BitTorrent Quick Start Guide
The Easy Tutorial for Beginners
What is BitTorrent?
Choosing the right BitTorrent Client
Torrent Download Sites
Connection Settings and Optimizing
Safety and Avoiding Spyware
Disclaimer
You've undoubtedly heard all the hype surrounding BitTorrent, and may be wondering what it is. Whether you've never downloaded P2P (peer-to-peer) media, or are looking to switch from your current P2P program, BitTorrent may be the answer to what you're looking for. Here is a brief introduction to BitTorrent.
BitTorrent is an interface designed to connect multiple users and allow them to transfer files to/from each other. The main advantage is that there is no single file server which contains the downloadable files, but rather the files are hosted and spread out among all of the user's computers. This takes the stress off of file servers and distributes it among the users.
In the first P2P programs, the information for who was currently transferring files was stored on the main web server for the P2P company (Kazaa, Limewire, Bearshare, etc). With BitTorrent, there is no controlling entity, but rather thousands of individual trackers which do the job. Trackers can be set up by anyone with a server, and they simply track who is currently transferring files. The beauty is that multiple trackers can be used when downloading a Torrent, so a user could potentially have a very large source of peers to share with.
The tricky part, which deters most new BitTorrent users, is the way in which files are searched for. Previous P2P programs had users download a client program, which contained a search engine, and search through a large database of available files to download. BitTorrent is different in that there isn't a single client program, and there is no single database to search through. Instead users need to find online BitTorrent search engines. Many people who have their own trackers also setup an online search engine so users can search through their files and other tracker's files as well.
Once a file is found, the user downloads the .torrent file (which is generally 1KB to 100KB in size). These .torrent files contain a list of trackers which are tracking the file to be downloaded. Opening the .torrent file in the user's BitTorrent client will start the download process, as the client contacts the various trackers and establishes connections with other users.
This may sound quite confusing to someone new to P2P, but don't worry, this guide is designed to explain each step of the process in an easy to understand way.
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First thing you will need is a BitTorrent client program. This is the program that will be installed on your computer and will download files. There are many to choose from, however for the purpose of this guide I will only list the more commonly known and better clients.
uTorrent - Very light on system resources, has most commonly used features. Highly recommended.
Azureus - The most features, however heavy on system resources.
Bit Comet - Almost as many features as Azureus, but much easier on system resources.
Bit Torrent - Official downloader, easy to use, but not many features and slow downloads.
Once you have chosen the one you want, download and install it. Each program will need to be configured to make the most of it. You will want to select your download location, connection settings, and other settings. Thankfully most come with wizards which will help you setup the best options from the start. Depending on if you're using a Modem, DSL, Cable, or if you are connected through a Router/Switch/Hub, you may have to do additional configuring, which I will cover in the Connection Settings section below.
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Here is a list of some of the larger Torrent search engines. This is not by any means all of them, there are literally hundreds if not thousands. You may want to search Google for "BitTorrent Search Engines" to find more, try using the search box below. One word of warning, a lot of these sites contain advertising, popups, spyware, and 18+ content. I highly recommend using the Firefox Internet browser before going to these, as it will help to protect against popups and spyware.
isoHunt - Recommended.
The Pirate Bay - Recommended.
My Bittorrent
TorrentSpy - Warning: Ads may contain explicit content.
Torrent Reactor - Warning: Ads may contain explicit content.
Box Torrents - Requires membership.
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Here are links to guides for each of the major BitTorrent clients listed above. Some of these range from simple tweaks and usage information, to advanced tweaking in the router interface and command prompt.
uTorrent Configuration Guide
uTorrent Optimizing Guide
uTorrent FAQ
Azureus Configuration Guide
Azureus Optimizing Guide
BitComet Usage Guide & In Depth Information
BitComet Optimizing Guide
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Because the BitTorrent network is so hard to track and is free for everyone to use, there is consequently a fair share of spyware, adware, and viruses floating around. I recommend having a Virus scanner installed, such as Norton, McAfee, AVG (free), or Trend Micro and running regular scans. Trend Micro also offers a great online virus scan called House Call, which is free and doesn't require registration or installation of a program. Next, it is a great idea to have Spyware scanners installed. These are less intrusive than Virus scanners generally, and only look for Spyware. Ad-Aware and Spybot S&D are good ones to use on a regular basis.
The best way to get rid of spyware and viruses is to avoid them all together. Never open suspicious files such as .exe applications, unless you know what they are for sure. Movie formats such as .avi, .mpg, and .mpeg, are generally safe, as long as you have the latest Windows Updates for the media player (Windows only, Mac users have less to worry about). Picture formats such as .jpeg, .jpg, and .gif are also safe. To find the extension of a file, right-click on it and click on Properties.
Staying safe while browsing for BitTorrent files to download is also important. Mozilla Firefox has been rated as the best and safest browser in many comparisons, I recommend installing it and making it your default Internet browser.
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Now the legal stuff. There are many copyrighted files floating around on the BitTorrent networks, such as movies, software (applications, games), and other copyrighted works. Just because these can be downloaded freely does not make it legal. Use your own discretion when choosing files to download, and steer clear of anything you are unsure of. The author of this site cannot be held responsible for any illegal actions you may take.
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