How to use Vuze Anonymously
Welcome to our step-by-step guide showing you how to download torrents anonymously with Vuze.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Vuze, it is a power-packed bittorrent client (one of the most popular in the world) loaded with extra media features and even a built in search engine.
In this guide, we'll show you how you can easily become completely anonymous on Vuze, by using either a Proxy or a VPN service. We've also got a complete list of the 'Best Vuze VPNs'.
If you prefer uTorrent, check out our Anonymous Utorrent Guide.
For those of you who aren't familiar with Vuze, it is a power-packed bittorrent client (one of the most popular in the world) loaded with extra media features and even a built in search engine.
In this guide, we'll show you how you can easily become completely anonymous on Vuze, by using either a Proxy or a VPN service. We've also got a complete list of the 'Best Vuze VPNs'.
If you prefer uTorrent, check out our Anonymous Utorrent Guide.
What do you mean by Anonymous Torrents?
When your computer connects to the internet, it does so by going through an internet service provider. This could be your cable company, DSL, Sattelite, or a university network. It's whoever provides your internet access. Two things about your internet provider are almost certainly true:
Here's a screen shot from a legal public domain torrent file in vuze:
- They assign you an IP Address (Like 192.168.55.32) that can be traced to your connection
- They can read and possibly record data on all web traffic over their network (unless encrypted)
Here's a screen shot from a legal public domain torrent file in vuze:
We've blurred the last few digits of the IP addresses for the sake of privacy, but as you can see, you're sharing alot more information about yourself on vuze than you may realize.
So what can you do about this?
There are two different tools that will let you change the IP address that shows up when you connect to a bittorrent swarm in vuze. A VPN and a Proxy. We wrote an entire article discussing the differences and advantages of each, but here's a quick summary:
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VPN (Virtual Private Network)
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Proxy Server
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Many users actually use both simultaneously. They run their bittorrent client through a proxy, and then run all their data (including the proxy service) inside of a VPN, for an extra layer of protection. This makes it very difficult for anyone to connect your anonymous IP address with your true IP.
Some VPN services can provide even more anonymity, but choosing to keep no logs or records of your VPN connection. This makes it essentially impossible for someone to link one IP address to the other.
Some VPN services can provide even more anonymity, but choosing to keep no logs or records of your VPN connection. This makes it essentially impossible for someone to link one IP address to the other.
Is a VPN Expensive?
Not at all. There is so much competition in this market now that prices have dropped dramatically. Some VPN services cost less than $5 per month. Our editor's choice VPN for 2014 is Private Internet Access.
They offer VPN service for under $40/year. That's $3.33/month! Even better, they are one of the few VPN's that includes Free Proxy Service with all their VPN packages. You should visit private internet access and at least check out their packages. They also have a 7 day refund policy so you can test-drive their software risk free! |
Editor's Choice for 2014!
$3.33/month
Unlimited Bandwidth/Transfer Free Proxy Included No Logs. |
How to Setup Vuze with a Proxy server
We like the proxy option for anonymous torrents for a couple reasons:
Torguard offers an excellent torrent proxy service (with a bunch of proxy server locations) as well as easy install options for utorrent, deluge and vuze that will let you skip these manual setup options.
We're using Private Internet access's proxy settings for our tutorial (they include free proxy service with your VPN purchase)
- You can route vuze and your web browser separately (different IP address for each)
- You never have to worry about your IP being exposed in the event of dropped connection
Torguard offers an excellent torrent proxy service (with a bunch of proxy server locations) as well as easy install options for utorrent, deluge and vuze that will let you skip these manual setup options.
We're using Private Internet access's proxy settings for our tutorial (they include free proxy service with your VPN purchase)
Step 1: Generate your login/password for your proxy service
Note: this step is for PIA proxy users only
Your private internet proxy password is different than your VPN account login/password. To generate your proxy credentials, login to your account on their website, scroll down and you will see this:
Note: this step is for PIA proxy users only
Your private internet proxy password is different than your VPN account login/password. To generate your proxy credentials, login to your account on their website, scroll down and you will see this:
Then just click on the generate button and copy the new username and password into vuze a little bit later.
