What is a DMCA complaint?

A DMCA complaint or Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice is a notification to a company that they are either hosting or linking to copyright-infringing material. The notice asks for the removal of the copyrighted works.

When a VPN user downloads copyrighted materials (movies, books, etc.), then the IP of the VPN server can be seen by those who monitor illegal downloads (it’s another story who these persons/companies are) as the source of the download. Next, a DMCA notice is sent to the hosting provider of the specific VPN server. Finally, the complaint is forwarded to the VPN provider.

When a VPN provider receives a DMCA complaint, it needs to reply with the proper response and needs to take action to prevent these kinds of actions. In the case of repeated DMCA complaints, the hosting provider may terminate the contract with the VPN company.

Many VPN servers got suspended by server hosting providers due to DMCA complaints. That is why VPN providers are cautious when it comes to P2P downloading traffic.

What is a P2P VPN service?

A P2P VPN or torrent VPN provider is a VPN service that allows its users to download torrents while connected to VPN servers. These services are also called “VPNs for torrents.”

How does such a provider deal with the DMCA complaints? It is not a simple question to answer. Some of the VPN companies use their servers and somehow ignore the DMCA notices. Others have contracts with hosting providers from countries (Netherlands, Lithuanian, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Russia) where the legislation is more relaxed regarding the torrent downloads, or it is not strictly applied. The fact is that, in a way or another, the DMCA complaints don’t affect the users and neither the VPN providers.

>> Is torrenting with VPN legal?

A must-have: KillSwitch

An essential feature when it comes to VPN torrent downloads is the KillSwitch. You need to make sure the provider has it to protect your online identity.

The KillSwitch is a fail-safe mechanism that disables your Internet connection or closes downloading apps when the VPN connection drops. Thus, even if the VPN fails your real IP address will not be exposed.

The best torrent VPN services

Are there free VPN providers right for torrenting anonymously? The answer is … NO.

Thus, you need to take into consideration premium services. Take a look below to 7 VPN services that can be used for anonymizing your torrent traffic, torrent VPN services. They all offer fast download speed, unlimited bandwidth, simultaneous connections, access to SOCKS proxies, advanced protection against leaks (WebRTC leak, DNS leak, IPv6 leak), money-back guarantee.

PureVPN

PureVPN is a top VPN provider with hundreds of servers located all over the World. The torrent traffic is allowed on certain servers. The PureVPN Kill Switch is available for the Windows client and closes down all Internet activities if the VPN fails for any reason.

ibVPN

ibVPN is an excellent VPN for torrent as it offers P2P friendly servers located in the Netherlands, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Canada, Sweden, Lithuania, Russia, and Hong Kong. They even have a special package called “Torrent VPN.” Also, you may benefit from their StealthVPN, Double VPN and Onion over VPN servers. You may try it with the 6-hour free trial account and read our complete ibVPN review.

The ibVPN Kill Switch function is available to their Windows and macOS VPN apps. It closes certain apps from a has to be defined (e.g., torrent apps).

PrivateInternetAccess

Another good provider for torrent downloading protection is PIA or PrivateInternetAccess (read our complete PIA review). They have an interesting approach regarding p2p traffic: it is redirected to certain servers located in the Netherlands.

The Private Internet Access Kill Switch completely stops the Internet connection if you are disconnected from the VPN. The smart feature is that it reactivates regular internet access when you deactivate the Kill Switch mode or exit the application.

HideIPVPN

HideIPVPN provides a smaller number of servers in locations like the Netherlands, Canada, Poland. But they are fast and good for downloading. Application Killer option (Kill Switch) is also available.

NordVPN

An advanced approached for those interested in anonymizing their downloads is to use Tor over VPN. NordVPN is a VPN service that makes this approach accessible. Thus, you will not only be protected by the VPN but also bu the Tor network.

NordVPN comes with kill switch technology that instantly shuts down any site or software you specify in advance. No worries about the accidental exposure of sensitive data.

TorGuard

TorGuard is a highly secure VPN service with servers optimized for the best possible performance when downloading torrents. It works on any OS, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS and more.

IPVanish

Last but least, IPVanish can help you with the torrent downloads. It provides a lot of server locations and, as a top-tier VPN service provider, it provides very fast connection speeds.

Conclusion

If you are a regular user of BitTorrent or other torrent apps you surely need to get access to a VPN service. As mentioned above, not all VPN services allow torrenting through their servers. That is why I have compiled the above list. Also, there are other rules that you should keep in mind to download torrents safely. Enjoy!

Do you know other P2P VPN services?

Are you using a VPN while downloading torrents or another protection tool (like Peerblock)? Feel free to join the discussion below.

Are you downloading torrents frequently? Then, you must read the tips listed below on how to torrent safely!

As you probably know, the torrent P2P protocol (BitTorrent) is a file-sharing technology that provides users with access to virtually unlimited content. This protocol is one of the most popular for peer-to-peer torrent file sharing in the world. Torrenting is almost entirely decentralized, except for trackers that enable users to search and download magnet links and p2p files. Magnet links and torrent files are used to find users on the network who host the needed files, although they don’t host those files.

