Peer-To-Peer News - The Week In Review - September 23rd, ’23

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September 23rd, 2023




John Grisham, other Top US Authors Sue OpenAI Over Copyrights
lake Brittain

A trade group for U.S. authors has sued OpenAI in Manhattan federal court on behalf of prominent writers including John Grisham, Jonathan Franzen, George Saunders, Jodi Picoult and "Game of Thrones" novelist George R.R. Martin, accusing the company of unlawfully training its popular artificial-intelligence based chatbot ChatGPT on their work.

The proposed class-action lawsuit filed late on Tuesday by the Authors Guild joins several others from writers, source-code owners and visual artists against generative AI providers. In addition to Microsoft-backed (MSFT.O) OpenAI, similar lawsuits are pending against Meta Platforms and Stability AI over the data used to train their AI systems.

Other authors involved in the latest lawsuit include "The Lincoln Lawyer" writer Michael Connelly and lawyer-novelists David Baldacci and Scott Turow.

OpenAI and other AI defendants have said their use of training data scraped from the internet qualifies as fair use under U.S. copyright law.

An OpenAI spokesperson said on Wednesday that the company respects authors' rights and is "having productive conversations with many creators around the world, including the Authors Guild."

Authors Guild CEO Mary Rasenberger said in a statement on Wednesday that authors "must have the ability to control if and how their works are used by generative AI" in order to "preserve our literature."

The Authors Guild's lawsuit claims that the datasets used to train OpenAI's large language model to respond to human prompts included text from the authors' books that may have been taken from illegal online "pirate" book repositories.

The complaint said ChatGPT generated accurate summaries of the authors' books when prompted, indicating that their text is included in its database.

It also cited growing concerns that authors could be replaced by systems like ChatGPT that "generate low-quality ebooks, impersonating authors and displacing human-authored books."

Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by David Bario, Daniel Wallis and Sonali Paul
https://www.reuters.com/legal/john-g...ts-2023-09-20/





Textbook Publishers Sue Shadow Library LibGen for Copyright Infringement

Yet another attempt at a permanent takedown – but will it stick?
Jude Karabus

A group of large US science and education publishers are trying to get "notorious" online database Library Genesis – known by students as LibGen – kicked offline and claw back some of the cash they allege the owners made from copyright infringement.

The suit, filed in a New York federal court [PDF], asks for a legal order "requiring the transfer of the Libgen domain names to plaintiffs or, at plaintiffs' election, canceling or deleting the Libgen domain names," with the idea of frustrating visitors - mostly students - believed to number in their millions. The filing said that according to similarweb.com, the sites collectively were visited by 9 million people from the US each month from March to May 2023.

The suit alleges that several of the Libgen websites solicit "donations" from users. "These solicitations are in English and seek payments only in Bitcoin or [Monero]." It adds: "one Libgen Site reports that it has raised $182,540 from donations since January 1, 2023."
pirate

The publishers also claim the people who run LibGen – named in the suit as Does 1-50 and whom it says "are believed to reside outside of the United States at unknown foreign locations" – derive "revenue from interstate or international commerce, including through advertisements."

It goes on to add:

Defendants compete directly with Plaintiffs by distributing infringing copies of their works for free, displacing legitimate sales. When a consumer obtains Plaintiffs' works from the Libgen Sites instead of through legitimate channels, no remuneration is provided to Plaintiffs or their authors for the substantial investments they have made to create and publish the works.

The textbook publishers claim that "through social media and from their peers, students are bombarded with messages to use the Libgen Sites instead of paying for legal copies of textbooks" – thus depriving the publishers and the authors they represent of their income.

The suit also asks for damages without detailing an amount, although it asks for "an accounting and disgorgement of Defendants' profits, gains, and advantages realized from their unlawful conduct." The complaint claims the ads are in English and for various "US products, such as browser extensions and online games". The suit adds that some "also appear to be phishing attempts, which can result in users downloading a virus or other malicious program onto their computers."

The lawsuit also calls out Google and "other intermediaries," US companies it claims help LibGen "conduct their unlawful operations" – "NameCheap for domain registration services, Cloudflare for proxy services, and Google for search engine services." It goes on to include a screenshot of Google's "knowledge panel," which it says "describes Libgen as a site [that] enables free access to content that is otherwise paywalled or not digitized elsewhere."

It remains unclear how successful this action will be, although it does not rely on the defendants showing up, as the publishers' lawyer Matt Oppenheim told The Reg, saying: "US court has authority to order the transfer of a domain when a rightsholder makes a showing that the remedy is necessary to stop the infringement. If Defendant elects not to appear in the case, that does not undermine the Court's authority."

