Torrent 文件(Torrent files)是包含有关如何使用BitTorrent 协议(BitTorrent protocol)下载较大文件的信息的小文件。该协议与HTTP/HTTPS不同，需要一个 torrent 客户端来下载客户端。我们将快速了解BitTorrent的工作原理以及使用它们下载的文件是否合法且安全。
什么是 Torrent 文件和BitTorrent协议？
BitTorrent是一种协议，可帮助您下载大文件，而不必担心带宽问题。该协议的结构还提供了对简历的支持。恢复支持意味着您可以在某个点暂停下载并从暂停点恢复下载。如果您在中途停止下载，您可能需要从头开始下载或从停止点下载，具体取决于您使用的BitTorrent客户端。
BitTorrent使用多个服务器（在这种情况下，称为对等点，因为它们直接互连，无需服务器来控制它们：见上图）用于将文件下载到您的计算机。只要您在下载，您也是BitTorrent网络的一部分。在下载文件的同时，您还将它上传到正在寻找相同文件进行下载的其他客户端。即使在您的下载完成后，如果您保持 Torrent 客户端打开并且不从您的 Torrent 客户端中删除该 torrent，它会继续上传（播种）下载，以便其他人可以从您的计算机下载它（不知道其 IP 地址和位置）。
BitTorrent协议的基础是共享计算机以使用给予和接受公式提供大量下载。已经有一大群计算机（对等机）包含全部或部分下载文件。当您下载 torrent 文件时，您会下载有关文件位置、主链接、使用的加密方法（如果有）和类似信息的信息。下载开始后，您可以看到客户端从不同的计算机（也可以是家用计算机）分批下载它。
就像有人正在下载相同的文件一样，他或她也在将文件上传（播种）到另一台计算机，您可以从那里以更快的速度下载文件。根据BitTorrent协议创建者的说法，理想的比例应该是 1:1。这意味着，如果您使用其他人的计算机下载文件，您应该能够通过让您的Bit Torrent客户端上传文件一段时间将其回馈给社区。大多数BitTorrent客户端会向您显示您在现场上传的文件中有多少可能标记为“上传”或“种子”。
该系统的主要优点是人们是积极的参与者，因此网络会增长，这反过来会导致使用的带宽减少。想象一下，如果使用单个服务器并且有太多人试图访问它，那么没有人会得到它，因为服务器会崩溃。
阅读：(Read:) 什么是点对点网络 (P2P)。(What are Peer to Peer Networks (P2P).)
BitTorrents 合法还是非法
这个问题的答案是“是”(Yes)和“否”。这取决于您下载的内容。虽然有些网站只提供他们拥有版权的合法内容或公共领域的东西，但许多网站提供盗版电影、音乐、歌曲和书籍等。您应该查看您所在国家/地区的法律，看看您下载的是什么合法的。下载非法文件的责任完全在于您，因为运行托管 BitTorrents 的网站的人可以通过声称无罪而轻松地在计算机迷宫中逃脱。
BitTorrent 安全还是不安全
大多数Bit Torrent(Torrents)都是安全的，因为知名的Torrent站点在托管它们以供下载之前会先对其进行检查。但是，并非所有网站都是安全的。有些人可能愿意分发恶意软件，而另一些人可能不知道（他们可能没有检查他们托管的文件的部分）是恶意的。此外，如果BitTorrent客户端正在从受感染的计算机上传，则您的下载内容可能会被感染。
我建议您始终使用防病毒软件对 .torrent 文件和最终下载文件进行深度扫描，以查看它们是否可以安全使用。(I suggest you always deep-scan scan both the .torrent files and the final download with an antivirus to see if they are safe for use.)
