PeerBlock is a solution that gained a lot of popularity among the torrenting community, thanks to its practical functionality. This IP blocking application allows you to prevent specific IP addresses from connecting to your computer. This can help you to avoid torrent monitoring agencies. PeerBlock uses IP blacklists and it aims to target the IP addresses of the companies that check torrent traffic. While the concept is simple and it sounds like a practical solution to protect your torrent activities, the truth is that it is not as effective as it should. Not all the IP addresses that should be blocked are included in the lists, and some of the IP addresses blocked, shouldn’t be blocked.
PeerBlock fails to stop all the IP addresses that could land you into trouble and to make matters worse, a high percentage of the IPs blocked are actually safe. This affects your chances of finding available peers, which will affect your torrenting experience. In addition, PeerBlock doesn’t disguise or conceal your IP address, meaning that others will be able to see it. In summary, PeerBlock is not an effective way to torrent safely, which is why you need to consider alternatives that get the job done. While proxy servers can change your IP address, keeping your real IP hidden from others, a VPN service is a better solution since it protects your traffic with encryption.
Although a proxy offers faster performance, it doesn’t offer protection, unlike a VPN. Thanks to the strong encryption supported by a VPN service, your online activities won’t be accessible to third-parties. While VPNs tend to slow down your connection due to the encryption applied, you can find providers that support good speeds for downloading content. You can also look for a VPN provider that offers free SOCKS proxy. There are some options available that include this service, giving you flexibility to enjoy high security and fast speeds in the same plan.
What to look for in a VPN for torrenting?
Apart from considering the speed of the service, there are other important aspects that you need to keep in mind when it comes choosing a VPN for torrenting. In general, any VPN can provide better security than PeerBlock, but in order to get the best experience, it is important to choose a provider that allows P2P and that doesn’t keep logs of your online activities. Opting for a VPN that doesn’t keep logs allows you to enhance your anonymity because there is way to associate your IP address with your online activities. Using a VPN that protects your privacy will help you to torrent securely.
Your real IP address will be masked, which will ensure that it can’t be seen by the people who are sharing the file that you are downloading or seeding. Unlike a VPN, PeerBlock doesn’t protect your online traffic from eavesdroppers and it doesn’t keep your real IP address hidden. Choosing a VPN service that is torrent-friendly and that doesn’t keep logs or records of your activities, is the best way to enjoy torrenting without compromising your privacy. Below you will find our top PeerBlock alternatives.
Private Internet Access
PIA is one of the most popular VPN providers available and in spite of its low prices, it is a comprehensive solution that offers all the features that you need to enjoy torrenting in a secure and fast way. For just $3.33 per month (when you get an annual plan), you can get strong encryption, good speeds and advanced technology such as VPN Kill Switch. When you get a subscription, a convenient SOCKS5 Proxy service is included without additional cost. They have over 3000 servers in 25 countries and allow torrents across their network. PIA doesn’t keep logs of your online activities, it accepts Bitcoin as method of payment and it offers a 7 day money back guarantee.
TorGuard
TorGuard is committed to provide security and fast performance for torrent users, in fact, the name refers to their focus on helping you to enjoy Torrenting without putting your data at risk. They are a logless provider, which makes them a very appealing solution for torrent users since there won’t be any data kept, that could compromise their privacy. TorGuard gives you access to over 3000 servers in over 50 countries and they offer a varied selection of plans to suit different needs. There is an Anonymous Proxy plan that allows you to enjoy good speeds and it has a feature that will automatically configure your favorite torrent client with the best security settings. Still, the most complete solution for privacy is the anonymous VPN plan, which costs $4.99 per month when you subscribe for a full year in advance.
PureVPN
PureVPN is another top solution to enhance the security of your connection when you are using torrent applications. It gives you access to an extensive selection of servers and thanks to the strong level of encryption supported, your data will remain secure. PureVPN has servers in 141 countries so no matter where you live, you will be able to find a server that provides optimal speed. PureVPN is a torrent-friendly service with a client that offers convenient features such as internet kill switch, split-tunneling and DNS leak protection. They accept Bitcoin and no logs of your online activity are kept.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is based in the British Virgin Islands and it is an excellent option that will not only keep your online traffic protected, but it will also allow you to enjoy fantastic speeds to download content seamlessly. Currently, they have over 1000 servers in 94 countries and their network continues growing. ExpressVPN doesn’t monitor or log your online activities, so you can browse, download or stream content without putting your privacy at risk. ExpressVPN accepts Bitcoin and it has a good record helping users to protect their internet traffic. Their VPN client is known for its high quality and they include a SmartDNS solution with their VPN plans.
