Is Torrenting Legal? Here is Everything You Need to Know

If you are into games, movies, and music but cannot afford to buy every new release every now and then, it is highly likely that you are using or have considered using torrenting.

This form of P2P file sharing method allows you to download huge files including software fast and for free.

Torrenting is illegal in most countries since it enables users to easily download unsanctioned copyrighted materials hence infringing copyright rules.

While torrenting in itself does not necessarily lead to copyright infringement, the fact that it is hard to tell which content is legal to torrent and which doesn't make it an extremely risky business. It is for this reason that most countries have declared it illegal.

Can you be arrested for torrenting?

In countries where torrenting is illegal, you are likely to be slapped with hefty fines or imprisonment or both if caught torrenting. The jail time can be up to 5 years.

Authorities in these countries are actively monitoring activities in torrenting sites meaning that they are likely to catch up with you if you are leaving your digital footprints on these sites.

Even for countries where torrenting is legal, you risk being arrested for copyright infringement. As mentioned previously, it is hard to tell which content is copyrighted and which is not when torrenting and therefore all torrent users are likely to have violated copyright laws at a point in time.

The copyright infringement penalties in the U.S. can be up to $150,000 for each work infringed excluding attorney fees and court costs. In the UK, online copyright infringement attracts a penalty of £150,000 or imprisonment of up to six months or both.

While we strongly advise against downloading copyrighted materials, we believe torrenting is a great way to share copyright free materials with peers across the globe.

If you are into torrenting, it is essential that you take extra precaution to avoid falling into the hands of lawmakers for torrenting or unknowingly violating copyright laws when doing so. Here are some proven ways to help you cover your digital footprints when torrenting.

Best ways to cover your tracks when torrenting

First, it is important to ensure that you are only torrenting from sites with a proven track record.
The key things to look for in a torrenting site are speed and safety. You need to do enough due diligence to identify the torrenting site that meets your needs. The best place to start by reading other users reviews.

We highly recommend that you only go for well-established torrenting sites since they already have a proven track record. In our own view, the best torrent sites are those with a huge user-base and have been operational for at least three years.
Find the best torrent sites that are still working in 2019: https://vpnpro.com/torrenting/best-torrent-sites/

Once you have identified a torrenting site that suits your needs, it is time to take an extra measure to cover your digital footprint on the site. The best tool to use here is a VPN.

Why you must use a VPN when torrenting

A VPN hides your internet activity by masking your real IP address and assigning you a fake one. This means that internet snoopers including your ISP and law enforcement agencies are not able to identify your real location let alone track your online activity.

In countries where torrenting sites are blocked, a good VPN enables you to bypass the restrictions without risking being caught by the authorities.

However, you need to be careful since not all VPNs offer what they promise. A good VPN should have a reputation for speed and security. Avoid free or extremely low priced VPNs since they are likely to be of low quality.

A bad VPN is likely to have IP leakages, therefore, exposing your digital trail to authorities. We recommend that you only go for well-known brands since they are already proven.

Apart from hiding you from snooping government agencies, a VPN also protects you from cyber attackers.

When using a VPN, hackers are not able to identify the actual source of your internet traffic let alone collect personal data and therefore have no ground for launching cyber attacks.

If you are regularly downloading content through torrents, it is highly likely that you will jump at the opportunity of public Wi-Fi as it presents. It is common knowledge that public Wi-Fi is a hotbed of cyberattacks meaning that torrenting using these networks largely exposes you to hackers and malware.

With a strong VPN, you are guaranteed of maximum security since this tool encrypts your internet traffic.

Bottom Line

While torrenting presents an opportunity to enjoy premium content for free, it comes with a lot of legal issues that can lead to hefty fines and imprisonment.

This means that you need to cover your digital footprints when using these sites. A VPN is the best tool to help you do this.



This release was published on openPR.