We’re often asked, is torrenting safe? Our experts can tell you that visiting torrent websites or downloading files using a torrent client exposes you to security risks. You can inadvertently download malicious files or unknowingly leak your real IP address. However, this doesn’t mean you cannot download torrent files safely.
Torrenting can be safe if you encrypt your web traffic, hide your IP address with one of the best VPNs, like ExpressVPN and protect your device from malicious torrent sites. We know you’re eager to learn how to download torrents safely, so let’s get started.
What Is Torrenting?
Torrenting is a type of peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing in which you download and upload files using the BitTorrent protocol. Torrenting downloads parts of a file from multiple users in the network. At the same time, you upload parts of the file for others to download. Once you have all the parts, the complete file becomes available on your device.
To download a file through torrenting, you need a torrent client like qBitTorrent or uTorrent and a torrent file. The torrent file includes metadata explaining which file will be downloaded and where to find it. We explain everything you need to know about torrenting in our detailed guide.
Is Torrenting Safe With VPN Providers?
Yes, it is safer to torrent with VPN providers. A reliable VPN encrypts your web traffic and routes your DNS queries through its private DNS server. As a result, your ISP won’t know what you’re doing online.
A VPN hides your actual IP address, reducing the risk of hackers exploiting it. Many VPNs protect you from malware, adware and scareware when visiting torrent websites, and can scan downloaded files for malware and viruses.
A VPN can also help you bypass ISP throttling and unblock torrent websites successfully if your ISP or local government has blocked them.
Some VPNs include a dark web monitor that alerts you if your credentials appear in leaked databases. Though this doesn’t directly protect you while torrenting, it can let you know if a sketchy torrent file contained malware that compromised your credentials.
Not all VPN services protect you to the same extent while torrenting. Only a handful of VPN providers have the full list of security features you need.
Best VPN for Torrenting
We have tested the best VPNs for torrenting, and we found that ExpressVPN is the best option. That’s because of its TrustedServer technology, which enforces its zero-logs policy; its large server distribution; and its ad blocker and “threat manager” features.
VPNs are known to slow down internet speeds. We have tested leading VPNs and found that ExpressVPN offers a reduction in download and upload speeds of less than 10%, making it one of the fastest VPNs. Read our VPN speed comparison guide to learn more about how we tested leading VPN providers for speed.
The second option is NordVPN, which also comes with advanced security features for torrenting safely. For example, it can scan torrent downloads for viruses and malware. Read our ExpressVPN vs NordVPN review for a head-on comparison of these popular VPN providers.
We’ve tested popular VPNs and highlighted key features to help you pick the best VPN for torrenting. We provide more information about each VPN provider below.
Torrenting With Premium VPNs
Downloading files over a P2P network is risky even if you visit the best torrent websites and use one of the best torrent clients. We explored leading premium VPN providers to determine whether they are safe for torrenting.
Is ExpressVPN Safe for Torrenting?
Because of its many security features and long record of protecting user privacy, torrenting with ExpressVPN is safe. It includes a threat manager that blocks your device’s connection to trackers and malicious websites.
You should always activate advanced protection to torrent safely.
Thanks to its Lightway protocol, ExpressVPN has some of the fastest download speeds on the market. ExpressVPN uses TrustedServer technology, which is another term for RAM-only servers. This feature wipes data on servers each time they are rebooted. This enforces its strict zero-logs policy and ensures your data remains private.
Additionally, ExpressVPN routes DNS queries through its encrypted private DNS, preventing the possibility of DNS leaks. Check out our ExpressVPN review for a more detailed examination of its features. You can try ExpressVPN with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Is NordVPN Safe for Torrenting?
Based on the hands-on experience we gathered from writing our NordVPN review, we can affirm that NordVPN is safe for torrenting. NordVPN’s “threat protection pro” feature, available for Windows and macOS, blocks malicious torrent websites and trackers, removes intrusive ads, scans downloaded files for malware and warns of vulnerable apps on devices.
To stay safe, you should always turn on threat protection while torrenting.
However, the Android, iOS, Linux, Windows and macOS browser extension is limited to “threat protection,” which blocks only malicious and phishing domains. NordLynx, NordVPN’s proprietary protocol, offers enhanced security and faster speeds. In our VPN speed tests, we found NordVPN to be the fastest.
