WHAT IS BITTORRENT ?

BitTorrent is a different form of P2P Download Client, and this Client is very popular with people, who want to share big Files such as Movies and TV shows.

BitTorrent is different to normal P2P Networks, because instead of Downloading the same File from one source, it will Download pieces of the same File from many different sources, as you are Downloading the pieces of the File are checked for errors.

Once you have finished the Downloading of one piece, it can be Downloaded by someone else, and this means that a highly popular File will be easier to Download.

If a File is very popular on a Website or a traditional Server then too much Demand can cause the Server to crash, if not bring the Download speed Down to a crawl. However with BitTorrent increased demand actually increases the number of people sharing the File.

The official BitTorrent client tends to utilise all of the Internet connection, preventing you surfing the Web or checking E-mail. A Free version has since been released, that fixes this quite serious problem.

Each File is split into about 1000 pieces, and each of these 1000 pieces can be Downloaded from a different person. This speeds up the process, and also allows you to upload the part of the File you’ve just finished Downloading.

With traditional P2P Software you could only share the Software once you had finished Downloading the complete Software. If any of the pieces are missing or have errors in them, then they can be Downloaded from a seed that has the whole Copy of the File.

BitTorrent does not have its own Search Engine, instead you must do a Web Search to locate the Torrent Files, and then use these to start the download. There are a couple of Search Engines on the internet Designed to search for Torrents, examples are BTBot and TorrentSpy.

Simultaneous Downloading is nothing new, most of the new P2P Applications are capable of it, however where BitTorrent differs is that it is capable of sharing part of the File before the complete File is Downloaded. This means a very popular File can be very quickly distributed.

The problem with the BitTorrent System is that sometimes you end up with an incomplete File, because nobody yet has the whole File that is still Online. In this case you must complete the partial File at another time.

BitTorrent is Free to use, however some Companies will try to Con you by charging for their clients. Remember to be careful when choosing a client as some of them can carry nasties such as Spyware or even Viruses.

Spyware is the one to watch out for, it has several incarnations in its nastiest form, it sits on your Computer and can record your Keystrokes. Yes the program will look at what you type, why would that be a problem you may think ?

Yes we are sure that nobody wants to read the office letter, that you’ve just finished writing, but how about before when you brought something with your Credit Card ? The person responsible for the Spyware will also know your Credit Card details, and Passwords.

Spyware is very difficult to remove, even if you use the proper programs, it’s because it really doesn’t want to be Removed, it buries itself deep inside your System, and forcing it out can be a real pain. Before you start Downloading Files make sure you invest in a High Quality Antivirus, Firewall, and Antispyware Software.

Take a look at our Software Reviews, where we compare some of the Best Software Protection Tools on the market - Computer Software Reviews

In conclusion BitTorrent along with the rest of the P2P solutions are available for Free, however if you pay for a Portal, then you will get a greater access to Files plus some form of Security, also hopefully ensuring that the Software does not contain any hidden surprises.

Why would you want to use BitTorrent ?

• It allows access to lots of popular Files.
• Fast Downloading.
• Downloaded Files are split into pieces and these pieces can be shared.
• Popular Files are more accessible unlike traditional forms of File sharing.