14 DAY TRIAL // While grabbing files directly from the web seems like a simple process, it can become cumbersome when dealing with large files. Torrents offer an alternative solution for these scenarios, allowing for faster and more efficient downloading of large chunks of data.
Due to a mistaken belief that they are solely used for piracy, some users simply stay away from anything relating to torrents. There is no denial that they are used to download copyrighted material, and there are lots of users out there copying pirated music, TV shows, movies, and games. Of course, the use of pirated content is not only illegal, but it also harms the creators and industries that rely on the sales and distribution of their legitimate work.
Torrents are much more than their bad reputation and can be used for many legal activities as well. uTorrent, also known as μTorrent, is one of the most popular torrent clients worldwide. A proprietary app of BitTorrent, the file sharing tool is used by millions across the globe, and some may say that it accounts for a significant percentage of all global upstream traffic.
Only download from official, trusted sources
Over the years, uTorrent was embroiled in several controversies and scandals, which has made some users question its safety and security. For starters, the app came bundled with a Bitcoin miner that was removed in March 2015. A little bit of digging revealed that some versions may still come with some unwanted extras, and a more documented example in this case is uTorrent version 3.4.2.
Moreover, scams have been reported in which users are charged for the free version of uTorrent. While some shady websites claim to be official download portals, others rely on phishing techniques to trick users to provide personal information or payment details. It goes without saying that both practices are illegal.
BitTorrent displays a warning before the installation that you should only download the program from reliable sources. Consequently, you need to do your research and download the app only from sources you know and trust.
Simple, familiar interface and intuitive functionality
The interface remains the same ever since the release of the program, the only difference nowadays being the ads. However, the ads only come with the free version of the program and, if they really bother or distract you, you can consider paying the modest annual fee of $4.95 to simply get rid of them.
On the left, you have a dashboard where you can quickly access the torrents and other files based on labels. On the right, you have two panels where you can preview all torrents, regardless of their status, along with details about them. To learn more about a particular file, simply click on it and you can find out general information, peers, trackers, and a speed graph.
The simple functionality is one of the trump cards of uTorrent. Double-clicking on a torrent file or dragging and dropping it over the UI is enough to add a new file to download. If you want to create a torrent file to share with others, the process is just as simple and entails specifying just a few details, such as the source, trackers, or whether you want it private and encrypted, for instance.
Depending on how much content you are downloading, you can create labels so that you can find files fast, conveniently. If you are regularly batch downloading, then you can consider adding an RSS feed, as it can help you sort out new content and automatically download it.
Comes with basic security features, including encryption
It is important to note that in the Peers section, you can preview a list of users along with their country and IP addresses. Since anyone can see the IP addresses while seeding, it is recommended that you use a VPN to enhance your privacy. uTorrent supports IP binding, so you can be sure your IP remains hidden in case you experience a VPN kill switch fail. You can also wipe out all data that the program collected about you with just one click.
In addition to IP binding, uTorrent also comes with other noteworthy security features, such as encryption and SOCKS5 proxy support. As far as encryption is concerned, it is the basic AES-128 algorithm that can offer protection against ISP throttling and can disguise your torrent traffic as normal browsing activity. The embedded encryption is more like obfuscating traffic, and a VPN would offer superior protection.
Another way to hide your IP address and traffic would be via SOCKS5 proxy routes. Again, while it masks your IP, the traffic is not truly encrypted, and the connection is not secure. Simply put, uTorrent can provide privacy and security while downloading, but it is not foolproof and should be used in conjunction with other security tools. Take note that using SOCKS5 can slow down your download speed and increase the latency due to the extra step of routing your traffic.
Allows you to add a transfer and bandwidth cap or schedule downloads
uTorrent provides the option to set limits on the amount of data that can be transferred and the speed at which it is downloaded. This allows for better control and management of the entire process, and it is useful when dealing with multiple downloads. To sum it up, you can manage their priority and download speed so that you grab the important ones first.
In addition to standard priority downloading settings, you can schedule various speed caps throughout the day. Consequently, if you do not want it to hog all your bandwidth while you need to use the Internet for other things, you can set a cap that will not affect loading and playing of videos or web pages, for instance.
uTorrent enables you to configure its behavior once the downloads are completed, meaning that you can set it to hibernate, sleep, reboot or shut down your PC. If you are away from home or using a different device, you can take advantage of the remote access feature to start, pause and stop torrents as needed.
The Good
The program offers a high degree of customization, providing you with complete control over how downloads are handled, allowing you to tailor the client to your specific needs and preferences. You can even access it remotely to manage the pending or completed files via a dedicated uTorrent Web UI.
The Bad
Some users recommend you rely on an older version of uTorrent, namely 2.2.1. Not only is this version considered ‘safe,’ but it is also ad-free as a bonus. Then again, considering that this version was released approximately 10 years ago, you are exposing yourself unnecessarily to various risks associated with outdated software.
