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adrien's
guide to piracy

A beginner-friendly introduction to torrents, media tools, privacy, and avoiding the sketchy parts of the internet.

start here see my toolbox
let's learn
some internet stuff! ♪
Hatsune Miku illustration
↓ scroll down, nerd

okay, but what
even is a torrent?

it's basically peer-to-peer

BitTorrent is a protocol for moving files between computers. Instead of one server sending an entire file to everybody, peers can exchange pieces of the same file with one another.

you ↔ peer ↔ peer
please seed 🫶

If you can, try to maintain at least a 1:1 ratio. That means uploading as much as you downloaded. Even better, keep seeding for as long as you can — it helps keep torrents alive and available for everyone else.

words you'll see

peer
another computer participating in the swarm
seed
a peer that has the complete data available
magnet
a link containing information used to find a torrent
client
the application that handles BitTorrent transfers
tracker
a server that helps peers find each other
ratio
the amount you've uploaded compared to downloaded

stuff i actually use

qBittorrent logo

qBittorrent

Open-source BitTorrent client for desktop. Feature-rich without being ridiculously complicated.

desktop
Transmission logo

Transmission

A lightweight BitTorrent client. Great when you want something simple that mostly stays out of the way.

desktop
Stremio logo

Stremio

A media-center style application for organizing and watching content through supported add-ons and sources.

media
TorrDroid logo

TorrDroid

An Android BitTorrent client designed around searching for and managing torrent downloads.

android
Telegram logo

Telegram

A messaging platform with public channels and groups. Be careful with files shared by strangers and don't assume something is safe just because it came through Telegram.

messaging

the internet is full
of absolute garbage

⚠
Don't trust a download just because it has a familiar name.

Piracy-adjacent sites can contain malicious ads, fake download buttons, scam installers, and malware. Keep your OS and applications updated and don't run unknown executables just because a file tells you to.

not sure about a file?

You can submit a suspicious file or URL to VirusTotal to see detections from multiple security engines. A clean result is useful evidence, but it is not a guarantee that something is safe.

check with VirusTotal

resources

Free Media Heck Yeah

FMHY is the holy grail. A huge community-maintained collection of resources covering media, software, privacy, and pretty much everything else you could need.

visit resource →

Ripped Guide

A guide to getting started with digital piracy, covering useful tools, resources, and things you should know along the way.

visit resource →

Wotaku

A community-maintained guide and resource hub for anime, manga, games, music, software, and other parts of Japanese media.

visit resource →

okay, but what
does a vpn actually do?

what a vpn does

  • Encrypts traffic between you and the VPN server
  • Hides your IP address from websites and peers
  • Can be useful when using untrusted networks like public Wi-Fi
  • Can help reduce some forms of ISP-level visibility

what a vpn doesn't do

  • It doesn't make you completely anonymous
  • It doesn't make malware safe to download
  • It doesn't protect you from phishing or scams
  • It doesn't give you permission to access copyrighted material
🔒
if you're choosing a vpn...

Look for a provider with a clear privacy policy, a strong track record, modern protocols, and preferably independent security or infrastructure audits. Don't blindly trust a VPN just because it says "100% anonymous."

things people usually ask

Is torrenting itself illegal?

No. BitTorrent is a file-transfer protocol and has many legitimate uses, including distributing Linux distributions and open-source software. What matters is what is being shared and whether you have the right to share it.

What's the difference between a torrent client and a torrent?

A torrent is metadata describing a particular transfer. A client is the application that interprets that metadata and performs the peer-to-peer transfer.

Why do people talk about seeders?

Seeders have a complete copy of the data available to upload. More healthy seeds generally means a swarm has better availability.

Should I download a random “codec” or “player” if a site asks me to?

No. That's a classic red flag. Use software from its official project or vendor rather than executing an unknown installer presented by a download page.

Does VirusTotal prove a file is safe?

No. VirusTotal can help identify known malicious files and suspicious indicators, but antivirus engines can miss new or heavily obfuscated threats. Treat it as one layer of checking, not a guarantee.

be curious. be careful.

Use technology responsibly, respect creators and licenses, and don't let a suspicious “DOWNLOAD NOW” button ruin your afternoon.