What Is A Torrent? – Brief Guide

Do you know what a torrent is? Torrent is a commonly used connection protocol for downloading files. It works by a P2P (peer to peer) model, differentiating it from a standard download.

In the traditional model, files are downloaded directly from the server, whereas torrents are downloaded in bundles from several other people. This makes the process safer and more efficient.

However, even being simple, there is still a big question: Are torrents legal? Keep reading the post because that’s what I’m going to show you. Understand better how the Torrent works, what legislation says about its legality and some tips for downloading safely. 

Why do people use Torrent?

There are always plenty of options for any specific task. There are certain options for downloading files from the Internet, among which direct download and Torrent are the means used.

People’s interest in torrent sites leads us to question why people prefer torrenting over the regular download options. Here are some reasons why Torrent overrides the last option.

• The most prominent reason to use the Torrent is that it is free. The requirement is installed software, such as uTorrent, and it can be downloaded free of charge.
• The download server will never be disabled. The file is not fully uploaded on a single server; other servers will always support the download process.
• Managing downloads is much easier with torrent software as they can be paused and restarted.
• Faster downloading is possible through torrents that are better seeded.
• Torrent also entertains downloading multiple files at once.

What is a torrent, and how does it work?

It would help if you had a download client, such as uTorrent, and several other options. Thus, you have access to seeds, people who make the file available for download, and trackers, servers that communication between people.

Next, you need a torrent type file to add to the client. It is possible to find this file in indexers or receive it directly from the source, which owns the content. Finally, you download the file from the client, saving it to your computer.

What is the legality of using torrents in the United States?

According to a report by Variety, the United States is the No. 1 home to digital pirates in the world, with more than 27.9 billion visits to pirated sites. The problem is that the laws are highly confusing concerning piracy, so it is necessary to clarify the main points, so there is no doubt about it.

First of all, there is nothing wrong with downloading content using this protocol. Many companies and groups use this model to share files without any problem.

The illegal is piracy, when the downloaded content is protected by copyright, such as movies, music, and series. This is a copyright infringement of the producer, which means it’s illegal. Downloading copyrighted works to profit from the sale is considered an even more serious crime.

Precautions for downloading Torrent in the United States

One of the most important precautions is to avoid downloading any illegal content protected by copyright. It’s common to find sources claiming that that’s fine if the content is for your use. However, this is still a violation of the owner’s rights. So if you don’t want to act illegally and avoid any headaches, focus on legal content.

Another good tip is to keep your antivirus always up to date and download only well-evaluated seeds. Remember: you are downloading from someone else, and theoretically, anything can come in the download, including viruses. Check the seed reputation to see what other peers say and keep your antivirus up to date and running, so you don’t have any nasty surprises.

Now that you know what a torrent is, you understand that its negative reputation is due to its proximity to downloading illegal content. However, when used correctly and with the owners’ permission, it is a great way to share files with others. One advantage is system meritocracy, since those who seed more and make more files available for others to download, the more they can download.

Of course, this requires a good upload speed. Check out the post on the subject to understand what it is and how it differs from the download.

Avoid downloading illegal content.

It is necessary not to download copyrighted files and materials via Torrent to avoid problems. Initially, these files cannot be shared without permission or certain charges, but the Torrent still provides them.