Additionally, NordVPN has a private DNS server to prevent DNS leaks and DNS hijacking. If your login data is leaked to the dark web, NordVPN’s dark web monitor feature will alert you, allowing you to take proactive steps to protect your information. With these security features, you can confidently use NordVPN for torrenting — it comes with a 30-day refund period.
Can You Torrent Safely with Surfshark?
While writing our Surfshark review, we tested the VPN thoroughly and found multiple security features that make torrenting safe. Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature is helpful for blocking ads, malware, phishing attempts and trackers on torrent websites.
You can enable Surfshark’s CleanWeb feature to block ads on torrent sites.
Many internet service providers (ISPs), as well as some countries as a whole, don’t like VPNs because they allow users to bypass restrictions. Surfshark’s camouflage mode ensures that your ISP cannot detect your VPN usage, helping you circumvent censorship and firewalls.
If your organization or ISP blocks your access to the network, Surfshark’s NoBorders feature automatically activates and connects you to the right server to bypass these restrictions. Additionally, Surfshark uses its own private DNS to prevent leaks.
If you want to download torrents via private trackers, registration is usually required. Surfshark’s alternative ID feature comes in handy in such a situation. It allows you to create a new online identity and an alternative email address based on the details you submit, keeping your true identity under wraps. You can try Surfshark with its 30-day money-back guarantee.
Torrenting With Free VPNs
You can use a free VPN for torrenting, but there are caveats. Free VPNs often have limited P2P support, bandwidth and speed. They might also lack essential security features for safe torrenting. However, a free VPN is better than none at all, and a few providers do pass muster. Below, we explain how the best free VPNs fare while torrenting.
Is It Safe to Use Proton VPN for Torrenting?
Proton VPN is one of the best VPNs on the market, and it does offer a limited free plan that you could use for torrenting. The free plan has no data or speed limits, allowing you to torrent without worrying about download speed or file sizes.
Proton VPN offers unlimited data on its free plan.
However, the free Proton VPN plan lacks an ad blocker and malware protection. This makes visiting torrenting sites risky. Additionally, the free version has a limited number of servers and you can’t choose which server you use. Finally, the free servers are not optimized for P2P sharing.
All in all, we suggest opting for a Proton VPN paid plan over the free one if you’re torrenting, but the free version can do in a pinch. We have written a detailed Proton VPN review after trying all its features.
Can Windscribe Keep You Safe While Torrenting?
Windscribe is another free VPN that we highly recommend. Its free plan comes with an ad and malware blocker, and it doesn’t have any bandwidth limit. You can use it to safely torrent, though it’s missing advanced security features, such as real-time scanning when you download files.
Windscribe’s free plan has a monthly data limit.
Windscribe VPN’s free plan has a monthly data limit, so you cannot engage in unlimited torrenting. Additionally, Windscribe’s free plan has servers in only 11 countries, so you may not have the option to select a server of your choice for torrenting. You can find out more information in our full Windscribe review.
In a Proton VPN vs Windscribe comparison fight, Proton VPN is the clear winner because it offers unlimited data.
Is Torrenting on Mobile Phones Safe?
Yes, torrenting is safe on mobile phones if you follow the required security measures — using a VPN and an antivirus program, selecting the right torrent client and being cautious of where your torrents are coming from.
We have tried and tested the best VPN apps for mobile and the best antivirus for Android devices. You can explore these tools to find the best protection for torrenting safely on your mobile phone.
Is Torrenting Illegal In Some Countries? Is It Safe?
The answer to the question of the legality of torrenting depends on what you’re torrenting. Downloading copyrighted movies, games and songs is illegal due to copyright violations. Governments worldwide have laws to punish copyright violators.
However, if you’re wondering is torrenting legal in itself, check out our full is torrenting illegal article. Below, we’ll look at some countries and their torrenting laws.
Risks of Torrenting Without a VPN
You should not venture into the murky world of torrenting without a VPN. In this section, we will explore the critical risks associated with torrenting if you don’t use a reliable VPN.