Back in 2017, several domains of the controversial academic paper filesharing site Sci-Hub were made inactive following a court order and Dutch science publisher Elsevier won a $15 million order against its operator, Kazakhstani computer programmer Alexandra Elbakyan, earlier that year. Sci-Hub's stated goal is to make research papers free to access for the betterment of academia – ostensibly by nicking millions of pieces of research from behind science publishers' paywalls. It is believed pirates crack the paywall using leaked credentials from the research orgs.

However, not only have journals taken Sci-Hub to court for breach of copyright on multiple occasions, it appears to have simply migrated domains, and increased its following.

Separately, in a proposed class action filed earlier this month, US novelist Michael Chabon and several other writers accused OpenAI of copyright infringement, alleging it pulled their work into the datasets used to train the models behind ChatGPT. In addition to alleging copyright infringement based on the claims that ChatGPT trained on the copyrighted works at all, Chabon et al are further alleging that, rather than have its AI train on copies of the plaintiffs works that were paid for, the AI business got its hands on one of its "internet-based book corpora," referred to by OpenAI as "Books2," by scouring "infamous 'shadow library' websites." The lawsuit alleges these include "Library Genesis ... Z-Library, Sci-Hub, and Bibliotik, which host massive collections of pirated books, research papers, and other text-based materials."

In November last year, in a Brooklyn federal court, an indictment and a complaint were unsealed charging Russian nationals Anton Napolsky and Valeriia Ermakova with criminal copyright infringement, wire fraud and money laundering for operating Z-Library, an online e-book piracy website. According to the Eastern District Attorney's Office, they were arrested on November 3, 2022, in Cordoba, Argentina, at the request of the United States. At the same time, Z-Library's network of online domains was also taken offline and seized by the US government under a court order.
https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/...rs_sue_libgen/





Microsoft Windows 11 is Quietly Removing Some P2P Network Services
Efe Udin

Microsoft Windows 11, the latest operating system from the tech giant. It has been making some changes to its peer-to-peer (P2P) network services. The company recently released the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 25951 version to the Canary channel. On this latest Build, tech expert, Xeno, spotted that Microsoft quietly deleted some P2P (peer-to-peer network) related services in this version.

Windows 11 System Apps

P2P networking allows devices on the same network to share resources and communicate directly with each other, without relying on a central server. While P2P networking can be beneficial for tasks like file sharing and streaming, it can also raise privacy and security concerns. In this article, we will explore how Windows 11 is quietly removing some P2P network services and discuss the implications of these changes.

According to reports, Microsoft has removed several DLL files related to peer-to-peer networking. The files removed include those used for distributed routing and P2P services, from the built System32 folder. Xeno noted that along with the deletion of a dozen such files, three services also disappeared:

• Peer Name Resolution Protocol Peer Name Resolution Protocol
• Peer Networking Grouping Peer Networking Grouping
• Peer Networking Identity Manager Peer Networking Identity Manager

An inquiry by ITHome reveals that these services are quite old and have a history of more than 20 years. For example, the Peer Name Resolution Protocol (PNRP) originated in the Windows XP era as a solution to some of the shortcomings of DNS. Of course, the Canary channel of Windows 11 is only a version used to test new features. So these changes may not necessarily appear in the final official version.

Windows 11 and P2P Networking

Windows 11 has been gradually moving away from P2P networking, with some users reporting a sudden loss of network computers from Windows Explorer. One possible reason for this change is Microsoft’s focus on privacy and security. P2P networking can potentially expose users to security risks, as it involves direct communication between devices on the same network. By reducing its reliance on P2P networking, Microsoft may be aiming to provide a more secure and private operating system.

Windows Update Delivery Optimization

One area where Windows 11 has made significant changes to its P2P network services is in the Windows Update Delivery Optimization feature. This feature allows Windows devices to download updates and apps from other devices on the internet or the local network, reducing the strain on Microsoft’s servers and potentially speeding up the update process. However, this feature also raises privacy and security concerns, as it involves sharing files with other devices on the network.

To manage the Windows Update Delivery Optimization feature in Windows 11, follow these steps:

1. Select Start > Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options.
2. Select Delivery Optimization.
3. Make sure “Allow downloads from other PCs” is turned off[3].

By turning off this feature, you can ensure that your Windows 11 device does not download updates or apps from other devices on the internet or the local network, thereby reducing the potential privacy and security risks associated with P2P networking.

