You’re not alone if you’ve been frustrated by torrent sites constantly asking for a VPN despite already having one. This common issue can disrupt your downloading experience or even lead to malware infections if you’re not careful.
This article explains why you’re seeing those prompts to install a VPN and explores different methods to get rid of such pop-ups while protecting you against threats. Towards the end, we’ll answer some FAQs on the best practices when torrenting with a VPN.
Disclaimer: Comparitech does not condone or encourage downloading of copyrighted material without permission. Always ensure you have the legal right to access and share any content you download.
Why torrent sites ask you to install a VPN despite having one
There are several explanations as to why torrent sites might ask you to install a VPN despite having one on your system:
- The torrent site’s IP detection system/database doesn’t contain a list of every VPN’s IP addresses, which is understandable. You may have noticed similar systems in place on the homepages of some of the best torrenting VPNs.
- It’s an ad. The site might earn a commission from the VPN provider they’re advertising. Dubious marketing practices? Yes. Dangerous? Not always, but it’s best to assume it is. Ultimately, it all comes down to the site owner and VPN provider trying to make money.
- It’s a scam. The message leads to either a malware download or a fake checkout page where your payment info gets stolen. The message may tell you to install a VPN (that’s potentially malicious software) to “unblock” the torrent download. Spoiler alert: this will not work and will only infect your system.
How to avoid torrent sites asking for a VPN
Outside of using a private tracker, this is how you avoid torrent sites asking for a VPN:
1. Only install VPNs from reputable sources
Never install VPNs, antiviruses, “PC cleaners,” and other deceptive software you see in advertisements and pop-ups on torrent sites. An easy way to identify them is that they typically use scare tactics to get you to install them on the spot, as seen in the example below.
Even if the ad might seem legit, torrent sites are not exactly the best source for VPNs. Use the provider’s main website or top-rated review sites, do your own research, and make an informed decision before installing anything on your system.
We know websites like to harp on about this sort of thing, but those few extra minutes you spend researching will save you hours/days of:
- Formatting your hard drive
- Reinstalling your OS and essential software
- Resetting all your passwords
- Potential phone calls with your bank/payment processors or the police.
2. Use anti-malware to secure against threats
Despite cyber attackers shifting their focus onto smart devices and bigger targets (businesses, hospitals, government agencies), malware attacks are still prevalent among average internet users.
Install a reliable antivirus on your system, and you’ll have one less thing to worry about. Yes, even if you misclick and install that free VPN, that one torrenting site’s been peddling you.
3. Don’t use Google to search for torrents
It’s no secret that Google search results have gotten progressively worse over the years. Even attackers have exploited Google ads to install malware on unsuspecting victims’ devices.
As you can imagine, Google has no interest in showing you the correct, non-spammy torrent sites, especially considering their controversial reputation. Instead, you’re more likely to run into “official” torrent sites that prompt you to install a VPN, antivirus, or other phony software.
Stick to the search function on the main tracker to find the content you’re looking for. Naturally, you should ensure you’re on the correct torrent site first.
4. Verify you’re on the right torrent website
If you’re using Google to find torrents, at least verify the URL before downloading anything. Otherwise, you might end up on sites with slight character variations (like 1377x.to instead of 1337x.to), or ones using a different domain extension (e.g. rutracker.com instead of .org). It’s easy to miss, so double-check the official domain name on sites like Wikipedia or Reddit.
Fake torrent sites like the above try to push you to install free VPNs more aggressively than their real counterparts. Some users reported being unable to download torrents, even after installing the software.
As you may have guessed, these bogus VPNs are likely to be malware, as opposed to some random free VPN using questionable tactics to promote its services.
5. Get an ad-blocker
VPNs like NordVPN, Surfshark, or IPVanish have built-in threat management systems, including an ad-blocker, tracker filtering, malware, phishing domain blocking, and more.
If you prefer a standalone solution, check out our list of the best free ad blockers for some solid alternatives. Any pesky ads or pop-ups on torrent sites that ask you to install a VPN will instantly vanish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do torrent sites ask for a VPN?
Torrent sites ask you to use a VPN because they’re most likely earning a commission from their recommended provider. Or, if you’re on the wrong website (say, 1377x instead of 1337x), the site is trying to get you to install a bogus VPN that is most likely malware.
While using a VPN for safe torrenting is sound, we don’t recommend installing any software from pop-ups or ads on dubious torrent sites.
Are free VPNs OK for torrenting?
There are a couple of decent free VPNs for torrenting out there. That said, most free providers have intrusive data collection policies that leave you open to copyright trolling and similar issues. Moreover, trusted, free VPNs have pretty limited monthly data caps (up to 10 GB), so they’re not the best choice for data-heavy torrenting.
Why are torrents not downloading even with a VPN?
If torrents aren’t downloading even with a VPN, check if your provider allows torrenting on the specific server you’re on (or at all). Also, verify that your firewall or antivirus isn’t blocking your torrent client and that your VPN doesn’t leak your IP (e.g., with Browserleaks). Finally, ensure that you haven’t accidentally added a split tunneling rule to exclude your torrent client.
Why do I need a VPN to torrent?
You need a VPN to torrent because a VPN hides your online activity from your ISP and keeps your IP address private in the torrent swarm.
Even if you stick to legal torrents (as you should), ISPs are known to block or throttle torrent traffic. Moreover, having your real IP visible in the swarm opens you to threats such as DoS/DDoS or port scanning attacks.
Do VPNs actually hide torrenting?
Yes, VPNs hide torrenting activity from anyone monitoring your connection, whether it’s your ISP or the network admins on-campus wi-fi. They use complex algorithms to encrypt (or mask) your data and route your connection through an intermediary server, making it unreadable and untrackable to outsiders.
Can my ISP see me torrenting with a VPN?
No, your ISP can’t see you torrenting with a VPN because VPNs encrypt all online activities, making them virtually impossible for third parties to decipher. At most, they can see that you’re downloading (or uploading) large amounts of data, but not how, what, or from where.
How do I get around my ISP blocking torrenting?
You can use a VPN (such as NordVPN) to get around your ISP blocking torrenting. A VPN hides everything you do online from anyone trying to snoop in on your connection, including your ISP.
