Downloading torrents via any torrent client isn’t without its problems if you care about your privacy and online anonymity. Some people go to great lengths to hide their online activity. They’ll change their IP address to stop corporations and marketing companies from collecting their data to try to sell them products.
Since people won’t stop downloading torrents on their computers, corporations have resorted to monitoring traffic that takes place on P2P networks to see who’s downloading what. There’s no guarantee that they won’t see what you downloaded on your computer.
This is where a seedbox comes in. If you know how to properly use one then you can download torrents from the internet or stream content without having to worry about how it could affect your online security and privacy. If you’re saying to yourself, “What is a seedbox?” and “How does a seedbox work?” then this is the guide for you.
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What Is a Seedbox and How Does It Work?
The easiest way to understand what a seedbox is is to think of it as a remote server. This remote server is located in a data center with high-speed equipment and has a public address that’s different from your own. You can use it to download and upload files privately on the internet using your preferred torrent client.
Most seedbox services offer fast speeds which allow you to download large files very quickly. If you sign up for one of the many top seedbox service providers then you can expect your connection to at least be 100 Mbps.
More expensive seedbox packages can bump that speed up to 10 Gbps. Some even offer 20 Gbps connections but those are very expensive and probably overkill for the vast majority of people.
As mentioned before, seedbox services not only provide everyone with high speeds, they also help you to remain private thanks to their remote servers. Since these servers have their own public addresses, your computer’s address remains hidden while you’re downloading things from the internet. You can think of a seedbox server as a fast computer that you and some other people share to do stuff on the internet. The shared computer is extremely fast and has a very good internet connection.
There are several other advantages of using a seedbox to download torrents from the internet instead of your own computer. We’ll talk more about them later on.
Are Seedboxes Safe?
Seedboxes are extremely safe if you’re concerned about security and privacy. This is because everything you do with a seedbox is through a remote connection. You’re not downloading or streaming anything directly to your computer.
In fact, with a properly configured seedbox, you don’t even need a VPN service to hide your activity and data transfers. Seedbox services generally keep no logs. Good seedbox service providers have encrypted connections and use top-of-the-line security protocols. All of these steps make your torrenting experience safe and private.
How Do You Get a Seedbox?
To get a seedbox, you have to go to the website of the seedbox service that you like and sign up for the package of your choice. Once you do that, the rest of the process is pretty self-explanatory. If you do get stuck, you can always get help from your seedbox’s customer support department.Do I Need a VPN With a Seedbox?
VPN services and seedbox services are two different things but some seedbox services offer OpenVPN apps for those who want to use a VPN service in addition to their seedbox for added protection.
Note:
Generally, seedboxes are for downloading and uploading torrents while VPNs are for encrypting your internet connection and changing your IP address.Ideally, you would use both. If you have to use only one then a VPN service is the more comprehensive solution to downloading torrents anonymously.
Pros and Cons
Seedbox Pros
- Your IP address is safe as your activity goes through the seedbox server which has a different address.
- Fast connection speed that can reach 10 Gbps.
- Helps to fix upload/download ratio on private torrent trackers.
- Enhanced security via FTP for local downloads.
- Some seedboxes offer Plex integration for your streaming needs.
Seedbox Cons
- Seedbox providers download files remotely so you have to download them again to your computer via your home connection.
- Seedboxes generally don't encrypt torrent traffic.
- Sometimes downloading files can be difficult.
- A few seedboxes don't disable public tracker file-sharing.
- Generally, they don't provide a location changing function.
- Bandwidth and storage capacity aren't unlimited.
Seedbox or VPN?
If you download a lot of torrents then you need to think carefully about which service you choose. There’s little doubt that seedbox services have exploded in popularity, but not everyone needs one. Plus, people who are already comfortable using a VPN service are unlikely to switch to a seedbox. However, that doesn’t change the fact that VPN services offer more than just a platform for anonymously downloading torrents.
VPNs provide protection against multiple online threats and can safeguard security much better in the online world. However, seedbox services combine the advantages of BitTorrent Protocol and complete control over one’s privacy via a remote server. These features make seedboxes better than VPNs in this regard.
Of course, if you’re not a heavy torrenter then the benefits of a seedbox service will be significantly diminished for you. In that case, signing up for a good VPN is likely the better choice.
There’s definitely a place for both these services to work together. That’s why many seedbox services have started to offer VPN components along with their seedbox offerings.
Conclusion: Is a Seedbox Provider With Good Internet Speed Worth It?
Seedbox services offer tremendous speed, privacy and safety while you’re downloading torrents. Once you use one, you’re not likely to torrent without using a seedbox service. Yes, you’ll have to pay around $15 per month but the advantages of seedbox servers will quickly make you feel your money was well spent.
With that said, Seedbox servers only take care of your torrenting activities. For an all-encompassing privacy solution, VPN services are the way to go.