P2P file sharing, or torrenting, is a convenient way of sharing files. People who torrent daily are known to share movies, software, documents, games, and more. However, very few users actually know how to torrent safely and anonymously. This, as you’ll see, is pretty important.
As much as it’s convenient, torrenting yields a slew of risks — malware infections, ISP throttling, and even fines for sharing copyrighted material. In 2025, learning how to download torrents in complete privacy is more important than ever. That’s why we exist.
This comprehensive guide will explain how to approach P2P file sharing. We’ll present you with a step-by-step tutorial that should rid you of all online threats associated with torrenting. Before we dive in, check our ranking of the best VPNs for torrenting in 2025. They’ll be the backbone of our exhaustive guide.
How to Torrent Safely & Anonymously: 5 Crucial Tips
So, let’s roll the carpet immediately and discuss our 5 essential tips for safe torrenting. Here’s an overview:
- Use a safe and secure VPN service (we recommend NordVPN).
- Rely on a verified torrent client.
- Go for the safest torrent websites.
- Download verified torrents.
- Use an antivirus and/or malware protection.
Don’t stop there. This is just a skeleton of our guide. Let’s examine each step and explain exactly how to torrent safely and without endangering your privacy.
1. Use a VPN Service
By far the most important step is to use a VPN — but why use a VPN? Well, it’s a service that encrypts your traffic and routes it through a VPN tunnel. In essence, it masks your original whereabouts and makes you look like you’re somewhere else.
When you download torrents, you essentially engage in P2P file sharing. This form of file sharing exposes your IP address to other users in the network. Not only that — your IP is exposed to your Internet Provider or anyone else who wants to track your activities.
Torrent Anonymously With NordVPN
Not to mention, your IP exposure makes you susceptible to doxxing, DDoS attacks, and other sorts of online threats. Now that we know the VPN’s importance, the question is which one is the best. We’ve compiled a short list below, so we’ll just list our recommended picks here:
- NordVPN — the absolute best option with dedicated P2P servers (we consider it the best VPN for uTorrent, by the way).;
- ExpressVPN — fast and reliable for torrenting in any location;
- CyberGhost — dedicated torrenting servers with 10 Gbps ports.
All you have to do is use our links, subscribe to the chosen VPN, and attain a hefty discount while you’re at it. Now, download the service to your device, connect to the nearest server, and enjoy! Before you even think about torrenting safely, read the entire steps of this guide.
While turning on a VPN is ~80% of the job, it’s not all, so let’s see what else to look out for.
2. Download a Safe Torrent Client
You need a proper torrent client for your anonymous P2P file-sharing adventures. Pretty much all reputable clients are safe. The most popular options include uTorrent and BitTorrent, and they’re great if you don’t mind a few ads here and there. Honestly, we don’t use them.
Our favorite option is qBitTorrent, which is an open-source solution without ads and other fluff. Another perk is speed, which is consistent and customizable, making it easy to apply throttling and preserve connection speed for something else. Another plus is the interface.
This client allows for extensive personalization. You can download different themes and make it look stunning. Deluge is another solid option, and like qBitTorrent, doesn’t have trackers, ads, and other distracting factors. Some users prefer Vuze and we think it’s awesome, too!
Vuze is sleek and professional-looking, plus, its paid version allows you to torrent safely with an added antivirus! The free version displays ads, which many of you won’t like. To recap, our favorite P2P clients are:
- qBitTorrent — best open-source option for security, customization, and ease of use.
- Deluge — another open-source pick with no ads and trackers (for Windows, Linux, and macOS).
- Vuze — beautiful-looking client with tons of features, including virus protection (paid).
- BitTorrent — simple to use and doesn’t require previous experience.
- uTorrent — fast and lightweight, with a straightforward interface. It includes ads.
They’re all free to download, so experiment, and find the one you love the most.
3. Use Only Reputable Torrent Websites
Many VPNs claim to be reputable but very few are. The same goes for torrent sites. They’re all around the internet, growing like mushrooms after rain. Unfortunately, not many websites are suitable for safe and anonymous torrenting because of their questionable practices.
To be clear, all torrent sites will track your downloads and inadvertently allow some suspicious torrents. However, a popular and verified website has a much lower chance of allowing such inconvenience. This is also because of their defined security systems.
Such websites will frequently scan new torrents, and if they detect suspicious activities, block them. The Pirate Bay comes to mind as an old-school option. It’s jam-packed with thousands, if not millions of torrents, many of which have the “verified” sign of excellence.
Another option called 1337x is also decent. It’s an all-around torrent site with movies, documents, games, music, and much more. You’ll find lots of verified uploaders, with merely a few suspicious torrents. We can also mention RARBG, which is great for movies and series.
Then, there’s TorrentLeech, which requires a membership to enter. This filters out bad from good and minimizes the chances of malicious uploaders spoiling the party. Finally, we’ll mention YIFI, which many people use to watch movies online in Full HD and 4Ultra HD.
