When it comes to downloading files over the Internet, we can do it in various ways. The most normal is usually the direct download through our browser. Also another quite common is downloading from FTP servers. However, another one that we use a lot is downloading files through P2P networks. If we want to use them we will need, for example, a Torrent or eMule client. Although it may seem that these types of downloads are illegal and closely related to pira-cy, this is not always true. That does not mean that some organizations and companies are collecting information about our P2P downloads. In this article we are going to explain why you need a VPN to download torrents anonymously and safely.
How Torrent Downloads Work
Torrent downloads are a type of downloads that we make in a P2P network. In this type of network we refer to one between peers or equals. This means that we are going to work in a network of computers that operate without clients or fixed servers and in which we are all equal.
In the case of torrent downloads we are going to use the BitTorrent protocol . Thus, each network user uploads the content they already have for others and downloads what they lack from other peers. Some of the most used torrent clients are BitTorrent, uTorrent and qBittorrent for Windows and for Linux and NAS servers we would have Transmission. Here you have explained how torrent downloads work on the Internet.
Why do we need a VPN
The download of a torrent file itself, as we have already mentioned before, is not illegal. However, if we download copyrighted files we could have problems. Therefore, if we download files of this type according to the legislation of each country, this behavior may be more or less sanctioned.
If we want to download torrents anonymously we are going to need a VPN . With this we manage to keep our browsing activity private and secure. In that regard, no one on the Internet, not even our Internet Service Provider or ISP can track what we are doing. This means that we will be able to download torrents more safely and we will be away from prying eyes that can share our information with third parties. Thus, even if we hypothetically downloaded a file with copyright, they could not trace us back to our public IP address.
It should also be noted that some ISPs end up limiting the bandwidth if we are using a P2P client . On the other hand, with a VPN we can download torrents anonymously and safely since our provider will not know that we are using a P2P network. In addition, it will serve as protection against cybercriminals since our data will travel encrypted in a tunnel away from the eyes of onlookers. There are even some VPNs like Surfshark and many others that have a feature called Kill Switch that if you have it activated and the encryption fails it will disconnect your connection to protect your privacy.
Does any VPN help us to download anonymously?
Not all VPNs are going to help us to download torrents anonymously and safely. There are basically two types: free VPN and paid VPN.
As for free VPNs, in many cases they have certain limitations, one of the most important is that the speed will be much lower than a paid one. The other is that those services cost money and they have to monetize them in some way, so sometimes this information ends up being sold to third parties.
Finally, to download torrents anonymously and safely, in addition to obtaining good speed, it is advisable to have a paid VPN such as NordVPN, Surfshark, Cyberghost or HMA VPN.