Step 2: Enable 'Advanced' user mode in vuze
1. Open Vuze and in the menu go to Tools > Options...
2. Click on the 'Mode' tab on the top left and select 'Advanced.' This will allow you access to the proxy setup options later on.
1. Open Vuze and in the menu go to Tools > Options...
2. Click on the 'Mode' tab on the top left and select 'Advanced.' This will allow you access to the proxy setup options later on.
Mode > Advanced
Step 3: Proxy Options
While still in the options menu, go to Connection > Proxy you'll see this:
While still in the options menu, go to Connection > Proxy you'll see this:
Tools > Options... > Connection > Proxy
1. Make sure to check every box with a green dot above
2. Uncheck the box with the red dot above
3. Enter your proxy address. Your proxy service will provide this information. Here are some of the popular ones:
2. Uncheck the box with the red dot above
3. Enter your proxy address. Your proxy service will provide this information. Here are some of the popular ones:
- Private Internet Access - proxy-nl.privateinternetaccess.com (Port # 1080). Full PIA proxy guide.
- IPVanish - ams.socks.ipvanish.com (port 1080). Full proxy instructions in our IPVanish review.
- BTGuard - proxy.btguard.com (Port # 1025)
- 4. Enter the port number (these will be provided by your proxy provider in their setup guide. For Private internet access, the port # is 1080. For BTGuard it is 1025
- 5. Find your SOCKS Version by clicking the "Test Socks" button below your login details
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Step 4: Add Encryption
1. Go to Connection > Transport Encryption (still in the options menu)
2. Make sure you're settings look like this:
1. Go to Connection > Transport Encryption (still in the options menu)
2. Make sure you're settings look like this:
Recommended Vuze Encryption Setup
Note: Encryption is optional, but it does have several benefits:
If you aren't using a proxy by itself, without a VPN, it's highly recommended that you enable encryption.
- It prevents your ISP from reading your traffic (and seeing what you're downloading)
- It will prevent your ISP from throttling (slowing down) your torrents
If you aren't using a proxy by itself, without a VPN, it's highly recommended that you enable encryption.
Step 5: Optional Security Extras
Some Plug and Play technologies like UPnP have been found to have security vulnerabilities that could potentially expose your IP address on vuze accidentally, so we will show you how to disable it. The downside of this is that without UPnP you may not find as many peer connections, so you're downloads may be slower
1. Go to Tools > Options > Plugins > Distributed DB and uncheck the box 'Enable the distributed database'
2. Go to Plugins > UPnP and uncheck the box at the top 'Enable UPnP'
1. Go to Tools > Options > Plugins > Distributed DB and uncheck the box 'Enable the distributed database'
2. Go to Plugins > UPnP and uncheck the box at the top 'Enable UPnP'
Step 5: Verify your setup
Before you do this, make sure you 'Restart Vuze' from the file menu, or close and then reopen the program.
1. Doubleclick on the 'SOCKS ' indicator at the bottom of your vuze software (near the bottom right corner) it should have a green circle next to it, and we've marked it with a neon green dot in the image below. It should bring up a screen in your vuze client that looks like the one below.
Your IP address should be in the area underlined with green. Verify that it is different than the IP address of your web browser. You can check your browser IP by going to IPMonkey.
Before you do this, make sure you 'Restart Vuze' from the file menu, or close and then reopen the program.
1. Doubleclick on the 'SOCKS ' indicator at the bottom of your vuze software (near the bottom right corner) it should have a green circle next to it, and we've marked it with a neon green dot in the image below. It should bring up a screen in your vuze client that looks like the one below.
Your IP address should be in the area underlined with green. Verify that it is different than the IP address of your web browser. You can check your browser IP by going to IPMonkey.
Hopefully everything is working as planned!
If your IP hasn't changed, check a few things:
If your IP hasn't changed, check a few things:
- Retest your proxy using the 'Test SOCKS' button in proxy options.