如何下载 Torrent 文件
下载 torrent 文件(process to download torrent files is easy)的过程很简单。您所要做的就是搜索 Torrent 文件(search for Torrent files)。您可以进入高级搜索并要求搜索引擎查找具有 .torrent 扩展名的文件。这会将您带到搜索引擎结果页面，您可以在其中下载 .torrent 文件，其中包含有关如何获取原始下载的更多信息。如果您已经安装了Torrent 客户端(Torrent client)，您所要做的就是双击 .torrent 文件打开 torrent 客户端，然后下载整个文件，同时上传它。
我使用简单的语言，避免使用技术术语，让每个人都更容易理解这个主题。
Look forward to your comments!
What are Torrent files? Are Torrented files legal, illegal, safe?
Torrent files are small files that contain information on how to download a larger file using BitTorrent protocol. The protocol, unlike HTTP/HTTPS, needs a torrent client for downloading the client. We’ll take a quick look at how BitTorrent works and if files downloaded using them are legal and safe.
What are Torrent files and BitTorrent protocol?
BitTorrent is a protocol that helps you in downloading large files without having to be troubled by bandwidth. The structure of the protocol also provides for resume support. The resume support means you can pause downloading at a point and resume downloading from the point where it was paused. If you stop downloading in the middle, you may have to download from the beginning or from the point where you stopped, depending on the BitTorrent client you are using.
BitTorrent employs more than one server (in this case, called peers, as they are interlinked directly, without the need for a server to control them: see image above) for downloading files to your computer. And as long as you are downloading, you are also part of a BitTorrent network. While downloading the file, you are also uploading it to some other client that is seeking the same file for download. Even after your download is complete, if you keep the torrent client open and do not remove the torrent from your torrent client, it continues uploading (seeding) the download so that others can download it from your computer (without knowing its IP address and location).
The very base of the BitTorrent protocol is to share computers for providing large downloads using the give and take formula. There are already a swarm of computers (peers) that contain either the download file in full or in parts. When you download a torrent file, you download information about the whereabouts of the file, the main link, the encryption method used (if any) and similar information. Once your download starts, you can see your client downloading it in parts from different computers that can be home computers too.
Like if someone is downloading the same file, he or she is also uploading (seeding) the file to another computer from where you can download the file at a faster pace. The ideal ratio, according to BitTorrent protocol creator, should be 1:1. That means, if you download a file using others’ computers, you should be able to give it back to the community by way of letting your Bit Torrent client upload the file for a while. Most BitTorrent clients show you how much of the file you have uploaded infield that may be marked either “upload” or “seed”.
The main advantage of this system is that people are active participants, and hence the network grows which, in turn, results in lesser bandwidth being used. Imagine if a single server was used and too many people tried to access it, no one would get it as the server would crash.
Read: What are Peer to Peer Networks (P2P).
Are BitTorrents Legal or Illegal
The answer to this question is both Yes and No. It depends on what you are downloading. While some sites offer only legitimate content whose copyright they hold or things that are in the public domain, many offer pirated movies, music, songs, and books, etc. You should check with the law of your land to see what you are downloading is legal. The responsibility of downloading illegal files rests completely with you as the people who run websites hosting BitTorrents can easily get away in the maze of computers by claiming innocence.
Are BitTorrents Safe or Unsafe
Most of the Bit Torrents are safe as the well-known Torrent sites check it out before hosting them for downloads. However, not all sites are safe. Some may willingly distribute malware while some others may not be aware (they may not have checked the parts of the file they are hosting) as malicious. Besides, if a BitTorrent client is uploading from an infected computer, the chances are that your downloads may be infected.
I suggest you always deep-scan scan both the .torrent files and the final download with an antivirus to see if they are safe for use.
How to download Torrent files
The process to download torrent files is easy. All you have to do is to run a search for Torrent files. You may go to advanced search and ask the search engine to look for files with .torrent extensions. This brings you to the search engine results page where you can download a .torrent file containing more information about how to go and get the original download. If you have a Torrent client installed already, all you have to do is to double-click on the .torrent file to open the torrent client which then downloads the entire file, all the while, uploading it as well.
I used simple language, avoiding technical jargon, to make it easier for everyone to understand this subject.
Look forward to your comments!