Torrent users do, however, face many security threats each time they download or share a file, and before you start torrenting, you should take the time to learn how to torrent safely.

Are torrents legal?

Yes, BitTorrent file-sharing technology is legal. Although the technology is legitimate, how you use it might not be. Whether P2P downloads are illegal or legal depends on which files are being downloaded, who holds the rights reserved to these files, and where you are located. Different laws apply to different countries regarding torrent file sharing and copyright issues.

If a user chooses to download files that are copyright protected, whether or not it is illegal will depend on the country’s laws.

Tips on how to torrent safely

The tips below will show you how to torrent safely.

Tip #1 – Take care when choosing your torrent client

Torrent clients range from the simple, straightforward to the extremely powerful. Many clients, e.g., Vuze, have extra features, including add-ons, plugins, and additional functionality. These features do, however, often mean that performance and security are sacrificed.

The more popular p2p clients such as Vuze, BitTorrent, and uTorrent are monetizing the software through embedded software, advertisements, and ‘pro,’ paid-for versions. This can have detrimental effects as was the case when uTorrent installed bitcoin mining software without its users being aware, or have given their consent.

Before deciding on which client to use, make sure that you really want all the extra features, or whether a secure, lightweight, and open-source solution will work just as well for you. This was the first tip on how to torrent safely.

Tip #2 – Ensure maximum privacy by configuring your torrent software properly

When you’re learning how to safely torrent, one of the steps you need to take is to use a VPN or a proxy, or both. If you use a VPN-only option, you don’t need to do any configuring. Connect to the VPN server, open the torrent client, and start torrenting.

You might want to check the IP address of the torrent when the VPN is used for the first time to ensure that everything is working as it should.

If you are using a Proxy service, it takes 5 minutes to configure when you use it for the first time, but the p2p client will save these settings and apply them whenever you use the p2p/torrent software. If you use a VPN plus a Proxy, it will give you the best possible protection, and this is a good option for those who are very conscious of privacy.

Tip #3 – Use a VPN or proxy that does not log your activities

To hide their internet activity from an ISP (Internet Service Provider), p2p users often use virtual private networks (VPNs), or proxy services to protect their torrent traffic. Using a VPN while torrenting is legal!

As VPNs can be used for a wide range of applications, some are more suitable for torrenting than others. Beware of the VPN disadvantages and always select a VPN that:

• It does not log your activity.
• It is fast enough not to slow down streaming content.
• It is not based in a country where customer records can be demanded legally.

Here are several VPN services that you may use for safe torrenting: NordVPN, Private Internet Access, ExpressVPN.

>> Recommended reading: Is there such a thing as a free torrent VPN?

Tip #4 – Avoid IP Leaks

Vulnerabilities are exposed to VPN software all the time. Some affect entire VPN protocols, while others affect specific providers.

The main issue related to torrenting is getting your real IP address exposed while connected to VPN and get the torrent traffic associated with your location. To minimize your risk, do the following:

• Update your VPN software as soon as a new update is released.
• Install a VPN Kill Switch – this will kill your internet connection as soon as the VPN drops and protect your real IP address.
• Use a site such as IPLeak.net to check for IP address leaks.

Tip #5 – Use a good antivirus program that includes live monitoring

The 5th tip on how to torrent safely: Installing a good antivirus will help you detect malicious scripts when you browse dangerous sites. Many of these, including Mcafee, Avast, Bitdefender and AVG, have live monitoring that warns you before accessing a website that’s known or suspected to be dangerous.

Tip #6 – Use a search engine that does not track your details

Google tracks every search you make and tracks you through browser cookies. For private searches, use an anonymous search engine such as DuckDuckGo.

Tip #7 – Make sure your web history stays private

Your web history is NOT private when you switch on Incognito Mode in Chrome or Private Browsing mode in Firefox.

Google is still able to track your search history, even if you are connected to a VPN server. ISPs also track your web history if your Internet connection uses their DNS servers (it is always a good idea to use no logs DNS servers). These leaks can be prevented by using the Tor Browser for browsing the internet anonymously.

Tip #8 – Choose torrents carefully and avoid “hot” items

When figuring out how to harmlessly download torrents, don’t use the most popular torrents on KickassTorrents and ThePirateBay, as these are closely monitored by copyright trolls. Don’t use unpopular torrents as there is probably a reason why they are not used often. Avoid hot items, such as movies or anything else that has been released recently.

Additionally, you may use a solution that filters “dangerous” IP addresses (the ones uses to spread malware, spyware, etc.), like Peerblock.

Tip #9 – Read all the comments on a torrent before downloading it

If copyright holders are monitoring a torrent, you will often find comments on it, mentioning that a user received a letter when downloading a specific torrent. One of the first rules on how to securely download a torrent is not to download that torrent! Look for comments that say things like “Great quality” or “I will seed.” That is some indication that there are no problems with that torrent.

