You shouldn't use a Free Proxy for Torrents

All over the internet, I see threads recommending the use of free HTTP proxies for torrents and I cringe. At their best, free proxy servers are crowded and slow, and at worst they're downright dangerous.

Not only is it crazy to trust a total stranger (offering you free service) with your privacy, but most free proxy servers are technologically incompatible with BitTorrent protocol.

This article will teach you about the reality of 'free', the limitations of HTTP proxies, and the potential dangers of giving total strangers access to your data stream.

Introduction to Free Proxies

There are numerous websites with lists of free proxy servers, often sorted by country or uptime. A few examples are gatherproxy.com, freeproxylists.net, and free-proxy-list.net.

These are public proxy servers, accessible by anyone who knows the address and port number (listed on the website).

What is a Proxy?

A proxy is a data tunnel that is routed from you computer to a 3rd party (proxy server) before reaching the internet. Similarly all data sent from the internet to your computer goes through the proxy server. The proxy is the middleman, and if used properly can help hide your identity from whoever is on the other end of your connection.

A proxy is generally configured to work with a specific program, not your entire internet connection. Common programs configured with a proxy are:

• A Web Browser - To get through firewalls are access geo-blocked sites like Netflix.
• Bittorrent Client Software -  To hide your ip address from you torrent peers.

Types of Proxy Servers