QandAs: Tech

What is a Torrent?

Answer:
A torrent is a computer file which is used to

download content over Peer 2 Peer networks using the BitTorrent Protocol. BitTorrent is a way to share files among many users. The most common P2P torrents are Music and Movie files. Rather than downloading whole movie or music files from a central server, Peer 2 Peer clients download a torrent file which is essentially a portion of the file. You take piece A from user 1, piece B from user 2 and so on. This way your not taking a complete file from any particular user.

Typically torrent files end in the extension .torrent and can be obtained from the Peer 2 Peer software providers or from independent websites.

The most popular torrent program is the original, BitTorrent which can be found at BitTorrent.com . Since they facilitate the illegal distribution of copyright works, Peer 2 Peer clients have been under pressure from music, movie, and software producers who want the clients to stop allowing the “theft” of their intellectual property. Proponents of Peer 2 Peer networking usually point out that clients have no way of knowing what is being distributed over their networks, no way of controlling it, and that Peer 2 Peer networking is intended to be used legally.