What Is a Torrent File

What is a Torrent file?

A "torrent" or a "bit torrent" is a type of meta-data that facilitates peer-to-peer file-sharing. Torrent files are to a great extent unregulated on the internet. There is a lot of debate over the usefulness of these files and the use of them. They are mostly used for peer-to-peer file sharing. Not all torrent files are illegal though.

The function of a torrent is much different that the conventional download, where is the data is only retrieve from one source. A torrent file is data that is downloaded from many different sources. The file data is slip between many users equally, increasing the speed at which the data can be retrieved.

There are many benefits to using torrent files. The most recognized benefit of torrent files is that it is a much faster download because the bandwidth is distributed evenly among many different users. It is also much more practical because it allows you to pick up where you left of easily instead of waiting for the file to fully download. Also if one of the machines goes down the user can easily get the needed data from another user.

Many people use torrent files for a faster and more reliable data transfer. Many companies choose to release their programs by torrent putting less strain on their servers. However torrent files pose a threat to those who do not want their data freely downloaded via the internet.

On the other hand torrents are reliant on the connectivity of peers. Getting a torrent to work is a little technical, sometimes requiring “configuration of routers and the bypassing of firewalls and the opening of ports” and can take some work. There are some programs that are easily available that allow this to be done easily, such as µTorrent http://www.utorrent.com . Some services require you to add date to the before gaining downloading privileges. Most allow you downloading privileges right away such as http://scrapetorrent.com/ and http://thepiratebay.org/ but assume you will keep the...