No VPN needed on private tracker sites?

[caca]

I'm registered with a private tracker torrent site and one of the mods there told me that I don't need to use a VPN with their site.

Does that mean when I download or upload something on that site, my ISP won't know what i'm downloading/uploading?

[᠎]

Let's think this through shall we...

When you registered, how did you prove to them that you don't work for the MPAA, or an ISP, the FBI or a Romanian cyber-crime group; and that even though you don't work for any of them you're not a lone script-kiddie, troll or nut job who likes a bit of fun at the expense of others?

It's OK, you don't have to prove it to us we don't claim to be "private" but obviously you proved it to the Mod you were speaking to.

And obviously everybody else on that site passed the same rigorous vetting procedure.

So, yeah, must be safe.

[caca]

Sorry, but I still don't understand. I didn't prove anything to that mod. He just checked my IP address.

And I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic. He said the site was SSL encrypted and that I don't need to use a VPN. But the reason I use my VPN is so my ISP won't find out that I'm downloading and uploading torrents.

So why wouldn't I need my VPN for this private site?

[᠎]

I was being sarcastic.

The Mod you talked to was being either dishonest (if he knew he was talking rubbish) or stupid (if he believed the nonsense he was telling you).

There is no difference at all between private sites and public sites when it comes to the risk of your ISP finding out what you are doing.

Use your VPN.

[caca]

lmao. yea that's what i thought too. i'm surprised he told me that.

---

this is what he said now:

"it's a lot harder for them [my isp] since they aren't able to just join torrents and start data harvesting"

and

" if you keep your data in your torrent client set to encrypted, they can't tell what your downloading "

[᠎]

It doesn't surprise me--private tracker Mods (and Admins) are notorious for their lack of knowledge.

It is a result of their limited membership numbers. Fewer members means fewer knowledgeable members available for staff positions means promoting members with less knowledge.

[caca]

so encrypting data in my torrent client doesn't do anything to keep my isp from knowing what i'm downloading or uploading?

what does encrypting data in my torrent client do?

[Moe]

The first failure in any of these discussions is thinking your ISP is the one snooping or even cares what you are doing. Quite the opposite really. They want you to pay your bill on time, and if you have a bandwidth cap, download to the point where you exceed it. Your ISP is never involved in monitoring your activities except to pass on those annoying infringement notices they receive from third parties.


The mod is an idiot, and if he represents the operators, the are also idiots for thinking it is any more difficult to monitor their swarms. Private sources are no different than public sources. Use a VPN if you feel the need.

If they actually have any kind of policy about not using a VPN, get out. Those policies exist so they can track your activities to enforce their "rules."

[caca]

i have a bandiwdth cap and i exceeded it this month. they said my speeds would be reduced. but i never saw a difference in speed.

so.... what does encrypting data in my torrent client do? what's the purpose of it?

[Moe]

so.... what does encrypting data in my torrent client do?  what's the purpose of it?

In the not too distant past, some ISPs experimented with the idea of throttling bittorrent traffic.  "Encryption" was an attempt to mask the traffic to evade ISP traffic shapers.

It was not ever intended to provide any kind of real security as it is a weak encryption.



Today, most ISPs aren't fooled, but aren't trying to shape bittorrent traffic either.


Best bet is to leave it enabled, but accept unencrypted connections.