Torrent With A VPN - Guide

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Content

• Piracy
• What is Piracy?
• Is Piracy illegal?
• Is Piracy immoral?


• Torrents
• What is torrenting?
• What is a torrent client?
• Is torrenting legal?
• Is torrenting safe?
• Surprise! There is malware in PDF files!
• Example of a small YouTube channel
• Example of a big YouTube channel
• Dangers of cracked software
• Common torrent terms


• Virtual Private Network (VPN)
• What is a VPN?
• Are VPNs legal and safe?
• Can I "pirate" or use a free VPN?
• What if I don't use a VPN?
• 1st world countries
• Germany or similar
• Too long; Didn't read


• Best Software & Services
• Best operating system
• Best torrent client
• Best VPNs


• Resources
• Bind qBittorrent client with VPN
• Ensure the torrent client is bound with VPN
• Get your device ready


• Get Started With Piracy
• Piracy websites
• Websites to prove you are torrenting safely
• How to find movies from torrents
• Miscellaneous


• Piracy Memes

Piracy

What is Piracy?

In the digital world, it is "the practice of downloading or sharing copyrighted content without permission". Popular types of media including movies, music, software, video games and audiobooks are shared and downloaded every day.

Is Piracy legal?

No. According to the FBI, piracy is "punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000". But let's be honest. No one cares except the companies that own the rights to the content.

Is Piracy morally correct?

Depends. Consumers do this to get content for free or keep it forever, often encouraged after a business makes bad business practices that only affect consumers or when a service is a monopoly that doesn't care about its consumers at all.

• Netflix hates password sharing now. Netflix has reduced piracy because customers could watch anything in a convenient service. Now they are losing subscribers by making it more expensive for families.


• Nintendo has an awful subscription service. In the past, old Nintendo titles could be purchased and played on their virtual console. Now more people are using emulators without the need for a console and subscription.

Torrents

What is torrenting?

Torrenting is the act of downloading and sharing files through the BitTorrent protocol. The files in a torrent can be downloaded through a torrent file or magnet link for the torrent client to locate and download the files from users who are sharing them.

YouTube Video: How torrenting works

What is a torrent client?

A torrent client is a software used to download and distribute content by using the BitTorrent protocol. This method of downloading and sharing files is very effective, as they are shared with other people's computers and smartphones, and cannot be shut down by governments and copyright holders unless all devices sharing the files are powered off. Although other people can just make another torrent of the same files and repeat the cycle.

qBittorrent is an open-source BitTorrent client that is lightweight and simple.

Is torrenting legal?

Yes, you can use your torrent client to download and share files that are not protected by copyright law or are not illegal. Many open-source projects take advantage of this to distribute their software without the need to pay for a server and instead ask the community to share it.

Linux Mint is an open-source operating system that is free as in freedom or libre.

Is torrenting safe?

Downloading and sharing files are safe if you never open them, but you need to be very careful about the files that you open. It's true that "non-executables cannot contain malware because they are not executables", but this is WRONG! Here's why you should always analyse your files before opening them.

There is malware in PDF files!

Twitter user Serpent Explains how a PDF file (document) can be disguised as an EXE or SCR file (malware) and can lead to a wide range of losses like getting all of your online accounts stolen, losing all of your cryptocurrency and NFTs from hot wallets like Metamask. All of this happens thanks to a cookie & password stealer integrated into the payload or malicious file.

Malware like empyrean is open source and free to use for malicious purposes

Example of a small YouTube channel

The Bread Pirate got hacked because he opened an SCR file (malware) disguised as a PDF file (document). (Click the channel name or start at 1:17)

Example of a big YouTube channel

Linus Tech Tips also got hacked because one of their employees opened a PDF that "didn't work". (Click the channel name or start at 5:09)

Dangers of cracked software

Unless you can trust the distributor of the cracked software or if it's open source, there is no way to know if it's safe for your computer or smartphone.

Cracked software could have a trojan that stores all malware that is released after opening the installer or executable, here are some examples:

• Ransomware encrypts your files and you must pay with your money to recover.


