Free proxy networks may seem like a lucrative option for those who are looking to mask their IP address. However, they may not be the ideal choice when it comes to torrenting.
While proxies do anonymize one’s IP address, they normally have a much higher latency than VPNs. Apart from that, there are some other things due to which free proxies aren’t the best method for torrenting.
Let’s get into it and see why free proxies should always be avoided when downloading something on the internet.
1. Slows down your internet
One of the major reasons why free proxies are never used for torrenting is that they tend to be extremely slow. There can be different causes behind the lag in speed, but it suffices to say you will not get a very satisfying experience when using one.
Due to this issue, your downloads, especially torrents will take almost forever to finish! This can be a pretty much annoying situation due to which most professionals try to avoid free proxies.
2. They aren’t secure
Another reason why you should never use them for torrents is that most free proxy providers store all kinds of data on users who access their services.
While this may seem like an issue with VPNs as well, at least there is some level of transparency involved with paid ones.
Free proxies keep logs about user activity which can then be sold or shared with 3rd parties. This can be a huge security risk in case someone gets your real IP address.
3. They are unreliable
Free proxies are very unreliable when it comes to torrenting or streaming media. Due to the extremely high latency, it will interrupt your downloads frequently.
Apart from that, at certain times they tend to limit one’s speed further due to which one is required to stop their activities for some time until the speeds go up again.
This makes them pretty much unusable when it comes to torrents or anything else with large data transfers. For this reason, most people don’t even try them with these services.
4. They have no customer support
Lastly, free proxies don’t offer you any kind of customer support if something goes wrong. This is because they do not operate as a full-fledged business, but rather as a service that may shut down anytime.
If your proxy isn’t working or is experiencing downtime, then you will not be able to contact anyone and get it fixed on time
Free proxies only have one purpose, which is to anonymize your IP address. But they do so at the cost of speed and security.
A Premium VPN is a Much Better Choice
Now you must be thinking about what should I use if I still want to anonymize my IP address? Well, the answer is simple.
All you need to do is buy a Premium VPN account from a reputed provider. These premium services have servers all over the world which are specifically optimized for torrenting.
Apart from that, they offer many other benefits including cross-platform support, compatibility with different devices, 24/7 customer support, easy installation process, and more.
The best thing about using a VPN is that they have their own servers. This way they will offer to anonymize your IP address without slowing down your internet. Moreover, VPN services are far more secure than free proxies which is also their plus point.
To Sum it Up
While free proxy may offer some level of anonymity, it is not a reliable method for torrenting.
Free proxies come with a lot of risks including that of your IP being exposed, data theft, and malware infection. So, stay away from them when using any P2P service on the internet.
All you need to do instead is get yourself a premium VPN account. This way you will be able to accomplish all your torrenting needs while staying secure and anonymous the whole time.
