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BitTorrent

Software that allows users to download and play media from around the web

7.1

4986 Votes

  • Category P2P
  • Program license Free
  • Version 7.11.0-build-46591
  • Size 1.96 MB
  • Works under: Windows 10
  • Program available in English
  • Program by BitTorrent

BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing program designed to make exchanging large files easier. The program has a very basic interface that provides you with a large amount of information. The program offers support for the torrent file format. BitTorrent uses a decentralized model for sharing files. This means that people who want to download a file will connect directly with other users of the program to exchange the data. This can allow for very fast download speeds that exceed many standalone servers and services. BitTorrent is currently one of the most popular file sharing applications in the world.

The way that you use BitTorrent is by finding a link to a torrent file online. The torrent contains a unique file name or hash code. The program then begins crawling through other people using the application to find out if someone has the file available for download. Those people are called seeders. You can actually connect with a large number of people when attempting to download a single file. The application will download just one segment of the larger file from each person. This ability to manage simultaneous connections is one of the main reasons that BitTorrent can download files so quickly.

Users who are running BitTorrent have the ability to instantly share files with other people. You can select one or more directories for sharing information. Anyone searching for those files will connect to your client and start downloading them. You also have the ability to disable sharing although that can affect performance in some cases. A highly detailed download window will show you the current speed of your uploads and downloads along with an estimated time when they should be done. This can allow you to judge whether it is worth waiting for a particular file or program to download fully through BitTorrent.

There are some minor issues with BitTorrent. The first is that the program is widely used to share copyrighted files such as movies and music. If you attempt to download something copyrighted, then there is a chance that it could cause trouble with your Internet service provider. Another potential issue is that you never know what is actually in a torrent file when you download it. A number of malicious people have torrents with false names that actually contain viruses or malware. Using BitTorrent safely requires some research before downloading and opening random files found through the peer-to-peer network.

The latest version of BitTorrent gives users a wide range of customization options. Nearly every part of the main display can be customized to meet your individual needs. There are some very technical settings that you can change to fine-tune your experience with the application. You have the option to install a wide range of plugins for BitTorrent that will expand the core capabilities of the program. The program is constantly being updated by the developers to keep up with changing technologies. BitTorrent is the preferred program of people who want to use peer-to-peer file sharing.

Pros

  • Exceptionally fast download speeds
  • Simple and customizable interface
  • Large number of files available

Cons

  • Possible issues with copyrighted material or viruses
  • Finding torrents can be tricky
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