimate software. Accidentally downloading malware will wreck your machine. Personally, I use NordVPN to scan every file and avoid costly mistakes while remaining anonymous.
The Most Popular Torrent Clients
Simply put, some torrent clients are better than others. So, what are the best torrent clients? Personally, I use uTorrent for all my torrenting needs – it’s fast, feature-rich, and secure. But there are other top choices out there for torrent downloads, too.
Below, you’ll find my personal recommendations for the most popular and best torrent clients. Any of these will help you torrent securely.
1. BitTorrent: Best torrent client for most day-to-day users
What We Like:
- Easy to set up
- Allows you to schedule downloads
- You can leave torrent feedback
- Free to download
What We Don't Like:
- Supported by advertising
- Comes with bundled software that may not be wanted
Download: BitTorrent
Who I recommend BitTorrent for: People who need a VPN for torrenting but don’t want a separate subscription
BitTorrent is the gold standard of torrenting – it’s the official client of BitTorrent, which is the most well-known P2P file-sharing protocol. It’s also owned and maintained by the same people behind uTorrent. You can get it for Windows and macOS, but I tested this client on my Macbook, and it worked like a charm.
While the client has a ton of features, there is a confusing array of subscription tiers available. But at the basic level, you still get advanced features that should suit most day-to-day torrenting. This includes prioritizing torrent downloads, scheduling torrents, and remotely controlling your queued downloads.
There’s even a built-in VPN, which is a huge plus in my book, as you can download files anonymously. That said, I’d stick to more tried-and-tested providers like NordVPN.
NordVPN’s current 58% discount makes it a steal, and it’s more reliable to use a separate VPN service that our VPN experts have tested extensively with torrent clients.
2. uTorrent: Good torrent client with advanced download settings and controls
What We Like:
- Web-based client with no need for software
- Doesn't hog system resources
- Lets you schedule downloads
- Both free and paid options
What We Don't Like:
- Supports itself with advertising
- Bundles in some bloatware
- Closed-source software
Download: uTorrent
Who I recommend uTorrent for: People who want fine-tuned control over their downloads and are looking for software with advanced settings
I’ve used uTorrent to download and upload files for years, and it’s by far one of the most popular torrent clients in terms of user count, download speeds, and features. You can tweak settings by imposing speed caps at different times of the day, limiting bandwidth to avoid slowing down a network, and control downloads remotely.
I also found uTorrent really easy to navigate. Use the quick-access settings on the sidebar or hop around using the central menu bar at the top. Downloads are displayed in the central panel and filtered by in-progress or completed files.
But is uTorrent safe? Well, uTorrent has not been without its security issues in the past. A few years back, I read a Google security report that highlighted how hackers could infect uTorrent users with malware by exploiting security flaws. That’s why it’s crucial to use a VPN with built-in malware protection.
Get NordVPN, and its Threat Protection feature will keep you safe when torrenting and sharing files online.
3. qBittorrent: The best client for newcomers to torrenting
What We Like:
- No bloatware included
- Zero ads!
- Includes useful tools
What We Don't Like:
- Lacks the extension support of others
Download: qBittorrent
Who I recommend qBittorrent for: Torrent newcomers who want a no-frills, straightforward interface for torrent downloads
I enjoyed testing qBittorrent. This is a free torrent client that doesn’t stuff its downloads with bloatware – unnecessary software and add-ons that clog up your machine. I found it really straightforward and easy to use without impacting my device’s performance.
You can actually search for torrents within the qBittorrent software itself. There’s also a built-in media player and a feature that lets you create a torrent if you’re looking to get involved in sharing files yourself.
Security tools include encryption and IP filtering, but you’re still going to want to download NordVPN, our best VPN for torrenting. I wouldn’t rely on one line of defense when it comes to keeping dangerous malware off my machine.
Download NordVPN today, and you’ll get 58% off!
Risks of Torrenting: Can You Be Caught?
So, is torrenting safe? There are several risks involved with torrenting. Whether you’re caught depends on how you choose to use torrents – if you’ve done nothing wrong, there’s nothing to worry about!
The act of torrenting itself is not illegal. That’s why torrenting is still around after so many years. Torrenting is simply an efficient means of sharing files, so the infrastructure itself (clients, trackers, and even some private sites) isn’t illegal.