Networking in Windows 11 Workgroups

Another area where Windows 11 has made changes to its P2P network services is in workgroup networking. Workgroups allow devices on the same network to share files and resources, such as printers and scanners. In previous versions of Windows, users could easily access other devices on the network by navigating to the “Network” section in Windows Explorer. However, in Windows 11, this feature has been removed, and users have reported a sudden loss of network computers from Windows Explorer.

To work around this issue and access other devices on your network in Windows 11, you can create a folder named “My Network” and add shortcuts to each of your computers. While this workaround may not provide the same level of convenience as the previous network browsing feature, it still allows you to access other devices on your network and share files and resources.

Privacy and Security in Windows 11

Windows 11 has introduced several new privacy and security features to help users protect their data and ensure a safe computing experience. Some of these features include:

• Diagnostic Data Settings: You can configure the diagnostic data settings in Windows 11 to the lowest level for your edition of Windows, minimizing the amount of data shared with Microsoft.
• App Permissions: Windows 11 allows you to control which apps have access to your microphone, camera, and other sensitive data. You can manage these permissions by going to Settings > Apps > Advanced Settings.
• Windows Update Settings: In the Windows Update settings, you can choose how updates are delivered and control whether your device shares update files with other devices on the internet or the local network. To access these settings, go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Delivery optimization.

By taking advantage of these privacy and security features, you can ensure that your Windows 11 device is protected against potential privacy and security risks associated with P2P networking.

Final Words

Microsoft Windows 11 is quietly removing some P2P network services. This is in an effort to provide a more secure and private operating system. P2P networking can be beneficial for tasks like file sharing and streaming. It can also raise privacy and security concerns. By reducing its reliance on P2P networking, Windows 11 aims to protect users’ data and ensure a safe computing experience. However, an ITHome inquiry shows that some of these services are really old and date back 20 years. To further enhance your privacy and security in Windows 11, consider implementing the recommended settings and features in this article.
https://www.gizchina.com/2023/09/18/...work-services/





Cable TV Is on Life Support, but a New Bundle Is Coming Alive

Cable companies have started to figure out a way to stay in the TV game: Reselling streaming services.
Benjamin Mullin

A funny thing happened in recent weeks, as the media industry wrung its hands over the long-anticipated death of the lucrative cable-TV bundle: Hundreds of thousands of people turned to a different bundle.

Take Christopher Antoniacci of Anna Maria, Fla. When the standoff between Disney and the cable giant Charter left him among nearly 15 million cable subscribers without ESPN and many other channels, he took matters into his own hands.

At Charter’s suggestion, Mr. Antoniacci, 74, downloaded FuboTV, a streaming service that offers channels including ESPN. Nearly 500,000 people did the same over the last two weeks, according to Sensor Tower, an analytics firm.

“It has almost everything that I require,” said Mr. Antoniacci, who signed up for a free trial. “It’s a cable substitute, and it appears to be working,” he added.

As cord cutting accelerates across the country, with millions of Americans dropping their traditional cable-TV packages each year, it threatens to upend the pay-TV bundle, a linchpin of the media industry for decades. That became clear when Charter, in its war of words with Disney, declared that parts of the cable bundle were “broken.”

But the resolution between the two companies this week signaled that the bundle is probably not going anywhere. It’s just adjusting for new viewing habits, with cable companies aiming to sell new packages that include streaming services.

As part of the deal, Disney+, a streaming service that includes many of Disney’s biggest shows and movies, will now be offered to Charter’s TV customers.

“We very much can look back at this Disney-Charter deal as an opening salvo of a broader re-bundling,” MoffettNathanson, an influential research firm, said in a note on Monday.

For more than a half-century, the cable-TV bundle was one of the best businesses in the history of media. TV giants like Disney were paid twice: first by cable distributors, which shelled out billions every year to have channels like ESPN available for their subscribers, and then by advertisers, which opened their wallets to promote products alongside the hottest shows.

The bundle was also good for the cable providers, which steadily added subscribers: At the peak of traditional cable in 2012, more than 100 million Americans paid for the bundle.

That era is gone. Now, about five million people abandon cable TV every year — leaving about 75 million Americans in the traditional TV ecosystem, according to analyst estimates.

Most analysts believe that 40 million to 60 million Americans will continue to subscribe to some form of traditional cable in the years to come. The sharp falloff, however, is shifting the ground under media companies and distributors alike.

