Introduction
Torrenting has become an incredibly popular way for people to share files online. The decentralized peer-to-peer network allows users to distribute large files without relying on a central server. This makes torrenting ideal for sharing large files such as video files, software packages, and more.
However, torrenting does come with some risks in regard to privacy and security. Your internet service provider can monitor your torrenting activity, and copyright holders actively look for illegal file sharing via torrents. This is where a VPN like NordVPN comes in very handy.
Using a VPN encrypts all of your internet traffic and routes it through remote servers run by the VPN provider. This masks your real IP address and helps keep your torrenting activity private. A VPN for torrenting is important for anyone that values their privacy and wants to avoid unnecessary attention from their ISP or copyright enforcers.
NordVPN is one of the most popular VPN services available today. It offers reliable performance, good speeds, and servers optimized specifically for peer-to-peer sharing and torrenting. We’ll take an in-depth look at how well NordVPN handles torrenting and outline the key benefits it provides.
NordVPN’s Compatibility with Torrenting
One of the best aspects of NordVPN is its compatibility with torrenting activity. Many VPN providers either block torrenting altogether or severely throttle speeds on peer-to-peer connections. NordVPN takes the opposite approach.
Not only does NordVPN permit torrenting across its network, but they also provide specialty servers optimized for fast and reliable P2P transfers. This makes NordVPN one of the best choices available if you plan on torrenting while connected to a VPN.
NordVPN Permits Torrenting on its Servers
The official NordVPN policy is favorable towards torrenting. They allow the use of BitTorrent and other peer-to-peer protocols across their entire server network without blocking or throttling. The only exceptions would be if torrenting should violate the laws of the country where the VPN server resides.
This policy contrasts with many other leading VPN services like ExpressVPN and CyberGhost. These providers allow torrenting only on select servers. With NordVPN, you can freely engage in P2P activity on thousands of servers spanning dozens of countries.
NordVPN positions itself as very pro-internet freedom and anonymity. Permitting unfettered P2P sharing aligns nicely with the individual liberties they promote. As long as your torrenting doesn’t break local laws or involve illegal/unethical content, NordVPN gives you the green light.
Dedicated P2P Servers Optimized for Fast and Secure Torrenting
In addition to their permissive attitude on torrenting, NordVPN operates specialty servers fine-tuned for P2P networking. These dedicated P2P servers provide a few advantages:
- The servers reside in VPN server locations with fast internet speeds ideal for torrenting large files. Locations include Canada, UK, Netherlands, USA, Hong Kong and others.
- Because only P2P traffic routes through these servers, users benefit from uncongested bandwidth providing fast download speeds even on large torrents.
- Advanced cybersecurity features help anonymize P2P traffic and prevent tracking or snooping. This includes double VPN encryption, dedicated IP addresses, and technical measures aimed at defeating targeted attacks.
The dedicated P2P servers represent a purpose-built torrenting solution, addressing the particular networking demands and security issues associated with BitTorrent. NordVPN users that engage heavily in torrenting should utilize the specialty P2P servers whenever possible.
In summary, few VPN providers on the market today match NordVPN’s robust capabilities around torrenting. They allow P2P traffic across their entire infrastructure but also operate customized servers to meet the needs of heavy torrent users.
Benefits of Using NordVPN for Torrenting
Now that we’ve established NordVPN’s excellent compatibility with torrenting, let’s explore some of the major ways this VPN can benefit and protect torrent users.
Encrypts Traffic Before it Leaves Your Device
One of the main benefits to using any VPN with torrenting is encrypting your web traffic. Without a VPN, your regular internet connection offers no encryption.
That means your internet service provider can view and log data about your torrent activity, including:
- Torrent websites and trackers you access
- Meta data about the files you download and share
- Your participation in swarm uploads
- Your real IP address
Your ISP will likely store this data for months or years. They also tend to share data with copyright enforcement agencies if issued a subpoena.
