BitTorrent可能是最著名的点对点文件传输协议。当然，它是让大多数音乐和电影高管彻夜难眠的原因，因为它主要以支持盗版而闻名。
然而，洪流本身并不是非法的，并且可以成为一种与人们共享文件而无需支付在线文件存储费用的经济有效且有用的方式。因此，如果您尝试在Windows或Mac上打开(Mac)Torrent文件，但不确定如何操作，以下是您需要了解的内容。
快速回顾 Torrent 的工作原理
BitTorrent是一种“点对点”文件传输协议。简而言之，这意味着它允许数据直接从一台计算机传输到另一台计算机。洪流通过公共互联网等网络工作，并且是分散的。这与下载托管在集中式服务器上的文件不同。
BitTorrent如此受欢迎和有效的原因在于，它可以使用属于普通人的计算机网络快速将文件共享给数百万人。它可以在不涉及服务器或数据中心的情况下完成所有这些工作。
它从一个初始的“播种者”开始，他拥有要共享的完整数据副本。然后，加入 torrent 的人开始从第一个播种机下载数据，但是一旦任何数据到达他们的计算机，他们就会开始与其他“对等方”共享数据，从而分散带宽负载。
一旦完整的副本在同行的计算机上，他们也可以成为播种者。如果原始播种机离线，这些额外的播种机可以让种子自行运行。
当您使用BitTorrent下载文件时，文件的各个位来自其他 torrent 成员。不仅仅是来自一个特定的播种机。
Torrent 文件中有什么？
一个 torrent 文件不包含下载的任何数据，这就是为什么它们如此之小。因此，如果您下载一个 torrent 文件，您还没有下载您想要的数据。
相反，torrent 文件包含有关数据的信息。这包括详细信息，例如 torrent 中包含的文件列表及其大小。它还包括至少一个 torrent 跟踪器的网址。torrent 跟踪器是一种服务器，可以帮助 torrent “群”中的各个对等点找到彼此。跟踪器可以是公共的或私有的，但使用公共种子跟踪器可能会带来隐私问题。
这是替代 torrent 文件（称为“磁力”链接）成为更受欢迎的解决方案的主要原因之一。
洪流与磁铁链接
与 torrent 数据不同，torrent 文件必须托管在某个地方，例如传统的文件服务器。如果托管 torrent 文件的站点出现故障，则尚未加入 torrent 的站点将无法连接到它。
磁力(Magnet)链接通过不需要中央服务器来托管它们来解决这个问题。任何已经加入 torrent 的人都可以生成磁力链接以允许新人加入。这使得通过拒绝访问来关闭种子几乎是不可能的。
我们建议尽可能使用磁力链接而不是 torrent 文件。如果要存储磁力链接，只需将其粘贴为您选择的文档格式的纯文本即可。
使用 Torrent 客户端
无论您使用的是 torrent 文件还是磁力链接，您都必须使用BitTorrent客户端来下载任何内容。torrent 客户端是一种软件应用程序，可以解释 torrent 文件或磁力链接的内容并处理文件共享过程。您需要一个适用于您的特定操作系统的 torrent 客户端，因此我们将简要介绍一些适用于Windows和Mac的主要示例。
无论您使用哪种Torrent客户端，打开一个 torrent 文件通常并不比通过（例如）双击打开任何其他文件更难。Torrent 客户端应与文件类型相关联并自动打开文件。您还可以使用与Word等应用程序相同的通用(Word) File > Open菜单从客户端手动打开 torrent 文件。
用于 Windows 的 Torrent 客户端
如果您是Windows用户，最简单的建议是uTorrent。这是迄今为止最受欢迎和最受支持的 torrent 客户端。它体积小、速度快、使用简单。
下一个打开Torrent(Torrent)文件值得注意的客户端是Vuze，以前称为Azureus。它比 uTorrent 更复杂、更密集，但提供了许多使其流行的功能。
例如，它允许用户在不使用第三方服务的情况下通过 torrent 发现要下载的内容。它还提供了一个内置的视频播放器，可以预览视频文件以及我们没有空间列出的其他简洁功能列表。请注意，免费版的Vuze受广告支持。
Mac 的 Torrent 客户端
如果您是Mac用户，那么您会听到的最常见的建议是使用名为Transmission的客户端。它简单、干净并且很好地集成到 macOS 环境中。但是，如果您成为更老练的 torrent 用户，您可能会发现自己的速度超过了Transmission。
如果您需要更多功能和控制，qBittorrent是打开Torrent文件的下一个主要候选者。这是一个开源(Open Source)应用程序，看起来有点粗糙和过时，但可以精细控制您的种子下载体验。
将 VPN 与 Torrent 一起使用
虽然洪流本身并不违法，但该技术被广泛用于侵犯版权，以至于许多服务提供商限制甚至阻止洪流流量。这就是为什么将VPN(VPN)（虚拟专用网络(Virtual Private Network)）与您的 torrent 使用配对可能是个好主意，这样您的服务提供商（或任何其他监控您的连接的人）将不知道您在做什么。
如果您的服务提供商限制了洪流网络流量，VPN也是获得更快下载速度的绝佳方式。
有关更多信息，请查看您实际上可以信任的 5 个出色的 VPN 应用程序(5 Great VPN Apps You Can Actually Trust)以及什么是 VPN 以及它的用途？(What Is a VPN and What Is It Used For?)
