From c73a8934f3c2b6002f27b71a06c4ad44a67b135a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Fornax Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2024 16:54:16 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] Explain torrent privacy concerns --- svelte/src/file_viewer/viewers/Torrent.svelte | 33 ++++++++++++------- 1 file changed, 22 insertions(+), 11 deletions(-) diff --git a/svelte/src/file_viewer/viewers/Torrent.svelte b/svelte/src/file_viewer/viewers/Torrent.svelte index 37d93a2..8fe96f9 100644 --- a/svelte/src/file_viewer/viewers/Torrent.svelte +++ b/svelte/src/file_viewer/viewers/Torrent.svelte @@ -162,22 +162,33 @@ const copy_magnet = () => {

Your torrent client will make sure that the files you receive from your peers are actually what they say it is. This makes it just as - safe as any other form of downloading. Like any other form of - downloading files you still need to be aware of what you are - downloading. Don't just blindly trust any file anyone sends you. + safe as any other form of downloading. Like always when downloading + files you still need to be aware of what you are downloading. Don't + just blindly trust any file anyone sends you.

+

Is it private?

When downloading a torrent file you will be part of the so-called 'torrent swarm'. Anyone in the swarm can see each other's IP addresses. This is not a bad thing on its own, but there a few cases - in which this can be abused. If you are downloading copyrighted - material (which I do not condone) then rightsholders will be able to - see your IP address. In most cases this is not a problem because - your ISP will still protect your identity. But there are some - countries (notably the USA) where your ISP will not respect your - right to privacy and the rightsholder will be able to contact you. - If this worries you then you should look into VPN services to - protect your privacy, like +

+ Anyone in the swarm will be able to see what you are downloading, + even across different torrents. This is something to keep in mind + when downloading torrents. If someone can link your IP address to + your identity then there are ways to find out which files you have + downloaded in the past (provided that your IP address has not + changed since then). +

+

+ If you are downloading copyrighted material (which I do not condone) + then rightsholders will be able to see your IP address. In most + cases this is not a problem because your ISP will still protect your + identity. But there are some countries (notably the USA) where your + ISP will not respect your right to privacy and the rightsholder will + be able to contact you. If this worries you then you should look + into VPN services to protect your privacy, like Mullvad.