With NordVPN enabled, all traffic exits your local network through an encrypted tunnel. No one between you and the remote VPN server can see inside. This prevents your ISP from keeping tabs on your torrent usage.
NordVPN utilizes AES-256 encryption. Security experts consider this virtually unbreakable by today’s computing standards. It renders your torrent actions invisible to your ISP, government agencies, hackers, and other snoops.
Bypass Geographical Content Restrictions
Certain internet content gets restricted based on geographical location. Streaming platforms in particular limit media catalogs based on regions and licensing deals with content producers.
What’s available on Netflix, Hulu, BBC iPlayer, Disney+ and other streaming sites depends entirely on where you connect from. Trying to access media from an unsupported region typically results in frustrating error messages.
NordVPN provides a simple workaround to this problem—server switching. By connecting to servers in different countries, NordVPN subscribers can bypass regional restrictions imposed by video streaming platforms and other sites.
The extensive NordVPN server network spans over 60 nations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. With just a few clicks you can re-route your traffic through different countries giving you easy access to region-locked internet content.
Torrent users can take advantage of this to grab media releases not available in their neck of the woods. Whether you want British TV shows, Korean movies, or anime series only broadcast in Japan, NordVPN makes it possible.
User-Friendly Apps for Desktop & Mobile
Setting up NordVPN doesn’t require any advanced technical skills. They offer custom apps for all major desktop and mobile platforms, including:
- Windows, MacOS
- Android, iOS
- Android TV with support for streaming boxes
- Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, CentOS etc.)
- Browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox
The apps share an intuitive interface making it easy to pick a server location, connect/disconnect, set configuration options, and check your connection status. Whether you prefer torrenting on a laptop or mobile device, NordVPN offers the app flexibility to cover your needs.
The mobile apps particularly excel in user experience with one-tap connect functionality. Switching server locations takes just a couple taps—ideal for on-the-go bypassing geographic restrictions to access your favorite torrent sites or blocked streaming catalogs while traveling abroad.
How to Use NordVPN for Torrenting
Using NordVPN for torrenting requires just a few simple steps. We’ll walk through the basics of getting setup for anonymous and secure P2P file sharing.
1. Choose a NordVPN Server that Supports Torrenting
The first step involves selecting a torrent-friendly VPN server location. Nearly all NordVPN servers permit torrent traffic without issue. But for the very best speeds, consider connecting to one of their dedicated P2P servers instead.
Currently, NordVPN lists dedicated P2P servers in nine countries:
- Canada
- United States
- United Kingdom
- France
- Germany
- Netherlands
- Hong Kong
- Sweden
- Spain
You can filter the full server list down to just the P2P specialty options. The NordVPN app makes accessing these torrent-optimized servers very easy.
Of course torrenting works perfectly fine on their standard VPN servers too. But the P2P locations may offer advantages in speed and capacity during peak traffic times.
2. Download and Install the NordVPN Client App
If you don’t already have NordVPN installed, you’ll need to download the appropriate software client for your operating system. Installation files come directly from NordVPN for all major platforms. The setup wizards guide you quickly through the process.
Review the NordVPN platform support section for links to the Windows, Mac, iOS, Android and Linux VPN apps.
3. Connect to Your Selected VPN Server
Launch the NordVPN client app and log into your account. Locate your preferred server location in the VPN app interface. It could be one of dedicated P2P IPs or any high-speed VPN server in a country of your choosing.
Click to connect—the NordVPN app will automatically tunnel your web traffic through the remote server securing and encrypting your connection. With the VPN active, you can then launch your separate BitTorrent client app for downloading torrents.
4. Open Your Torrent Client and Start Downloading
Popular torrent clients compatible with NordVPN include favorites like:
- qBittorrent
- μTorrent
- Transmission
- Deluge
- BitComet
- Vuze
- Tixati
With NordVPN connected in the background, open whatever torrent software you prefer. Browse torrent index sites to find files and start leeching downloads.