I keep seeing in forums and sites like these that say it’s frowned upon to not seed torrents that you use/used. I saw a post on here or Reddit (I don’t remember) with a guy ecstatic that someone started seeding his download he had been trying to get done for months. I know seeding lets someone download something using your computer but how is it helpful if someone doesn’t have a site and/or isn’t “in-range” ?

If you can’t tell, I don’t know much about how torrenting works other than how to download something using one. I hope that you all can just explain or point me in the right direction because I would like to support the community.

  • MaggotInfested@lemmy.dbzer0.comOP
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    9 hours ago

    So even if no one directly connects to my computer, just letting it seed is all you need? I use Deluge and, when it finishes downloading, it says “seeding” but I worry that means that someone can connect to my computer directly. Does it work fine if I just leave it be?

    • Ellia Plissken
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      8 hours ago

      the reason you were able to download it is because other people were seeding it. that’s why seeding is helpful

    • wildbus8979@sh.itjust.works
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      8 hours ago

      I worry that means that someone can connect to my computer directly.

      That’s how torrents work. Everytime you’re downloading so.ething you’re connecting to other people’s computers and letting other people connect to yours.

    • catloaf
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      9 hours ago

      They don’t connect to your computer like you’re thinking. There is a connection, yes, just like when you’re downloading you connect to other people’s computers. You can see them in the peer list.

    • Display name@feddit.nu
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      8 hours ago

      Person 1 has file A, which person 2 wants to download. Person 2 connects to person 1 and starts to download which makes person 1 a seeder. If person 1 has file A but doesn’t seed, person 2 can’t download file A since there is no seeder.

      When you seed you make sure that others can download that same file, but yes, they establish a connection with you to download it. If I have understood it correctly.

    • Talaraine@fedia.io
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      8 hours ago

      Bittorrent is a file sharing protocol, which isn’t inherently dangerous. The ‘torrent’ contains the information that’s being passed around to allow connectivity to that particular file. This is also not inherently dangerous as that information is very specific and limited… and doesn’t allow any other user to browse the rest of your computer.

      What may be dangerous is downloading a file that contains malware or viruses via a torrent. Use reputable sites and keep your security software up to date. Better yet, use a different computer for this activity with a vpn.

      • catloaf
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        5 hours ago

        Also potential security vulnerabilities in the torrent client. But that’s uncommon and they fix them as they’re found.