Torrents are reliable, fast, and an effective way to download files from internet. They are maintained by other torrent users who download, share, or upload their favorite data files, so, there is a community consensus too that’s involved in deciding the health of a particular torrent file. Besides using torrent clients, users also tend to use different VPN services to anonymise their torrenting activities, as most of the time it becomes a risky business because of the content being downloaded.
Having said that there are some negative aspects or risks too that are involved while downloading, uploading, or sharing a torrent file. Read along and find out.
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Malware risks
One of the most common risks that torrent users tend to face is that of malware. You don’t even know that the torrent file you have just downloaded from a source, may contain a virus. Such an act of downloading virus-affected torrent files can easily cripple down your computer system. There is only a single way out to this: After downloading a torrent file, you should always scan it and use a trusted anti-virus program in order to assess and check if the file is infected with malware content. Besides, different trackers also filter and remove torrent files which are reported to be containing viruses or malicious content.
Data safety
Another important concern that the components of P2P file sharing mechanism show is the fear of unauthorised access to organisation’s critical business information. This critical information may include employee records, organizational policies, compensations, information about company’s stakeholders, etc. It might be the case that an employee who downloads torrents, can accidentally store that particular torrent file in the same folder that contains this sensitive information. That folder can only be accessed by the higher authorities of the organization, and if they notice an irrelevant torrent file in there, it will certainly leave a bad taste in their mouths. It is better to keep a separate folder for torrent files.
Vulnerability
It is a fact that once you go online, or once you download torrents, you become vulnerable to hack attacks. Peer-to-peer file sharing does not necessarily offer a direct threat to your system. But there remains a possibility of online hack attacks, and unauthorized access to a user’s data. When a user downloads, uploads, or shares a torrent file, the online hackers become active and tend to collect information about an online user’s activities. These hackers then tend to use this information to their advantage. Virtual private networks (VPNs) provide a real good solution to this risk by providing you anonymous torrenting. You can also alter your system’s settings, and opt for making your folders password-protected.
Legal troubles
The biggest risk of using torrents is that most of the torrent files are known to contain copyrighted material. This is where torrent users tend to face legal issues when it comes to downloading torrents. Torrent users are now under constant observation of surveillance agencies. The ISPs also monitor a torrent user’s activities online. If they find any trace of illegal torrent file downloads, or any copyrighted torrent file, the torrent users are liable to face legal consequences for their illegal actions over the internet. Legal action may also lead to issuing of DMCA-like notices, imposition of hefty fines and suspension of an ISP’s license. You should not worry though! Not all torrents are illegal. There are some legal torrents available for download as well. You should go for these legal torrents.