I don't live in the US, so my ISP doesn't really seem to care what I torrent, but the megathread vehemently recommends to always use one. Since VPNs aren't cheap and I'm on a strict budget (wouldn't pirate otherwise), is it really that dangerous to torrent without one?

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[–] Vitaly@feddit.uk 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

What if i have self-hosted vpn? am i safe now? (wireguard)

[–] ch0ccyra1n@emeraldsocial.org 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

@Vitaly

Nope! The server provider will definitely be monitoring your activity and probably will report you for torrenting. VPNs shift trust, even self-hosted ones. Do you trust Amazon AWS or Google Cloud or whatever provider you're using? I certainly hope not.

[–] Vitaly@feddit.uk 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

The server provider is my good friend in different country (with very old computer)

[–] ch0ccyra1n@emeraldsocial.org 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

@Vitaly
Then yeah you're probably good actually.

[–] Vitaly@feddit.uk 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Yeah i hope so, i also want to ask about DNS provider that you guys use

[–] ch0ccyra1n@emeraldsocial.org 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

@Vitaly
Speaking for myself, I use quad9 for DNS

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[–] BarrierWithAshes@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

It (possibly) adds a layer of security. Of course you're just passing your traffic through them. Should they get summoned to court or ordered they could turn over your information and show you were trafficking through them. I'd say to read into how your nation persecutes copyright. How strict are they, how often have people been legally attacked cause of it, etc. If you're in Japan for example, I'd say 100% use a VPN. Copyright is extremely serious there.

[–] iAmTheTot@kbin.social 0 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It doesn't add a layer of security, it adds a layer of anonymity.

[–] BarrierWithAshes@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

Right. I keep having to remind myself and others all a VPN does is pass traffic elsewhere. Still at the whims of whatever security measures your VPN does or doesn't do.

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[–] Sterben@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 years ago

Look, if you want peace of mind use it, but it is also true that you will most likely be fine with it.

I personally use NordVPN, and I have been always torrenting with pretty good speed. I am pretty sure there are cheaper alternatives.

Good luck to You. :⁠-⁠)

[–] JasSmith@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago (8 children)

Just an FYI: for the cost of a VPN, you can buy a Usenet subscription. Depending on your content, you'll get far better speeds, far more privacy, far more content, and far more availability.

[–] Overzeetop@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago (4 children)

I used to be all over usenet. Starting about 10-12 years ago most of the indexers turned to shit; either that or takedowns have eviscerated the back catalog of content from providers. I've yet to find a good tracker that can find anything (that's more than 12-24 hours old).

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[–] Hillock@kbin.social 1 points 2 years ago

You are fine without a VPN until you aren't anymore. Torrenting was fine in basically every country until it wasn't anymore. And then some people got burned without a warning.
So you can roll the dice, it might take years until people start caring in your country and you are fine until then. Or they might start caring in a few months. If you aren't, there is a chance you will have time to react to the news when other people first get hit in your country or you will be one of the first. If you are already using a VPN you can rest assured that you won't be one of the first.

[–] bdp1312@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 2 years ago

American here, I've torrented movies and anime for a few years now and only got one warning (For downloading "The Big Short" of of Pirate bay). I have since stopped seeding on that site, though a seed on smaller ones. I have had no issues with lawyers since.

[–] KingPyrox@kbin.social 0 points 2 years ago (7 children)

If using qBittorrent there is an anonymous option. Not sure if works well but I haven't received an ISP email in a long time since I set it

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[–] bob@lemmy.havocperil.uk -1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

You all seem to be starting from the basis that downloading a torrent is illegal. It is not, it is only distribution/upload that's an issue. If you behave as a leech and kill it after you're done the worst you're going to get is a complaining letter from your ISP.

I torrent without a VPN and haven't had a single email from my ISP, but I presume it's because I'm a business customer.

[–] Sertou@lemmy.world 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

You should hedge this advise. It may not be illegal where you are, but it certainly is here in the U.SA. if you’re downloading “unsanctioned copyrighted material.”

[–] CurlyWurlies4All@slrpnk.net 0 points 2 years ago

Never had a letter from my ISP and I’ve been torrenting for 20 years.

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