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Video Rebel, Part 6: BitTorrent and the dark side of downloading
As we wrap up our ongoing series, we take you to the depths of video rebellion: using the legally gray peer-to-peer application BitTorrent. I’ve shown you how to go the legit route, downloading free HD videos over the Web, paying for titles using a variety of set-top boxes, getting your TV free over the air, and setting up a PC in your living room. Now it’s time for the dark side.
While I’m certainly not endorsing any violation of copyright law, I’m not going to bury my head in the sand and ignore the mother lode of movies that are a click or two away, either. So click Continue and follow me on a journey into the netherworld that is BitTorrent.
Here's a general outline of the process: There are numerous sites on the Web called BitTorrent trackers, some of which attract millions of page views each day. These sites allow you to download what’s known as “torrents,” and once you have these pointer files on your PC, you open them in a peer-to-peer application such as uTorrent that lets you both download files and share them with other users at the same time.
The remarkable aspect of this process is the sheer availability and variety of content. For instance, as soon as a title is available on DVD or Blu-ray (if not before), it shows up on BitTorrent trackers worldwide. A check today of many of the most popular trackers shows the just-debuted HBO movie Recount already available (in high-def), for example. There was also a standard-def copy of the final episode of Showtime’s The Tudors available for download just minutes after the program aired. High-res 1080p movie file sizes are usually around 7.5GB and might take you all night to download (even on a fast connection), while 720p movies are more in the 4GB range. Standard-def titles are around 700MB and download quickly. Or so we hear.
It just sounds too good to be true. Why doesn't everyone do this? Well, because it can get complicated. For example, the idea of setting up your network to download torrents by opening a port on your router seems like child's play to networking experts, but to the rest of us, we might as well be translating hieroglyphics. And once you've downloaded the files, many of them are compressed into formats (such as RAR) that are unfamiliar to novices.
Of course, if movie studios would make flicks available for download at a reasonable price at the same time the titles are released on disc, it would go a long way toward curbing demand for BitTorrent files. Why does this scenario sound so familiar? Remember Napster? History repeats itself.
Video Rebel, Part 1: Cable TV, you’re fired! Netflix, you too
Video Rebel, Part 2: Free HD download guide
Video Rebel, Part 3: Kill your cable, get HD for free over the air
Video Rebel, Part 4: How to turn an old PC into a home theater monster
Video Rebel, Part 5: Download mania! Netflix, Apple TV, Xbox, Amazon Unbox and Vudu compared
By TheAdlerian at 9:09 PM ON 06/03/08
I've never done this and the reason is that I fear downloading something which is a disguised virus. What stops that from happening, if anything?
By izzy at 5:16 AM ON 06/04/08
@Theadlerian:
use a Mac. :)
By everlast at 8:21 AM ON 06/04/08
For real, if the movie studios made high quality, legal copies ready for download, say for like 5 bucks instead of paying out 20 for dvd, i wouldnt bother looking at the pirated versions.
By yeLLowfLasH at 10:34 AM ON 06/04/08
there are a couple things to stop them from being a virus.
First users can leave comments on the file they are downloading to share the quality of video and audio or problems with the files.
Second there is often a sample you can download first to watch.
third file structure. Obviously if its a rar file it can hold a number of things inside the rar file but most rar decompressors only decompress the file they dont usually run them as well.
Mostly you just have to use some common sense. if there are 1000 seeders for one video and 1 seed for a different version you might wanna go with the 1000 seed one.
Macs can get viruses. its just that no one writes virus script for mac because the major of computers are PC.
Viruses arent really a big deal though. just make sure you have stuff backed up on an external hdd and if you do download a virus on accident just reformat your computer.
problem solved.
By Mission2Mars at 5:42 PM ON 06/04/08
Hi all -
While downloading torrents can be risky and tricky, visiting any one of the major tracker sites will yeild a ton of information on how to best protect yourself from virus, trojan, spyware and other difficulties one might encounter when downloading a torrent file. Including the use of the different types of torrent software.
As a torrent user, I donwnload movies that are .avi files - quite often without any problems. As previously posted, it is best to read the comments. Also check who the uploader. If I'm uploading DietCoke-TheMovie.avi and you've never heard of that film, or when you click on my name and you see this is my first upload things seem a little off. I'd wait till someone "braver" or more experienced than you downloads it and leaves a comment.
Reading comments is one of the best ways to determine the validity of a torrent. If a torrents comments are a little mixed, I again err on the side of caution and maybe don't download that movie or other file.
Using just a tad of common sense when doing something illegal is usually best. When you're speeding doing 65MPH in a 35MPG zone, you don't fly past that "blind" intersection - you slow down a bit. When you know it's after school, cops will be out and about, you make sure you drive the speed limit. Same idea. If all the posters are saying its a fake torrent, slow down and check around the blind spots.
Keep up the good work here at DV!ce.
By Mission2Mars at 5:44 PM ON 06/04/08
Hi all -
While downloading torrents can be risky and tricky, visiting any one of the major tracker sites will yeild a ton of information on how to best protect yourself from virus, trojan, spyware and other difficulties one might encounter when downloading a torrent file. Including the use of the different types of torrent software.
As a torrent user, I donwnload movies that are .avi files - quite often without any problems. As previously posted, it is best to read the comments. Also check who the uploader. If I'm uploading DietCoke-TheMovie.avi and you've never heard of that film, or when you click on my name and you see this is my first upload things seem a little off. I'd wait till someone "braver" or more experienced than you downloads it and leaves a comment.
Reading comments is one of the best ways to determine the validity of a torrent. If a torrents comments are a little mixed, I again err on the side of caution and maybe don't download that movie or other file.
Using just a tad of common sense when doing something illegal is usually best. When you're speeding doing 65MPH in a 35MPG zone, you don't fly past that "blind" intersection - you slow down a bit. When you know it's after school, cops will be out and about, you make sure you drive the speed limit. Same idea. If all the posters are saying its a fake torrent, slow down and check around the blind spots.
Keep up the good work here at DV!ce.
By TVFree at 6:48 PM ON 06/04/08
@Theadlerian:
spyware/virus scanners. If you like something, go out and buy it after "trying" it.
By crazyivan at 3:19 AM ON 06/06/08
Bittorrent is the best way to simply STOP watching television.
Bulk download your favorite TV series and binge watch.
Dont want to waste 10-15$ on a new movie out in the theaters, torrent it, watch a poor resolution camcorder version and if you like it, then go spend your money on it.
no more tv commercials. no more wasted time sitting through movie previews. no more commercialism spoiling your viewing. Just find your torrent, patiently download, and enjoy
By Asakari at 12:54 PM ON 06/30/08
If you understand the basics of how a torrent works, you begin to realize that exposure to such harmful threats like viruses and malware are very slim. Torrent data isn't hosted on large servers, it is supported by a majority of users sharing the same thing and will only stay alive if people support it, and no one is going to support a file that is full of harmful material that ruins their computers.
But of course there is no guarantee of your safety. Your best bet is to always use your common sense.
By Diesel at 11:35 PM ON 07/18/08
I heard that private trackers are supposedly safer in the sense, you won't get caught downloading a file if you use private trackers. I'm living in college right now. So, anyone know of any private trackers?
By Juggalo457 at 7:24 PM ON 09/28/08
Hey Thealderian you do realize there is a simple way to see if the file is disguised as a virus, the size is either alot smaller or a lot bigger
on your cellphone!
Text DVICE to 72434
editor@dvice.com
Juggalo457:
Hey Thealderian you do realize there is a simple way to see if the file is disguised as a virus, the size is either...More »