How to Use a VPN for Torrenting Safely
Using a reliable VPN service for torrenting is a straightforward process. However, before you visit any torrent website to download torrents, you need to install an antivirus program on your device.
Once the latest version of the antivirus program is up and running on your device, follow the steps below.
- Install a torrent client on your PC.
- Subscribe to a reliable VPN service — we recommend ExpressVPN or NordVPN for torrenting.
- Install the VPN on your device, turn it on and connect to a server. Use a P2P-optimized server if available.
- Find the torrent file you intend to download.
- Fire up your torrent client and add the torrent file to start torrenting.
Set Up a VPN for Torrenting Safely
Reputable VPNs come with security features to help you download and share files securely through torrenting. Below is a quick guide to set up your VPN for torrenting.
- Turn on the kill switch before you start torrenting.
- Activate malware protection, ad blockers and tracker protection. As these security features vary from vendor to vendor, explore your VPN’s features thoroughly to ensure you have activated all the necessary security tools.
- Use the WireGuard VPN protocol for torrenting on a PC and IKEv2/IPsec for torrenting on a smartphone.
You can read our detailed guide to VPN features to learn about which ones are most important.
Which VPN Protocols Are the Best to Use While Torrenting?
Be careful about the protocol your VPN service uses, as it has a direct link to security and internet speeds. We’ve listed and compared all the popular VPN protocols being used today.
Safest Ways to Torrent
Torrenting is a great way to download public-domain content, but it comes with privacy concerns, copyright issues and the risk of malware infection. You can avoid these risks by taking appropriate security measures. We’ll cover some security measures below.
How to Check If a Torrent Is Safe
Though .torrent files aren’t harmful themselves, they can be used to spread malicious software. There is no foolproof way to ensure a .torrent music or video file is perfectly safe without downloading the material it points to. However, exercising caution can help you stay safe when dealing with torrent files.
Here are some helpful tips:
- Always download torrents from popular websites and check user reviews and comments to assess credibility.
- Use a VPN to protect yourself from malicious websites and scan torrent downloads for harmful files.
- Analyze downloaded materials in a sandbox to ensure safety.
- Use private torrent trackers, which are member-only websites with strict torrent upload policies.
You should also avoid suspicious torrent files to stay safe. If a file looks too good to be true, there is a high chance it’s a malware vector. For example, if a program hasn’t been released yet and you see that its torrent is available, the file is likely fake and malicious.
What Are the Best Torrenting Sites?
Some torrent websites are good for music, while others are excellent for movies and TV shows. The Pirate Bay will normally be your first stop, but it’s frequently down and won’t always have what you want. Here are the top sites, according to the types of content they are best for:
- The Pirate Bay (TPB) — All types of content
- 1337x — Movies and TV shows
- YTS — Movies released by YIFY
- EZTVx — TV shows
- RuTracker — Music
- Library Genesis — eBooks
- FitGirl Repacks — Games
Final Thoughts
Torrenting is safe with a VPN, as long as you use a reliable one like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. A free VPN or proxy may not provide you with the protection you require while torrenting.
Sometimes, VPN and antivirus features can overlap. For instance, NordVPN comes with “threat protection pro” feature, which protects your device from malware, malicious websites and scareware. You should always use an antivirus program while torrenting for added security features, such as zero-day attack protection, ransomware remediation, crypto-mining protection and more.
Which VPN do you use while torrenting? Where do you download torrents from? Do you have any torrenting tips to share? Let us know in the comment section. As always, thanks for reading.
FAQ: Downloading Torrents Safely
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Torrenting without a VPN is always risky. You could expose your IP address to threat actors or download infected files. What’s more, accidental downloads of copyrighted materials can be traced back to you, which can lead to legal issues.
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No, you won’t go to jail for torrenting public-domain content. However, downloading copyrighted material will land you a notice from copyright watchdogs, and in extreme cases, you could go to jail.
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Yes, you can be tracked while torrenting. Without a VPN, your IP address can be traced to your internet service provider and potentially to you.
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Yes, torrenting can be bad for your computer, even though torrents themselves don’t inherently include viruses. You cannot be sure that the files you download via torrents are free of malware and viruses. Torrent websites often have adware and scareware, increasing privacy and security risks.