Already, many cord-cutters are piecing together their own bundle, subscribing to a mix of services including Netflix, Max and Hulu. The deal between Disney and Charter has made it clear that cable providers — which often provide broadband internet service — are eager to put together streaming bundles for them.

William Rouhana, the chief executive of Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, which owns several ad-supported streaming services, said Disney’s deal with Charter was proof that the traditional cable business was changing drastically.

“I think this could be the precursor to a very big shift in the industry,” he said.

The winners and losers of the new game have yet to be determined. But in the short term, at least, the new bundling will probably not be as profitable as the traditional cable business, said Tom Freston, who was a member of MTV’s founding team and a former chief executive of Viacom.

That spells trouble for the titans of the media industry, which are trying to milk the cash-rich cable business for as long as possible while they build streaming services to replace them, he said.

Mr. Freston noted that live sports and news programming, which have yet to be completely replicated by streaming services, remained vital to the pay-TV bundle. National Football League games, an entertainment mainstay for tens of millions of Americans, will remain on traditional television for years because of existing contracts, guaranteeing a lifeline for cable providers.

But streamers are starting to encroach on that territory, too. Amazon and YouTube are making inroads with N.F.L. fans by securing football rights, and Apple has begun to show Major League Baseball and Major League Soccer matches.

“It’s hard to fight the convenience of improved technology,” Mr. Freston said. “When sports and news inevitably move over to the streamers, that will be the end of the game. And what a game it was.”

Still, Mr. Antoniacci, who had turned to FuboTV during the Charter-Disney face-off, said he wasn’t willing to count pay TV out for good. He has been a cable subscriber for several decades, paying for television and internet access. He had been considering downgrading his cable subscription, keeping a slimmer package with access to his local news stations.

But for now, he’s keeping what he had.

“This situation is making me reflect a lot on how I use these media providers,” Mr. Antoniacci said.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/14/b...streaming.html





Amazon Prime Video will Soon Come with Ads, or a $2.99 Monthly Charge to Dodge them
Michelle Chapman

Amazon Prime Video will include advertising during shows and movies starting early next year, joining other streaming services that have added different tiers of subscriptions.

Members of Amazon Prime can pay $2.99 per month in the U.S. to keep their service ad-free, the company said Friday.

Streaming services are in a heated tug-of-war over viewers and users are growing more adept at jumping in and out of those services, often depending on price. The platforms risk losing customers with price hikes, but they could lose them if they don’t generate new content that wins over users.

Disney will begin charging $13.99 a month in the U.S. for ad-free Disney+ in mid-October, 75% more than the ad-supported service. Netflix already charges $15.49 per month for its ad-free plan, more than twice the monthly subscription for Netflix with ads.
https://apnews.com/article/amazon-pr...8381fa7ab447e5





FCC Judge Rules that Knoxville's Only Black-Owned Radio Station can Keep its License
Jonathan Franklin

A Federal Communications Commission judge rejected an effort by the agency to revoke the broadcast license of WJBE 99.7 FM/1040 AM, Knoxville, Tennessee's only Black-owned radio station — allowing the station to continue broadcasting.

In a ruling handed down on Sept. 14, a judge ruled that WJBE's owner, Joe Armstrong, should not have his broadcast license revoked — despite the agency's concerns over Armstrong's old felony conviction for a tax crime, one that occurred years before he took ownership of the station in 2012.

Judge Jane Hinckley Halprin, the agency's administrative law judge, concluded in the ruling that Armstrong's conviction was an isolated event, saying that "enough time has elapsed to show that Mr. Armstrong has remediated his wrong."

"If I was being permanently punished for the mistakes I made in my past, [WJBE] wouldn't be in existence — nor would this station be recognized for the programming that we're bringing to Knoxville," Armstrong, a former long-serving state representative in the Tennessee General Assembly, told NPR.

"[The judge] looked beyond my faults and saw the community's needs," he added.

WJBE is known for being a fixture in the Knoxville area, serving as a source of news for the Black community — being very much a community-oriented station, Armstrong said.

The station broadcasts local news and weather, church services, emerging artists, free advertising for struggling small businesses and, in recent years, information about the COVID-19 pandemic.

But for the last two years, WJBE — whose call letters pay tribute to its original owner, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown — has battled with the FCC over Armstrong being able to own a radio station with integrity following his conviction in 2016 for making a false statement on his tax return.

The agency argued that Armstrong breached ownership regulations due to his prior conviction, as they attempted to implement its 33-year-old character qualifications policy for radio license holders.

