Using BitTorrent is a useful way to download different types of files. People around the world used it to get movies, software, books, music, and multiple other digital apps for free and quickly.
There is always a cause of Concern. When you want to download a file, Mostly torrent files online are unofficial. Some are untested and can be malicious. Also, there is a chance that downloading specific files could get you in legal worry.
You should take of prevention Before you start downloading files from torrents. This article will explain to you the best way to protect your computer from harmful torrents.
What Is a Torrent File?
When you download a torrent, you must have a torrent file. This file is no less than some bytes, but it is needed to download gigabytes or even terabytes of the data.
The torrent file opens the download process, and then you download tiny bits of a large file from multiple sources. In torrenting ways, these sources are seeds. When you were downloading a part of a file, you also become a seed that other users to download from.
How to Check If a Torrent Is Safe?
You will take all the necessary steps of precaution before downloading a torrent file. These steps include the following:
1. Get Antivirus Protection
Downloading a torrent file is harmless. Opening the file is not. That’s why it is necessary to have antivirus protection. This software automatically scans every file before you open it. So, once you download a torrent and launch it, the antivirus can notice harmful data. If it does, it will automatically remove it.
On the downside, sometimes antivirus recognizes cracked files, keygens, and other software as malicious, even when they are not. This means you may have Trouble opening specific files. If you are sure they are not harmful, you can disable your antivirus until you open them, but that is always a risk.
2. Download from Trusted Torrent Sites
Some torrent sites are trendy and used by many. Even if they can’t check all the files, many users check them beforehand. The harmful torrents are reported and quickly removed. Websites like 1337x or ThePirateBay have a considerable number of seeders and leechers and are therefore much safer to use. There are also private torrent trackers that are known to be secure, but you usually need an invitation from a member to register a new account.
3. Get a VPN
When you torrenting, you are connected to peers (seeds & leeches) via your IP address. It means that all users can watch each other’s addresses. As your IP address is public, your locations and metadata are visible to those who can track your internet activities. For example, Government or Even your business.
To hide your activity during the downloading torrents, it is best to get a Virtual Private Network. This software protects your real IP address and masks; it’s with a different one. It makes it much harder and sometimes even impossible to track what you do online.
4. Get Torrent Files with a Lot of Seeders
The most seeders a torrent has, the bigger the chance that this is legit. If many people download the file and continue sharing this, it means that they possibly opened and used it without Trouble.
That’s why torrents with more seeds also have a lot of leechers. Users usually want to get their files from the most reliable torrent on the website.
5. Check the Comments
Most torrent sites have implemented comment features so users can leave feedback. If a torrent file in comments, and it doesn’t mention anything negative or harmful, it usually means everything is fine. If some users are saying harmful data, you should stay away. Torrents without comments are also a risk.
6. Try to Avoid Executable Files
Executable files such as as.EXE, BAT.APP.SCR and others are more prone to getting infected. Since they affect an action when you run them, they are a common way to transmit viruses and some other malicious data. Most of the broken files executable, so if you ever download files with that extension, make sure to scan it with antivirus software.
Download Responsibly
Even if you used all these precautions, there is still a chance you may worry. Downloading via torrent Sites has sparked a lot of controversy in past years. So, you will thoroughly compare the nature of the files you’re downloading, their copyright and legal status, and the possible consequences of downloading copyrighted content via BitTorrent.
If you follow these instructions from this article and download torrents responsibly, you will never have any problems.