使用种子盒
有抱负的种子下载者的另一个重要提示是避免在本地计算机上打开和运行种子文件。相反，请考虑支付少量月费来租用种子箱。这是一台远程位于某个数据中心的计算机，它唯一的工作就是下载和播种种子。
您只需登录种子箱，然后将其指向 torrent 文件或磁力链接。torrent 的内容会快速下载到种子盒硬盘。从那里，您可以使用直接加密连接将其下载到本地计算机。
对于 torrent 用户，Seedbox 具有许多隐私和性能优势，我们认为它们是任何经常使用 torrent 的人的最佳解决方案。如果种子箱对您来说是一个有趣的选择，我们建议您阅读使用种子箱和 WinSCP 进行快速、私人种子下载(Use a Seedbox and WinSCP for Fast, Private Torrents)以开始使用。在那之后，您可能再也不想以另一种方式洪流了。
How to Open Torrent Files on Windows 10 and Mac
BitTorrent is perhaps the most famous peer-to-peer file transfer protocol. Certainly, it’s the one that kept most music and film executives up at night since it’s mainly known for enabling piracy.
Yet, torrenting itself isn’t illegal and can be a cost-effective and useful way to share files with people without paying for online file storage. So, if you’re trying to open a Torrent file on Windows or Mac, but aren’t sure how to do it, here’s what you need to know.
A Quick Recap of How Torrents Work
BitTorrent is a “peer-to-peer” file transfer protocol. In short, this means that it allows data to be transferred from one computer to another directly. Torrents work through networks like the public internet and are decentralized. That’s unlike downloading a file hosted on a centralized server.
What makes BitTorrent so popular and effective is that it can quickly share a file to millions of people using a network of computers that belong to regular people. It can do all of this without ever involving servers or data centers.
It starts with an initial “seeder” who has a complete copy of data that’s to be shared. Then, people who join the torrent begin to download the data from that first seeder, but as soon as any data arrives on their computers, they start sharing it with other “peers,” spreading the bandwidth load around.
Once complete copies are on the computers of peers, they can become seeders as well. These additional seeders could keep the torrent going by themselves if the original seeder goes offline.
When you’re downloading a file using BitTorrent, the various bits of the file come from other torrent members. Not just from one specific seeder.
What’s in a Torrent File?
A torrent file doesn’t contain any of the data from the download, which is why they’re so small. Therefore, if you download a torrent file, you haven’t downloaded the data you wanted.
Instead, the torrent file contains information about the data. This includes details such as the list of files included in the torrent and their sizes. It also includes the web address of at least one torrent tracker. A torrent tracker is a type of server that helps the various peers in the torrent “swarm” find each other. Trackers can be public or private, but using a public torrent tracker can come with privacy issues.
This is one of the main reasons an alternative to torrent files, known as “magnet” links, has become the more popular solution.
Torrents vs. Magnet Links
Unlike torrent data, a torrent file must be hosted somewhere, such as a traditional file server. If the sites hosting the torrent file go down, those who aren’t already part of the torrent can’t connect to it.
Magnet links solve this problem by requiring no central server to host them. Anyone who’s already a part of a torrent can generate a magnet link to allow new people to join. This makes it virtually impossible to shut down a torrent by denying access to it.
We recommend using magnet links instead of torrent files whenever possible. If you want to store a magnet link, you can simply paste it as plain text in the document format of your choice.
Using a Torrent Client
Whether you’re using torrent files or magnet links, you’ll have to make use of a BitTorrent client to download anything. A torrent client is a software application that can interpret the contents of a torrent file or magnet link and handle the file-sharing process. You’ll need a torrent client for your specific operating system, so we’ll briefly cover a few prime examples for Windows and Mac.
Whatever Torrent client you go with, opening a torrent file is usually no harder than opening any other file by (for example) double-clicking it. The torrent client should be associated with the file type and open the file automatically. You can also open torrent files manually from within a client by using the same general File > Open menu equivalent you would in an application like Word.
Torrent Clients for Windows
If you’re a Windows user, the easiest recommendation to make is uTorrent. This is by far the most popular and well-supported torrent client. It’s small, fast, and simple to use.
The next client worth taking note of to open Torrent files is Vuze, formerly known as Azureus. It’s much more complex and dense than uTorrent, but offers many features that have made it popular.
For example, it lets users discover content to download via torrent without using a third-party service. It also offers a built-in video player that can preview video files along with a list of other neat features we don’t have the space to list here. Do note that the free version of Vuze is ad-supported.
Torrent Clients for Mac
If you’re a Mac user, then the most common recommendation you’ll hear is for a client called Transmission. It’s simple, clean, and well-integrated into the macOS environment. However, if you become a more sophisticated torrent user, you may find yourself outgrowing Transmission.
If you need more features and control, qBittorrent is the next prime candidate to open Torrent files. It’s an Open Source application that looks a little rough and dated, but offers granular control of your torrenting experience.
Using VPNs With Torrents
While torrenting itself isn’t illegal, the technology is used so widely for copyright infringement that many service providers throttle or even block torrent traffic. That’s why it may be a good idea to pair a VPN (Virtual Private Network) with your torrent use so that your service provider (or anyone else monitoring your connection) won’t know what you’re doing.
If your service provider throttles torrent web traffic, a VPN is also an excellent way to get faster downloads.
For more information, check out 5 Great VPN Apps You Can Actually Trust and What Is a VPN and What Is It Used For?
Using a SeedBox
Another great tip for aspiring torrenters is to avoid opening and running torrent files on your local computer. Instead, consider paying a small monthly fee to rent a seedbox. This is a computer located remotely in a data center somewhere, whose only job is to download and seed torrents.
You simply log into the seedbox and then point it to the torrent file or magnet link. The torrent’s content rapidly downloads to the seedbox hard drive. From there, you can download it to your local computer using a direct encrypted connection.
Seedboxes have many privacy and performance advantages for torrent users, and we consider them the optimal solution for anyone who makes regular use of torrents. If a seedbox sounds like an intriguing option to you, we suggest you read Use a Seedbox and WinSCP for Fast, Private Torrents to get things started. After that, you’ll probably never want to torrent another way again.
