what are torrents?

Question

they are used in downloads .how to use them .are they free

Answer 1

Torrents are a kind of Peer-to-Peer download software, like how programs like Napster used to run. Instead of connecting you to a central database like Napster does, it connects you to a bunch of people downloading the same torrent called peers.

First, you need to download a torrent client like Azureus or Bit Tornado. All torrent clients are free; there are not even any shareware versions of them, though many at least request donations.

Once you download and install your client, find a torrent website and chose a torrent to grab. Either open your torrent directly from your web browser, or save the torrent to disk and open it from windows explorer. (I suggest the first for single torrents. Use the second method if you use a program like Azureus that allows you to queue multiple torrents.) The client will ask you where to save the file, and then it will start downloading it.

Shortly after the client starts, you should see two important numbers come up. Those numbers are Seeds and Peers. Seeds are the number of people with the complete torrent files that are still sharing the file, if there are no seeds your download will almost certainly not finish. Peers are the people who are trying to download it just like you.

It is very important, that after you finish getting your file, that you leave the torrent open for as long as possible. This makes you a seed, and allows others to finish their downloads faster. Many torrent sites and clients keep track of the amount of data you have sent compared to the amount of data you have received. This is called the Share Ratio, and higher is better.

Now the downsides...torrent clients are amazing bandwidth hogs, do not expect to do much else online when one is running. You can reduce the download speed to free up bandwidth, but this slows down your download.

Also, despite being a downloader, do not expect to get your files instantly. Torrenting takes time, sometimes several days, depending on the size of the file and the number of seeds. It is entirely possible that your download will not finish at all if there are not any seeds left, which happens to most torrents as they get older.

Many institutions, such as colleges, know what a running torrent looks like on the network. Those organizations have made efforts to prevent people doing torrents from completely monopolizing their networks.

Torrents are traceable, and subject to the same copyright problems, Napster was originally. Become a big enough torrenter, and someone may sue you for copyright violation.
Remember if you download something you do not own, you have technically stolen it from whoever does own it.

Answer 2

Torrents allows you to download files across distributed network.
Free ? Are you asking for legal point of view ?

Downloading copyrighted material is not legal. But ya you can download it for free. Its always good to make sure that you are not downloading something copyrighted.

To use torrent. Get a torrent file from google search engine. Prefixing the name of the file you want then typing the name of subject you want. You will have a .torrent file. Save it.

Install a client software like utorrent. (Smallest and fastest). Open torrent file in it and you are done.

Remember never be a leeacher (Those who just downloads and disconnects) be a seeder too (Those who uploads too). this you will have good ratio.

You can download large linux dvd through torrents at very high sppeds (limited by your ISP). Also you can find many things under creative common license/

Answer 3

Torrents are a free speech tool.


Torrents give you the same freedom to publish previously enjoyed by only a select few with special equipment and lots of money. ("Freedom of the press is limited to those who own one" -- journalist A.J. Liebling.)


You have something terrific to publish -- a large music or video file, software, a game or anything else that many people would like to have. But the more popular your file becomes, the more you are punished by soaring bandwidth costs. If your file becomes phenomenally successful and a flash crowd of hundreds or thousands try to get it at once, your server simply crashes and no one gets it.


There is a solution to this vicious cycle. Torrents, the result of over two years of intensive development, is a simple and free software product that addresses all of these problems. The key to scaleable and robust distribution is cooperation. With Torrents, those who get your file tap into their upload capacity to give the file to others at the same time. Those that provide the most to others get the best treatment in return. ("Give and ye shall receive!")


Cooperative distribution can grow almost without limit, because each new participant brings not only demand, but also supply. Instead of a vicious cycle, popularity creates a virtuous circle. And because each new participant brings new resources to the distribution, you get limitless scalability for a nearly fixed cost.


Torrents are not just a concept, but has an easy-to-use implementation capable of swarming downloads across unreliable networks. Torrents haves been embraced by numerous publishers to distribute to millions of users.


With Torrents free speech no longer has a high price.

Answer 4

Torrents are types of cracks which when you to download the file you get its crack or serial no. etc.They are absolutely free.To use them,
1.Go to www.torrentspy.com or any other torrent site(Make sure you have bit torrent or any other client)
2.Search for the required torrent.
3.If it brings a good result,select the preferred result and the client will pop up.Let it download.
4.-ENJOY-

Answer 5

of cause they are free. torrents are used by the BitTorrent client or other peer-to-peer programs that use the BitTorrent protocol.