Are Torrents Illegal? Update by Country 2023

Torrenting is one of the fastest-growing ways to share files on the internet, and in principle, it is legal. However, sharing and downloading unsanctioned copyrighted material is illegal, which leaves them in a very grey area. It's difficult to determine the legality of shared files, so some countries have made it unlawful. The consequences of using torrents where they are illegal vary but can include fines and imprisonment. However, even where torrents are legal, if you use them to access copyrighted material, you can still be charged with piracy.

In addition, torrenting sites can be unsafe to use and you may infect your device with malware, or even become a victim of a hacker attack. The best way to keep you safe while torrenting is by using a VPN. I recommend ExpressVPN due to its robust security features and fast torrenting speeds. Also, since third parties can't see your activity, your bandwidth won't be throttled, meaning your speeds won't slow down.

We don't endorse or approve of unauthorized access to copyrighted content, however, we do strive to provide you with the most accurate and reliable information. Here's an updated list detailing which countries allow torrenting and which do not.

Torrent Safely With ExpressVPN >>

*Not all countries are listed.

In order to identify locations where torrenting is allowed, we examined countries that permit the downloading of copyrighted material.

Use a VPN to Torrent Safely

Torrenting poses notable dangers, including the risk of malware infection or facing a cybersecurity breach. A simple click on a link from a torrenting site can make you susceptible to these threats. This is where the utility of VPNs becomes evident. VPNs encrypt your information, rendering it indecipherable to outsiders. Several also feature ad and malware blockers, offering added protection against potential harmful viruses.

But, it is important to choose your VPN carefully. Not all providers allow torrenting over their servers, while others limit torrenting to specific, dedicated servers, and these may not be in the countries you want to access. You will also need a VPN with good download speeds, otherwise, you will experience extreme wait times to access the content you want.

That's why we recommend that you use a VPN like ExpressVPN. Express has servers in over 90 countries, and they're known for their lightning-fast speeds. They even have a speed test that will find the fastest server for you, so you won't be frustrated by slow download times. And they have a proven no-logs policy, meaning they don't keep records on any of your online activity, and a kill switch, so your real IP address will never be exposed while you're torrenting.

Or you can check out the other best VPNs for torrents.

Rank

Provider

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1

9.9 /10

Save 49%!

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2

9.7 /10

Save 81%!

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3

9.5 /10

Save 84%!

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