Torrents have become an increasingly popular way to download files. No matter what you are looking for, from audio to video to applications, torrents are an easy way to find and download. However, most torrents are illegal and nature, and you are breaking the law by downloading them.

Peer-to-peer filesharing pretty much began with torrents. They are a type of filesharing protocol specializing in larger file downloads. The way torrents are encoded make it easier to download a large file, and even reputable resources are beginning to use them to make downloading files easier for users.

A torrent works when it is first uploaded. Basically, the user who uploads it acts as what is called a seed. As more people download, and in turn, seed, this reduces the amount of bandwidth the original uploader is hosting. As long as downloaders continue to seed, they each share a part of the upload and bandwidth per user goes down. However, users do not have to seed, and if they choose not to, this can mean complications for users. If not enough people are seeding, it could take ages to download a single file, especially when that bandwidth is in one user's hands. If they are not actively sharing, you get stuck with a partially downloaded file that may never complete.

Anyone who downloads a torrent can be tracked which means it is the easiest way to be targeted for copyright infringement. Also, if you are running a dial-up connection, you might as well stay away from downloading torrents. Torrents are meant to be downloaded on a broadband connection due to the frequent stops, restarts and possible disconnection issues.

When downloading from a torrent, make sure you are careful about what you are doing. Torrents are notorious for being rife with problems, including viruses and other spyware. Illegal filesharing can be easily done with torrents, and since they can be tracked, avoiding them at all costs should be necessary. If you absolutely must have a movie or CD, why not purchase it instead? Downloading from a torrent may not be worth the legal risks or the damage to your computer.