Why Not Use BitTorrent Instead of Tor

November 28, 2022 By Monica Green

(Image Credit Google)

If you want to start torrenting, you probably already know that you need to use some kind of protection. However, The Onion Router, or Tor, one of the more popular ways to remain anonymous online, is generally not suggested for use with the BitTorrent protocol. Why is this the case? Torrenting over the BitTorrent protocol is generally frowned upon by the authorities. If a copyright watchdog catches you, you can expect an alert or two, followed by a fee if you continue. You could even be sued depending on where you live, as a Minnesota woman was required to pay $220,000 for uploading two dozen songs.

Can Tor protect your torrenting tracks?

Tor is a search engine that can mask your IP address, allowing you to browse anonymously. It accomplishes this by reconfiguring your broadband connection through nodes. These nodes, which are run by volunteers, "lend" you their IP address, making you appear to be somewhere you aren't.

Practical Issues

The security implications are serious, but before we get there, let's look at some practical issues. First is that while using Tor may allow you to avoid legal attention, the person who runs the node will bear the full impact of it. Usually, they'll hide their involvement as well, but it's still not nice to leave someone hanging just so you can have some free entertainment. Tor

If you use Tor to access the internet, there are a few things you should think about before deciding whether or not to use it for torrenting. One concern is that Tor is extremely slow, particularly if you use proper protocols and three nodes to hide your tracks. If a large number of people started using Tor for this purpose, the Tor network might not be able to handle the volume of traffic. Also Read: Beware: Privacy Mode on Browsers Isn’t That Safe

Security issues

Tor does not protect all of the data passing through your connection; rather, it only shields a portion of it. If you're trying to evade censorship blocks, that's usually just enough to mask your IP address, but it doesn't work as well in the case of targeted attacks. As a result, copyright watchdogs attempting to track you down may be able to see your true IP address and thus track you down. Tor

What Alternatives to Tor Can Torrenters Use?

It's probably best not to use Tor to torrent files, even if they're small or legal. Rather, use a virtual private network (VPN). These services are designed to handle large data streams and will generally provide better security against targeted attacks than Tor. Our favorite for torrents is IVPN, however, a service like Mullvad may be just what you need.

By Monica Green

I am specialised in latest tech and tech discoveries.

Why Not Use BitTorrent Instead of Tor

Can Tor protect your torrenting tracks?

Practical Issues

Security issues

What Alternatives to Tor Can Torrenters Use?

Walmart's GenAI Search Engine: Challenging Google's Dominance in Retail Search

Introducing the MSI Claw Handheld: Your Ultimate Gaming Companion

Uber Increases In-App Ads, Prompting Mixed Reactions from Customers

Apple's iOS 18: A Leap into the AI Era

Google's Regular Pixel 8 Won't Get Gemini Nano AI

MacBook Air M3 Makes Amends for M2's Storage Blunder

Samsung Unveils the Galaxy M15 5G

Elon Musk's xAI to Open-Source Chatbot Grok

Contra: Operation Galuga - A Modern Run-and-Gun Classic

Musk Confirms X's TV App Arrives This Week

Tech Titan Elon Musk Unveils XMail, Challenging Gmail's Dominance

WhatsApp Stories Get a Makeover: Easier to Catch Up with Friends' Updates!

Cash App Heats Savings Game with 4.5% APY, But Watch the Catches!

Shazam Gets Mind-Reading Headphones?

Artisse AI raises $6.7 million for its 'more realistic' AI photography app.

How to search the web with ChatGPT?