But let’s take a look at the biggest risks you can stumble onto during a torrent download, starting with whether you’re “likely to be caught” if you’re using torrents for shady purposes!
Risk 1: Torrenting copyrighted content
Torrenting is illegal if you download copyrighted content, like movies, songs, books, or video games, even if you use some of the best game torrent sites. You’re getting licensed material without paying for it, so it’s illegal in most regions. Even if you’re in an area that doesn’t currently enforce copyright laws, there’s no saying what will happen in the future.
The best way to avoid being caught for torrenting copyrighted materials is by not doing it at all. We recommend sticking to legal content and getting your movies and games from official sources.
Risk 2: Downloading a virus
One of the greatest risks when downloading torrents is bringing in a virus. Because the downloading and sharing of torrents is considered to be a gray area, the files themselves aren’t regulated by companies themselves. This means that you are quite likely to download malware instead of, or with, a torrent.
Expert Tip:
NordVPN’s built-in Threat Protection feature is a great way to combat malware-infected files. But for a more comprehensive solution, you might want to consider Surfshark One, which bundles a premium VPN service with a powerful antivirus.
Risk 3: Exposing your identity
When you connect to a peer-to-peer file-sharing network, anybody in that network with enough tech know-how could see your location. Get in with a bad crowd, and you could have hackers or other malicious third parties tracking you down.
This is another reason why I advocate using a VPN during a torrent download. You’re not simply trying to avoid any disapproving glances from your internet service provider. You’re also ensuring that strangers on the internet can’t start trying to cause you problems. Follow my advice on using NordVPN to hide your true location, and you won’t have to worry!
How to Stay Safe While Torrenting
I don’t recommend avoiding torrents altogether, as it’s a great and efficient way to get hold of the software you need. But to stay safe while torrenting, I do recommend that you follow this quick roundup of tips:
- Only use torrent sites that are deemed safe and don’t contain excessive ads or, worse, malware.
- Avoid torrenting illegal content and stay away from copyrighted materials. Focus only on completely legal torrents.
- Use my team’s 25 tried and tested torrent websites for safe torrent files!
- Get NordVPN or a similar premium provider. Avoid free VPNs, which often leak your data or impose data limits.
Save big with up to 58% off a two-year subscription!
- Fast and large worldwide network of VPN servers
- Perfect for privacy and streaming
- Trusted by many, with over 14 million users
Wrap-Up: Above All, Use a VPN for Anonymity When Torrenting
Torrenting tends to get a bad rep. I’ve used it extensively for years to quickly and conveniently get the software I need or for uploading files. While there’s a misconception that it’s illegal, it’s not – as long as you’re not downloading illegal or copyrighted materials.
But there are risks associated with torrenting. The biggest ones are the risk of being tracked by strangers online using your IP address and the risk of disguised malware getting onto your computer. Fortunately, you can massively reduce these risks by using a strong VPN service like NordVPN – my personal choice.
Having trouble connecting your VPN for torrenting? Check out our VPN experts’ technical tips and fixes that should resolve any problems you’re having trying to download torrent files via a virtual private network.
Alternatively, I’ve rounded up some useful reading for you!
- How to Unblock The Pirate Bay and Bypass Restrictions
- The Best ExtraTorrent Alternatives That Work
- Best Kickass Torrents Alternatives
If you have any questions about torrenting that haven’t been answered, take a look at our FAQ section. Otherwise, you can always leave a comment for our torrenting and VPN experts!
Seeders are the people from whom you get your torrent – each seeder’s computer holds your target file, and your computer downloads the part that it needs from each of them. Leechers are people who are currently downloading a torrent.
The short answer to faster torrent downloads is to get a better internet connection. There are tips and tricks you can apply to marginally increase your download speed, but your internet speed ultimately matters the most.
That being said, you can try to download trackers from the best torrent sites as they tend to have a high download speed.
Yes, if you’re torrenting illegal or copyrighted material, you can get caught in some countries. Torrenting itself isn’t illegal, but using it to sidestep laws in your country is against the law. It could result in your internet connection being cut off, or you could face financial penalties.
We recommend avoiding such activities – while not every country enforces copyright laws, ask yourself whether it’s worth the risk!
