VPN Guide

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) hides your IP address from other peers in the torrent swarm. Without one, every seeder and leecher you connect to can see your real IP.

Why Use a VPN for Torrenting

When you join a torrent swarm, your IP address is visible to every other peer. Third-party monitoring organizations systematically collect these IPs and send notices to ISPs in some jurisdictions. A VPN routes your traffic through a server in another location, making the VPN server's IP visible to the swarm instead of yours.

Choosing a VPN

Not all VPNs are equal. For torrenting, prioritize:

1. No-logs policy, independently audited — the provider cannot hand over what it doesn't store
2. Kill switch — blocks all traffic if the VPN drops, preventing accidental IP leaks
3. P2P/torrent support — some providers block torrent traffic on all or most servers
4. Open-source clients — verifiable code

Recommended Providers

Provider	Notes
Mullvad	No account email required. WireGuard and OpenVPN. Audited. P2P on all servers.
ProtonVPN	Swiss jurisdiction. Open-source clients. Audited. P2P on designated servers.
IVPN	Privacy-focused. No-logs audited. WireGuard and OpenVPN. P2P allowed.

Avoid free VPNs — they typically log your traffic and sell data to cover costs.

Kill Switch Configuration

A kill switch blocks all internet traffic if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, preventing your real IP from leaking. Configure it at two levels for redundancy:

1. VPN Client Kill Switch

Most VPN apps have a built-in kill switch. Enable it in the app settings. In Mullvad and ProtonVPN it's called "Kill Switch" or "Internet Killswitch."

2. Torrent Client Network Binding (Software Kill Switch)

Bind your torrent client to the VPN network interface so it stops all connections if the VPN is down, even if the VPN client's kill switch fails.

qBittorrent:

• Tools → Options → Advanced → Network Interface
• Select your VPN interface (e.g., tun0 for OpenVPN, wg0 for WireGuard, or the named adapter on Windows)

Deluge:

• Preferences → Network → Outgoing Interface
• Select the VPN interface

Transmission:

• Add to settings.json: "bind-address-ipv4": "10.x.x.x" (your VPN's assigned IP)

To find your VPN interface name on Linux: ip link show — look for tun0, wg0, or proton0. On Windows: check Network Connections for the VPN adapter name.

Checking for Leaks

After connecting your VPN and starting a torrent:

1. Visit ipleak.net — it shows your IP and any WebRTC leaks
2. Use the torrent address detection feature on ipleak.net — it adds a magnet link you open in your client, then shows you which IP appeared in the swarm

If the swarm IP matches your VPN server's IP, you're protected. If it shows your real IP, your client isn't bound to the VPN interface.

WireGuard vs OpenVPN

WireGuard is faster, simpler, and uses modern cryptography. Use it when your provider offers it (Mullvad, ProtonVPN, IVPN all do).

OpenVPN is older but widely supported and highly configurable. Use it as a fallback or if WireGuard is unavailable.

VPNs and Private Trackers

Many private trackers ban VPN IP ranges to prevent cheating (shared accounts, ratio manipulation). Check your tracker's rules before connecting through a VPN. Some trackers maintain allowlists for specific providers.

If your tracker bans VPNs, a seedbox is a better alternative — see Seedboxes.