Tip #10 – Never download installable or executable files

A torrent file can harm your computer and it may steal your private data. P2P files that install software on your PC by using a .bat or.exe file are the most dangerous. Your infection risk is likely to drop by as much as 90% if you don’t install these files from a p2p site.

Although scripts can be embedded in other file types such as PDF and some video formats, this happens less often, and these file types usually are less dangerous. Also, be careful of FLV files (flash video).

Tip #11 – Never click on ad banners and use an ad-blocker

Although this is obvious, many people still fall for interactive and gamified banners.

The free Adblock will completely remove ads from the websites you visit. It does not replace the ads with blank space, but rather reformats the space, so you don’t even notice that there were ads there.

Tip #12 – Get invited to a private torrent community

One way to decrease the likelihood of getting a torrent with a virus is to get an invite to a private torrent community. These torrents are much more trustworthy because the members of that community create and share all the torrents. It is, however, tricky to find and get into a private community because you need to know someone who can invite you.

The best way to achieve this is by being active in online communities and make friends with a person that has access to a private torrent community.

How to torrent safely – Summary

Although the BitTorrent protocol is entirely legal, it can be used illegally by downloading content that is copyright protected. Whether or not this is the case will depend on the ownership of the content, how it is licensed, and the laws of the country in which you reside. Many reputable torrent sites will only share legal content.

Torrenting has many security threats when files are shared or downloaded. We hope that the tips shared in this article have shown you how to torrent safely. Apply them diligently, and you should not experience any problems with either legal or security issues.

Free torrent VPN is not easy to find these days and for good reasons. The costs for maintaining such a service are high, and even some of the premium VPNs ban the P2P traffic. So, is there such a thing as a free torrent VPN? Let’s find out.

What is a Torrent VPN?

A torrent VPN is a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service that you may use for downloading torrents. The main reason for using torrent VPN is anonymizing your online identity and hiding your public IP address. Another reason is to avoid bandwidth throttling and use the full capacity of your regular Internet connection.

It is important to underline that not all VPN providers allow P2P/torrent traffic. Only top providers are willing to spend lots of money on powerful VPN servers capable of handling torrent traffic and providing large bandwidth. Also, torrent VPN providers have to manage DMCA complaints, copyright violations, copyrighted material reports, abuse reports from different organizations (copyright holders) that are monitoring the P2P file downloads. Some of the VPN providers are simply not willing to.

Torrent VPN main features

To be able to use it for downloading torrents, a VPN service has to fulfill several vital requirements.

Downloading speed

Probably the main criteria when it comes to VPNs for torrents is speed. It has to be as high as possible to have decent download/uploads rates.

Unlimited bandwidth

When it comes to torrent downloading, the unlimited bandwidth is vital. Metered VPN services are of no use for P2P file sharing.

Servers nearby

The server locations are important. The closer the VPN server, the higher the speed. At least in theory. Anyway, a good (free) torrent VPN provider should have P2P servers on all continents to provide fast speed VPN connections to torrent users all over the World.

KillSwitch

The VPN Kill Switch mechanism prevents the exposure of your real IP address in case of unwanted VPN disconnects. Thus, when the VPN drops the Internet connection is disabled, or the torrent application is closed preventing any undesired leaks. The Internet Kill Switch is a must for all heavy downloaders. Other useful features are the VPN auto-reconnect, NAT firewall, DNS leak protection.

Shared IPs

By using shared IP VPN servers, you are more protected as you are exposing the same public IPs as other tens or hundreds of VPN users.

Examples of torrent VPN providers

In a previous post, I have listed several premium torrent VPN services, provided more details on each of them and explained why there are good for P2P filesharing. From that list, I strongly recommend NordVPN, ibVPN, and Private Internet Access VPN. Another plus for these premium VPN providers is that they are also offering access to SOCKS5 proxies. Moreover, you may benefit from their money-back guarantees, try the services and, if you are not happy, as for a refund.

Is a free VPN for torrenting safe?

Let’s take another look at the Torrent VPN main features I have listed above: speed, servers all over the World and Kill Switch. Can a free VPN provider achieve this? Is there such a thing as a free VPN for torrent?

In my opinion, it is unlikely. Even if ads monetize the P2P VPN service, the revenue will not cover the server costs and bandwidth. A heavy torrent user would merely set up the downloads and let the computer running for hours, even days. How many times would such a user click on ads?

Another scenario is the one when a VPN provider is launching its services and offers free accounts to build a name and reputation. Unfortunately, I have not heard of such services for a while.

Instead, I encountered some time ago a free VPN service that was saying loud and clear that was selling the user data to ad (to be read “spam”) agencies. Would you use such a service as your free torrent VPN provider?

Do you know any free torrent VPN providers?

This question is for you: do you know any free VPN for torrenting anonymously?  If you do, please share their names in the comments below and let our readers know about them.