"It's not like this is something that happened, let's say, this year or last year — we're talking about something that happened in 2008," Armstrong told NPR in a June 2023 interview.

Nearly 15 years ago, Armstrong and a partner legally bought cigarette tax stamps that were later sold for a profit following the Tennessee legislature's vote to increase the state's cigarette tax, according to the Institute for Justice, a nonprofit public interest law firm that helped Armstrong fight the case.

His accountant reportedly did not properly pay the taxes on this sale and as a result, Armstrong faced trouble with the IRS.

In 2016, Armstrong was acquitted of most of the charges against him and was convicted of only a single count of making a false statement on his tax return. (His accountant, Charles Stivers, was convicted of tax fraud and was granted probation in 2017.)

Armstrong's civil rights, including his right to vote, were restored in 2020. In 2017, Armstrong says he let the FCC know about his conviction, which he says had caused no issues up until 2022.

But despite all efforts, the FCC still raised concerns about his ability to run WJBE.

Andrew Ward, the attorney who represented Armstrong in the case, told NPR that an old personal tax violation shouldn't prohibit someone from holding a broadcast license.

"The government should not get in the way of people working because of irrelevant criminal convictions," Ward said. "It happens all the time. It was irrational here and it's irrational when it happens anywhere."

The FCC did not immediately respond to NPR's request for comment regarding Armstrong's case. The agency has the option of appealing last week's decision, but it is unclear if it will choose to do so.
https://www.npr.org/1200157381





UK Opens New Chapter in Digital Regulation as Parliament Passes Online Safety Bill
Natasha Lomas

Controversial UK legislation that brings in a new regime of content moderation rules for online platforms and services — establishing the comms watchdog Ofcom as the main Internet regulator — has been passed by parliament today, paving the way for Royal Assent and the Online Safety Bill becoming law in the coming days.

Speaking during the bill’s final stages in the House of Lords, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay reiterated that the government’s intention for the legislation is “to make the UK the safest place in the world to be online, particularly for children”. Following affirmative votes as peers considered some last stage amendments he added that attention now moves “very swiftly to Ofcom… who stand ready to implement this — and do so swiftly”.

The legislation empowers Ofcom to levy fines of up to 10% (or up to £18M whichever is higher) of annual turnover for violations of the regime.

The Online Safety (neé Harms) Bill has been years in the making as UK policymakers have grappled with how to response to a range of online safety concerns. In 2019 these efforts manifested as a white paper with a focus on rules for tackling illegal content (such as terrorism and CSAM) but also an ambition to address a broad sweep of online activity that might be considered harmful, such as violent content and the incitement of violence; encouraging suicide; disinformation; cyber bullying; and adult material being accessed by children. The effort then morphed into a bill that was finally published in May 2021.

The proposed legislation continued swelling in scope as a grab-bag of additional duties and requirements got bolted on in response to a smorgasbord of safety concerns reaching policymakers’ ears, whether related to trolling, scam ads, deepfake porn or (most recently) animal cruelty. Changes within the governing Conservative party since 2019 have also seen a succession of different senior ministers steering the legislation, including the likes of Oliver Dowden and Nadine Dorries — who, in Dorries’ case, enthusiastically pushed to speed up the application of criminal liability powers for tech CEOs.

Latterly the secretary of state driving the bill has been Michelle Donelan. She presided over some trimming back of its scope at the back end of last year — excising provisions that had been focused on legal but harmful content following concerns about the impact on free speech. Although speech and civil rights groups remain concerned.

Another major strand of controversy is focused on the potential impact on web security and privacy as the bill hands sweeping powers to Ofcom to require platforms to scan message content for illegal material. A parade of end-to-end encrypted platforms and services have warned over the risks such powers pose — with several well known services threatening to exit the UK unless the bill was amended to safeguard strong encryption.

In the event, the government appears to have steered out of a direct clash with mainstream messaging services like WhatsApp by fudging the encryption issue with a carefully worded ministerial statement earlier this month. But, again, privacy and security experts remain watchful.

Additionally, there is concern the bill will lead to a mass age-gating of the UK internet as web services seek to shrink their liability by forcing users to confirm they are old enough to view content that might be deemed inappropriate for minors.

Wikipedia’s founder, Jimmy Wales, is among those raising concerns about the bill as an instrument of state censorship. He’s attacked the government’s approach as triply bad: “Bad for human rights”, “bad for Internet safety and “bad law” — and pledged the online encyclopedia “will not age-gate nor selectively censor articles under any circumstances”.