- Verify that you are using the correct server adderss/port
- Verify your login/password are correct
- Restart Vuze and try again
Easy Automatic Proxy Setup Option
Manual setup is really the best because it makes sure that all the settings are correct for maximum privacy. If you prefer something faster and easier, however, Torguard offers a 1 click proxy setup button for Vuze, uTorrent, Bittorrent, and Deluge clients.
This tool will automatically apply their recommended settings for your favorite bittorrent client. (Obviously you need to sign up for torguard's proxy service for this to work)
This tool will automatically apply their recommended settings for your favorite bittorrent client. (Obviously you need to sign up for torguard's proxy service for this to work)
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To use the simple installer:
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Torguard Proxy Setup Tool (Source: Torguard.net)
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How to Use Vuze with a VPN
A VPN is certainly the fastest way to start downloading torrents anonymously with vuze. The best anonymous VPN providers all have a 1 click software installer that makes connecting to your VPN as easy as choosing a server location and clicking the 'Connect' button
A VPN also includes built-in encryption, so nobody, including your internet provider, can read your internet traffic and file downloads. As we mentioned earlier, a VPN can be used together with a proxy service for an extra layer of security, but will work just fine on its own.
There are a couple of features you may want to look for, when choosing a VPN for vuze:
1 - VPN Kill Switch
We wrote an entire article about kill switch technology, but in basic terms, a VPN kill switch lets you choose if you want to instantly kill your internet connection if you disconnect from your VPN. This protects your true IP address from leaking out on Vuze or on a website by accident. We highly recommend this feature if you aren't using a proxy with vuze!
Vuze also includes it's own version of kill-switch technology, which allows you to bind Vuze to your VPN's interface. This technique works flawlessly, but should only be used if you're using the VPN only (no proxy). We have full setup instructions later in this guide.
VPN's with built in Kill-Switch technology:
2 - Fast Speeds
Everyone knows that faster is better. IPVanish is the Fastest VPN we've tested and the only VPN provider that runs on a Tier-1 data network. We've maxed out our 50mbps connection using IPvanish and would likely get even higher speeds on a faster test connection.
3 - No Logs
We always recommend choosing a VPN provider that doesn't keep logs, and choosing a VPN for Vuze is no exception. We're in favor of anything that increases your privacy online, and a non-logging VPN provider is a great step in that direct. You can see our complete list of no-logs vpn's...
Or just choose one from our recommended list below:
A VPN also includes built-in encryption, so nobody, including your internet provider, can read your internet traffic and file downloads. As we mentioned earlier, a VPN can be used together with a proxy service for an extra layer of security, but will work just fine on its own.
There are a couple of features you may want to look for, when choosing a VPN for vuze:
1 - VPN Kill Switch
We wrote an entire article about kill switch technology, but in basic terms, a VPN kill switch lets you choose if you want to instantly kill your internet connection if you disconnect from your VPN. This protects your true IP address from leaking out on Vuze or on a website by accident. We highly recommend this feature if you aren't using a proxy with vuze!
Vuze also includes it's own version of kill-switch technology, which allows you to bind Vuze to your VPN's interface. This technique works flawlessly, but should only be used if you're using the VPN only (no proxy). We have full setup instructions later in this guide.
VPN's with built in Kill-Switch technology:
- Private Internet Access - (Our top choice!)
- IPVanish - (Now includes Socks5 proxy. Fastest VPN provider).
- Torguard
- Proxy.sh
2 - Fast Speeds
Everyone knows that faster is better. IPVanish is the Fastest VPN we've tested and the only VPN provider that runs on a Tier-1 data network. We've maxed out our 50mbps connection using IPvanish and would likely get even higher speeds on a faster test connection.
3 - No Logs
We always recommend choosing a VPN provider that doesn't keep logs, and choosing a VPN for Vuze is no exception. We're in favor of anything that increases your privacy online, and a non-logging VPN provider is a great step in that direct. You can see our complete list of no-logs vpn's...