The problem with these websites is their availability — or lack thereof. That’s where the VPN can also help, as it’s capable of unblocking restricted sites. If you can’t find the desired site in your country, connect to a VPN, alter your IP to another location, and try to access it again.
4. Download Verified Torrents
Knowing how to torrent safely also means knowing which files to go for. If you don’t see the verified badge, it doesn’t mean the torrent is bad. Conversely, if you see it, it 99.99% means the torrent is good.
The guidance star should be the verified badge, but to ensure you’re going in the right direction, examining other aspects should always be on your mind. In particular, you should:
- Examine the uploader. If they have many uploads and popular torrents, chances are they’re genuine. Moreover, it’s smart to check their joining date. If the uploader has been there for a while and is verified, you’re clear to proceed.
- Check seeders and leechers. The more, the merrier! In our experience, the more seeders and leechers the file has, the higher the chances it’s safe.
- Inspect the torrent file content. If you’re downloading a movie, the torrent should contain a movie or eventually a SRT file for a subtitle. Did you see something suspicious that doesn’t belong there? Avoid the file.
- Read user comments. Most torrent site allow users to leave a comment, so if they’re there on the given torrent, read them and gauge other people’s experiences.
5. Employ Virus and Malware Protection
We found a clever way to inspect our downloads and ensure we’re torrenting safely. Enabling antivirus or malware protection will keep you safe in real-time. Thus, when you download a torrent file, if malicious software is present, your protection will spring into action and notify you immediately.
However, you don’t have to use dedicated software — VPNs also offer virus protection!
NordVPN, for example, uses Threat Protection Pro, which blocks malware, trackers, ads, and malicious downloads, again, in real time. Once employed and paired with the VPN connection, you can download torrents safely and anonymously with no additional setup.
CyberGhost, however, offers a Windows Security Suite at only $1/mo. Install it and you’ll get a remarkable Windows antivirus that’ll keep threats at bay. If you want, you can get a dedicated option, like Norton, Kaspersky, Malwarebytes, or Avira. They also offer their VPNs.
Just keep in mind that their VPNs aren’t great for torrenting, plus, they’re known to for retaining user logs, and by extension, not suitable for private and anonymous torrenting.
How to Set Up a VPN for Anonymous Torrenting?
Our 5 must-do tips are laid out, and you’ll agree they’re simple enough. However, with the VPN as the most contributing factor, it’s essential to set it up properly before you engage in P2P file sharing. Again, this isn’t rocket science, and once you get the gist of it, it becomes second nature.
First of all, we want you to choose the VPN. NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and CyberGhost are our favorites. Since we’ve given NordVPN the advantage as the most efficient pick for speed, security, and privacy, we’ll use it for our setup guide.
Click the button above to subscribe to it. You’ll be transferred to its site, where you can claim a 70%+ discount on all 24-month plans. We recommend the Plus plan with Threat Protection Pro.
Once you’re done, download and install NordVPN on the device used for safe torrenting — we’ll use our Windows 11 computer for convenience.
Before you choose the server, we recommend doing a few things:
- Enable the kill switch to prevent IP/DNS leaks. Go to Settings, find Kill Switch, and select it. Toggle the button next to Internet Kill Switch.
- Go to Threat Protection Pro and turn on all three protection types: Anti-malware, Advanced browsing protection, and Ad and tracker blocker.
- Go back to Settings in the Connection menu, and choose NordLynx as the safest and fastest protocol usable for torrenting anonymously.
With that complete, it’s time to connect. Go to Specialty Servers, scroll down, and locate P2P. You can click once on it and NordVPN will connect you to the fastest one. Alternatively, click the three horizontal dots next to it and choose the location you want.
You can now do your thing. Follow our best practices from above and enjoy anonymous torrenting.
Recommended VPNs for Safe Torrenting in 2025
Connecting to a VPN doesn’t mean you’re all of a sudden safe and secure. Sometimes, the VPNs prey on their users and find nefarious ways to steal their data. That’s a no bueno! This is why you should shift your attention to reputable options, and we recommend these three:
1. NordVPN
NordVPN is a no-brainer VPN for safe and secure torrenting. With thousands of P2P servers in dozens of countries, it’s easy to enjoy limitless P2P. According to our tests with NordVPN, it’s also the fastest option, which ensures smooth and timely torrent downloads.
One thing we love about it is privacy. Think about ISP monitoring and data logging. None of that is NordVPN’s “thing”. Also, it uses industry-leading 256-bit GCM encryption, so all P2P traffic is encrypted at any moment. Best of all, it supports 10 concurrent connections.
This means you can torrent safely on your home computer, but then switch to your laptop and do the same. NordVPN is an all-arounder that doesn’t limit you to just this. You can stream, unblock websites, save money on online purchases, and much more if you want.