• Crypto Miners make a profit from your electricity, CPU and GPU.


• Becoming part of a Botnet that may be used in DDOS attacks.


• Keyloggers steal your passwords and bank account information.

Always backup your data on external hard drives. It always makes a difference.

Common torrent terms

• BitTorrent: A communication protocol for peer-to-peer file sharing.


• Torrent File: A file which identifies and locates files, and stores metadata of the files.


• Magnet Link: A link to identify and locate files (like a torrent file).


• Peer: User who is downloading the files from seeds.


• Seed: User who is sharing the files with peers.


• Leech: User who is downloading the files but never shares.


• Swarm: Group of peers and seeds sharing files in a torrent.


• Tracker: Server that tracks connected seeds and peers in a torrent.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

What is a VPN?

short for "Virtual Private Network". VPN is a service and software that hides your IP address and makes you virtually untraceable from your Internet Service Provider (ISP), goverment and Copyright Trolls. This is because all actions and connections are made in the VPN and are encrypted from your main connection.

YouTube Video: What is a VPN and How Does it Work?

Most VPN providers say they do not keep logs, it is up to you to decide if you can trust them while using their service.

Are VPNs legal and safe?

Yes! VPNs have always been used by corporations and businesses for data protection, secure remote access, secure communication, etc.

What if I don't use a VPN?

The copyright holder or copyright troll gets your IP address while you were torrenting (whether you were a seed or peer) and gets in contact with your ISP and you receive a letter telling you to stop your torrent activity or get a fine.

[1st world countries] According to Reddit user u/simplex0991:

"You'll be fine. The DMCA complaint issuer doesn't know who you are (unless you responded - don't ever respond). Only your ISP has connected the IP to you from their records. ToS differs between providers, but they usually will give you a 3-strikes buffer as they want to keep you as a customer (you give them money after all). Even at that, it's uncommon to be fined as a customer so long as you space out your DMCA complaints so you aren't getting 3 in one year."

[Germany or similar] According to Reddit user u/spyfigure:

"If you are in Germany, nothing of the first paragraph applies. The lawyers have contacted the ISP, who gave them your details. This happens on the first infraction. The letter you get is including a C&D together with the lawyer invoice of €2000, the maximum allowed by law. You can try to ignore it or fight it, but with limited success. If they are thin in resources, the statute of limitations time could run out (2 years). You'll still get threatening letters from the lawyers in the meantime. This is automated, and no manpower is needed. If they drag you into court, they do it just before the statute of limitations comes into effect. Also, if they want to make an example, they'll do it. If they see that you have a shitload of torrents on iknowwhatyoudownload.com, they are probably trying to punish you. Lesson: Never torrent without a properly protected VPN."

Too long; Didn't read

TLDR: Never torrent without a VPN, or else you get your internet shut down or a fine or a lawsuit. You either pay for a fine, a lawyer or a VPN. VPNs are cheap! Don't act smart using public wifi.

Best Software & Services

Click on the logo to get sent to the website or repository

Best operating system

GNU/Linux distributions based on Debian (Arch also works)

Alternatives

If your torrent client disappears or is flagged as malware, please disable your antivirus and windows defender in settings, most torrent clients are open source and are safe to use. By the way, you don't need another antivirus, I promise you that.

Best torrent client (PC)

All clients use the BitTorrent protocol.

You can use qBittorrent plugins for quick and easy search of torrents.

Best torrent client (Android)

Alternatives (PC)

Please beware of people telling you to use the µTorrent or BitTorrent client, These are not open source, are owned by BitTorrent Inc, and have caused some sketchy decisions.

YouTube Video: The Tragic Fall Of µTorrent

Best VPNs

Best & Alternative VPNs state that they do not keep logs, Mullvad VPN scenario.

r/VPNtorrents recommends using these for a reason.

Alternatives

Only use these VPNs if you cannot get access to the above. Bonus: Why not XYZ VPN?

Use the Tor Browser to access a website that may have been blocked by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). Once you connect to a VPN, you are free to uninstall Tor Browser.