Some say that torrenting is one of the best things that has ever been invented! In a way, it’s hard to disagree with that as it opens the door to a wide world of possibilities, where you can find almost everything you may need – movies, series, games, music, books and so on.
However, not everyone is inclined to take this view and has good reasons for doing so. All of this is due to past mistakes related to torrenting. If you haven’t experienced them yet, then take a look below and learn how to avoid mistakes in the future. But let’s start from the beginning!
Why torrenting has been so popular?
There are plenty of reasons which led to torrenting popularity. However, the main one is that it provides an opportunity to share large files with many people at the time. Also, it has mostly been the fastest way to download the file you want compared to other downloading methods.
So while for a long time it has been the most popular and reliable way to download content, in the long run people used torrenting less and less often. One of the reasons is the consequences of the mistakes related with the lack of security they have made.
Is torrenting dangerous? Mistakes that I have made
While it is generally argued that torrenting is not a dangerous thing, it is not always the case. Therefore, it is better to learn from others’ mistakes than to make them yourself. Here are some of the things I wish someone had told me before I started sending torrents:
- Torrents might contain copyrighted material which has not been given a right to share by their owners or creators;
- You may download files which includes viruses and malware as well;
- ISP throttle your speed when they notice the activity similar to torrenting.
On the one hand, it can be said that it is trivia. But it was for them that a lot of money had to be put. In the first case, one of the music groups had to pay a fine, in the second case, the computer system had to be reinstalled in order to continue using it. While these were valuable lessons, they can be learned without spending a lot of money (as I did).
So, is torrenting legal?
The first question that pops into your head when you hear the fact that torrenting isn’t always safe – is it legal? This question is not easy to answer. The torrenting itself is completely legal. However, the files shared using torrenting are not always put there legally. And sharing content that is not authorized for distribution by its creators or owners is not legal. It is often not easy to find out whether a copyrighted material was given permission to be shared in one or another sharing platform. However, if the film has only recently appeared in major movie theaters and the new game is still being advertised on outdoor stands, you can be absolutely sure that sharing it with other internet users is illegal. Also, as other stories show, these activities may have to be reimbursed.
A piece of advice: use a VPN while torrenting
Now you are probably wondering what exactly the punishment is for this illegal activity? Unfortunately, we will not address this issue this time around, especially as the responsibility for this illegal activity varies depending on the country you stay in.
Rather, let us focus on how to avoid these inconveniences. If you are interested in safe torrenting, then consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) provider services. A VPN will mask your Internet Provider address and hide your online identity, ensuring anonymity and security. In other words, it will make your activity invisible to your internet service provider or to other users on the same internet network.
Using VPN services will let you enjoy the benefits of torrenting freely as well as safely and no longer be afraid of the potential consequences. All the more so because these consequences are usually not faced by people who really want to hurt or make money from it, but by those who simply fall for their ignorance and recklessness.