Video: How People Are Tracked Using BitTorrent

TorrentFreak · #1 (**permalink**) 05-20-2008, 08:20 PM

Being tracked by anti-piracy organizations and receiving infringement notices on file-sharing networks is becoming more common. A security project manager has just released a short video showing how it's done.

Read the full article here

DavyJones · #2 (**permalink**) 05-22-2008, 09:07 PM

Hi All

After watching the video,I have a question.
Is there a app that doesn't show ip's.And works well?
Seems to me that your just advertising your ip.
I know vpn is the way to go but not everyone can afford.

Cheers

Ernesto · #3 (**permalink**) 05-24-2008, 02:38 PM

VPN is pretty much the only solution (for BitTorrent) that works, unfortunately however, it's not free.

To browse anonymously online you can use Tor.

ers35 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-26-2008, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ernesto

VPN is pretty much the only solution (for BitTorrent) that works, unfortunately however, it's not free.

To browse anonymously online you can use Tor.

OpenVPN is free:
Welcome to OpenVPN

Of course, you would still need another computer to run it on. The software is free though.

Greg975 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-31-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ers35

OpenVPN is free:
Welcome to OpenVPN

Of course, you would still need another computer to run it on. The software is free though.

Hey,

Could you explain how that works? I know the VPN principle but I don't see how it applies to BitTorrent and how to use it.

ers35 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg975

Hey,

Could you explain how that works? I know the VPN principle but I don't see how it applies to BitTorrent and how to use it.

I will write a guide about it in the near future. It seems like something many people would want to do.

Greg975 · #7 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ers35

I will write a guide about it in the near future. It seems like something many people would want to do.

As its called, the network is "private" so yes it's much safer but yet it means you must stay online with trust-worthy people right? Then it's losing one of the best thing of BitTorrent which is to share files with everyone to get anything at any time, not depending on a limited "circle of trust".

ers35 · #8 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 07:56 PM

The kind of VPN I am talking about is more like a network proxy, redirecting bittorrent traffic from one machine to another. The data would be encrypted of course.

Greg975 · #9 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ers35

The kind of VPN I am talking about is more like a network proxy, redirecting bittorrent traffic from one machine to another. The data would be encrypted of course.

Then I guess if it doesn't really use tunneling it's not VPN in the strict definition. Hmmm ... I have still doubts about all these "supposed to be anonymous" p2p networks.

ers35 · #10 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 09:27 PM

You are misunderstanding. I am talking about using two computers you have access to. For example, buying a dedicated server in a foreign country and routing traffic across the world. If properly configured, you would be able to download without a problem.

Greg975 · #11 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ers35

You are misunderstanding. I am talking about using two computers you have access to. For example, buying a dedicated server in a foreign country and routing traffic across the world. If properly configured, you would be able to download without a problem.

I don't think I misunderstand, you seem to comfirm what I said, it's not VPN but the proxy system.

ers35 · #12 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 10:01 PM

A VPN is nothing more then a secure connection between two computers. You can also call it a proxy, but to say it is not a VPN is incorrect.

Greg975 · #13 (**permalink**) 06-02-2008, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ers35

A VPN is nothing more then a secure connection between two computers. You can also call it a proxy, but to say it is not a VPN is incorrect.

Proxy is to go through another machine to not access directly another one, VPN is to create a "tunnel" from a computer to another, it's a fake network, a proxy is just a computer which will link you to the rest of the network hiding your IP showing its and not yours.

ers35 · #14 (**permalink**) 06-03-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg975

Proxy is to go through another machine to not access directly another one, VPN is to create a "tunnel" from a computer to another, it's a fake network, a proxy is just a computer which will link you to the rest of the network hiding your IP showing its and not yours.

The words "go through" and "access directly" do not strike me as meaning anything different in this context.

Lord Alderaan · #15 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 12:42 PM

By using a VPN to redirect traffic you are in fact setting up a proxy but it is unlike the usual methods employed to proxy traffic.

The advantage of a VPN compared to more common proxy methods is that it is more likely to work with the popular BitTorrent clients out there.

In case if illegal BitTorrent usage the owner of the public IP (now the gateway of the VPN server) is still susceptible to legal action. The added value of a VPN (or a proxy) is to generate an additional chain that authorities have to go through to get to the end-user. By using a VPN in a different nation this chain can become quite a barrier because the IP owner is protected by laws of that nation.

The disadvantage of a VPN is the added costs of bandwidth of the other machine (It is either expensive or severely limits speeds). Also most commercial VPN services don't (or maybe for a hefty price) offer the ability to forward a port which also has some negative effects on BitTorrent (including speeds).