If you’re up for it, the best option for anonymous P2P is the Basic plan. At around $3/mo for the biennial plan with 3 free months, it’s a relatively inexpensive choice. Test it risk-free for 30 days by clicking the button below.
2. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has no fancy dedicated servers, but that’s not an issue. All ExpressVPN servers are P2P-optimized, and since they’re in 160+ locations, finding the right one is a breeze. Speaking of breezing, it breezes through ISP monitoring and other privacy-threatening stuff.
It’s a no-log VPN with bank-grade encryption and mighty DNS leak protection. Its Forward Secrecy also assigns unique encryption keys to each connection, never reusing the old ones. ExpressVPN’s elementary apps are a joy for both newcomers and seasoned veterans.
Plus, they work on all devices where you can download torrents safely. Our speed tests have shown ExpressVPN’s prowess thanks to its Lightway Turbo protocol and beefy 10 Gbps server ports. This goes in line with unlimited bandwidth for limitless P2P file downloads.
Using our ExpressVPN coupon or the button below, you can slash it by 61% and obtain 4 free months for the biennial plan. If you’re on a budget, the cut-down price will surely come in handy for anonymous torrenting.
3. CyberGhost
Private torrenting sessions are easily attained with CyberGhost. It has woven a humongous server fleet, half of which is dedicated to torrent lovers. Connect to one and you’ll achieve 256-bit encryption, IPv6 leak protection, Forward Secrecy, and uncompromising privacy.
CyberGhost ticks all the boxes. It doesn’t keep logs, uses RAM servers, and even has a proprietary DNS to keep things confidential. There are also NoSpy servers, independently owned by CyberGhost, which further eliminate third parties and improve your privacy.
CyberGhost is inferior to NordVPN, but still a phenomenal pick overall. It’s great for streaming or even DDoS-free gaming. While 7 simultaneous connections aren’t range-topping by any stretch, everything is balanced out by CyberGhost’s jaw-dropping prices.
It’s only about $2/mo for the biennial plan often splashed by 2 or 4 free months on top. Now, catch this: a 45-day money-back guarantee is here for all plans longer than a month. Perfect for safe P2P for years!
Can I Torrent Securely Without a VPN?
Think of this as building a house. Can you build one without the base? In theory, you can, but it would be floating in the air, and as we know, bricks can’t float. Without a VPN, you’re setting yourself up for failure, because you lack encryption and privacy from the start.
You can choose the safest torrent clients, sites, and torrent files, but nothing will save you from ISP monitoring/throttling and potential fines if you unknowingly download copyrighted material. To be clear, we don’t recommend that even with a VPN, but if this happens, you’re at least safe.
Since torrenting also hitchhikes viruses and/or malware, as much as you’re careful, you can, in theory, get away only with appropriate virus/malware protection. However, it doesn’t provide privacy and encryption, so your ISP can still see your P2P file-sharing activities.
Think about what VPNs bring to the table for safe and anonymous torrenting. Now, take everything you’ve learned and invert it — that’s how it’ll be without it. Does it sound remotely good? No?
The Final Verdict
Online privacy and security are loosely used terms. You can’t be 100% private, and even VPN services will concur. However, you can download torrents safely and securely specifically by hiding this traffic from your Internet provider and encrypting your connection end-to-end.
By doing so, you’ll simultaneously prevent other users in the P2P network from tracking your whereabouts and avoid various other cyber threats lurking on torrent sites. We recommend NordVPN as the base, as it offers a full suite of security, privacy, and malware protection.
With it (and other recommended providers like ExpressVPN and CyberGhost), you can enjoy P2P anonymously, access region-locked sites, and dodge specky cybercriminals on public WiFi networks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Now that we’ve covered (almost) everything, it’s time to answer a few more key questions.
Are free VPNs suitable for torrenting?
Here are some free VPNs that allow P2P, but don’t be too hyped. They restrict your bandwidth to 10 GB a month, provide considerably slower servers, and don’t have many of them. Security and privacy are good at best, and in most cases, flimsy and unreliable.
Some free options are known to keep logs, sell your private data, and expose you to copyright holders who can and will gladly sue you for misbehaving. Torrenting securely in 2025 begins with a VPN, so don’t rush this decision. It could come back to bite you.
Is it legal to download torrents with a VPN?
Yes, under one condition — not downloading copyrighted material. P2P file-sharing is legal and widely used to share all types of files. As long as you stay clear of copyrighted files, you can share anything else and not be afraid of police bashing down your door to arrest you.
What’s the best torrent site I can use?
No such thing exists. All are “guilty” to some extent, and all will retain some of your data, including geolocation, IP address, and associated downloads. They’ll hand out this information to the government bodies if requested, so don’t rely on them for privacy.
While some are better than others, like The Pirate Bay, RARBG, YIFI, 1337x, etc, you should still use a VPN each time you cross their borders. With a simple IP swap, all the data that the site collects will be associated with the new IP that has nothing to do with your true identity.