Or just choose one from our recommended list below:
The Best VPN Services for Vuze:
Editor's Choice!
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Private Internet (2016 Editor's Choice 'Best VPN For Vuze')
We love PIA for a bunch of reasons: It's got a ton of extra security features that other VPN's don't (Like VPN kill switch and DNS leak protection) As well as 256-bit encryption, a free mobile app, and Free Proxy Service Included! PIA doesn't keep any logs (like all the VPN's in this list) and they are very torrent friendly. Best of all, PIA only costs $3.33/month with a 1 year subscription! |
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IPVanish VPN
We love IPVanish for their unmatched speeds on their superfast Tier-1 Network. Now IPVanish includes a kill-switch, a high-speed SOCKS5 proxy server, and allows up to 5 simultaneously connected devices. Their software is available on all major platforms (Windows/Mac/iOS/Android) IPVanish is extremely torrent-friendly, and they were named our 'Best Torrent VPN' in 2016. If you can afford their $6.49/month pricing, IPVanish is an excellent choice. They outperformed Private Internet Access in our VPN comparison. Read: our IPVanish Review to learn more! |
IPVanish VPN (Very Fast Speeds)
7 Day Money-back Guarantee!
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Easy Vuze Proxy Installer
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Torguard VPN + Anonymous Torrent Proxy
Torguard keeps no logs, and tries to make it as easy as possible to get up an running with their anonymous VPN and proxy services. We're a big fan of their proxy setup software that automatically installs their recommended proxy settings in your favorite bittorrent client (including vuze). They're VPN software includes DNS leak protection and a Kill-Switch so your true IP doesn't leak on Vuze by accident. You can can out our Torguard Review for more information, or just visit their site. |
Vuze VPN Setup
Instead of using a proxy with Vuze, you can use a VPN instead. You don't need to use both (but you can if you want). As long as you have the kill-switch enabled, the VPN will encrypt your torrent traffic, and hide your torrent IP address.
All else being equal, a VPN is a better privacy tool than a proxy. The only downside is VPN speeds are usually slower than proxy torrents speeds.
Best of all, there is no setup or configuration required to use a VPN with Vuze. Just download the VPN software (your provider will send you a link), then choose a server location, and hit 'Connect'.
Optional: We show you how to 'Bind' Vuze to your VPN's IP address, so torrents will stop immediately if the VPN fails. This is even more effective than your VPN provider's built-in kill switch.
All else being equal, a VPN is a better privacy tool than a proxy. The only downside is VPN speeds are usually slower than proxy torrents speeds.
Best of all, there is no setup or configuration required to use a VPN with Vuze. Just download the VPN software (your provider will send you a link), then choose a server location, and hit 'Connect'.
Optional: We show you how to 'Bind' Vuze to your VPN's IP address, so torrents will stop immediately if the VPN fails. This is even more effective than your VPN provider's built-in kill switch.
Step #1 - Open your VPN software
Install the VPN software from your chosen provider's website. Then open the software and sign in using your username/password.
Step #2 - Choose a VPN server
Many VPNs have multiple server locations (countries you can connect to). Some have 50 or more. We recommend choosing a server in a torrent-friendly country: Netherlands, Sweden, Canada, Luxembourg, Romania, Switzerland.
Step #3 - Use the Kill Switch
It's a good security practice to use the 'kill-switch' security feature of your VPN software. Most providers now offer this functionality, including: IPVanish, Private Internet Access, NordVPN, and ExpressVPN
Use your VPN's 'Kill-Switch' to prevent IP leaks if the VPN disconnects.
Step #4 - Check your Torrent IP address
Just to be safe, it's a good idea to check your torrent IP address. Use an IP tracking torrent to see how you look from your peers' perspective. We've got a whole 'how-to' on checking your torrent IP.
Additional Resources
Thanks alot for reading this guide on How to use vuze anonymously. We hope you found everything you needed here, but if you still have more questions or are looking for more information on VPN's, or anonymous bittorrent, here are some useful links for you:
