Quote Originally Posted by |enouf|
...and was a bit leary of BitTorrent and if it's possible to get infected (adware/spyware/malware) from using it (as I'm leary of almost all d/l apps). But you've given a lot oif useful info concerning using BitTorrent - just wanted to say all your explanation wasn't done in vain
Thanks. There's been some FUD spread lately (belived by many to have Microsoft behind it because it's recently been identified as another part of the Internet that they ignored and lost control of) about BitTorrent and viruses, trojans, worms and the like. The bottom line is that BitTorrent itself is very safe. However, if you download bad files from dubious trackers and questionable torrents, you can certainly deliver viruses, spyware or worse with BitTorrent just like you can with any other downloading tool. If you download what is supposedly a movie or song but you get an install program and run it, well, shame on you. I use BitTorrent primarily for ISOs. I get them from trusted sources and I still inspect them with a tool like ISOBuster before burning. I often leave BitTorrent up unattended seeding while I'm away from the computer. I feel I'm acting safely.

Don't consider yourself hidden when you download files with BitTorent, even the new "trackerless" version. If you are downloading illegal songs or movies you can still be caught, you are broadcasting your IP address in very trackable ways. But if you use BitTorrent for legal uses and from trusted sources and take normal reasonable precautions, you should be perfectly safe.

I should add that some third party BitTorrent clients do indeed contain adware/spyware or other evil stuff. The original and offical client from BitTorrent.com does not and does not seem likely to in the future. If you elect to use a different client you should at least research if it is known to contain any nasty extras.