Balancing the demands of child safety campaigners for a totally safe Internet and the concerns of digital, civil liberties and human rights groups that the legislation does not trample on hard won democratic freedoms will now be Ofcom’s problem.

In a brief statement the UK’s new web content sheriff gave no hint of the complex challenges that lie ahead — merely welcoming the bill’s passage through parliament and stating that it stands ready to implement the new rulebook.

“Today is a major milestone in the mission to create a safer life online for children and adults in the UK. Everyone at Ofcom feels privileged to be entrusted with this important role, and we’re ready to start implementing these new laws,” said Dame Melanie Dawes, Ofcom’s CEO. “Very soon after the Bill receives Royal Assent, we’ll consult on the first set of standards that we’ll expect tech firms to meet in tackling illegal online harms, including child sexual exploitation, fraud and terrorism.”

Beyond specific issues of concern, there is over-arching general worry over the scale of the regulatory burden the legislation will apply to the UK’s digital economy — since the rules apply not only to major social media platforms; scores of far smaller and less well resourced online services must also comply or risk big penalties.
https://techcrunch.com/2023/09/19/on...y-bill-passed/





How To Download Movies Thru Bittorrent
Rubina Rusk

Downloading movies through BitTorrent is a popular and convenient way to access a wide range of films from the comfort of your own home. With the use of a BitTorrent client, you can easily download and stream movies directly to your computer or device.

BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing protocol that allows users to connect and share files with each other. This technology makes it possible to download movies quickly and efficiently, as the files are distributed across multiple users, reducing the strain on any single server.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of downloading movies through BitTorrent. We will explain step-by-step how to choose a BitTorrent client, find and download the necessary torrent files, and monitor the progress of your downloads. By following these instructions, you will be able to enjoy your favorite movies in no time.

Please note that downloading movies through BitTorrent may involve copyrighted material. It is important to ensure that you have the necessary permissions or rights to download and distribute these files. Always respect copyright laws and download movies from legitimate sources.

Now, let’s dive in and explore the exciting world of downloading movies through BitTorrent!


Step 1: Choose a BitTorrent client

Before you can start downloading movies through BitTorrent, you need to choose a BitTorrent client. A BitTorrent client is software that enables you to connect to the BitTorrent network and interact with other users to download and share files. There are several BitTorrent clients available, but here are a few popular options:

1. uTorrent: uTorrent is one of the most popular BitTorrent clients, known for its simplicity and lightweight nature. It offers a user-friendly interface and a range of features to make your downloading experience smooth and efficient.
2. BitTorrent: BitTorrent is the official client created by the developers of the BitTorrent protocol. It provides a fast and reliable way to download and share files, with additional features like remote access and media playback.
3. qBittorrent: qBittorrent is an open-source BitTorrent client that offers a range of advanced features while maintaining a clean and intuitive interface. It supports simultaneous downloads, RSS feeds, and even has a built-in torrent search engine.

When choosing a BitTorrent client, consider factors such as ease of use, available features, and compatibility with your operating system. Look for clients that have a good reputation and active development to ensure that you receive regular updates and improvements.

Once you have chosen a BitTorrent client, you are ready to move on to the next step: downloading and installing the client.


Step 2: Download and Install the BitTorrent client

Now that you have chosen a BitTorrent client, it’s time to download and install it on your computer or device. Here’s a simple guide to help you through the process:

1. First, visit the official website of the BitTorrent client you have chosen. You can usually find the download link on the homepage or the “Downloads” section of the website.
2. Click on the download link to initiate the download process. The file size of the client may vary, but it is typically lightweight and should download relatively quickly.
3. Once the download is complete, locate the downloaded file on your computer. It is usually located in your “Downloads” folder or on your desktop, depending on your browser settings.
4. Double-click on the downloaded file to start the installation process. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the installation. You may be asked to agree to the terms and conditions of the software before continuing.
5. During the installation, you may be prompted to choose additional options or preferences. You can typically leave these at their default settings unless you have specific requirements or preferences.
6. After the installation is complete, you should see a shortcut icon on your desktop or in your applications folder. Double-click on the icon to launch the BitTorrent client.
7. Upon launching the client, you may be asked to configure some basic settings, such as the download location and bandwidth limits. You can customize these settings according to your preferences, but the default options should work fine for most users.

Once you have successfully downloaded and installed your chosen BitTorrent client, you are ready to move on to the next step: searching for torrents to download.


Step 3: Search for Torrents

After installing your BitTorrent client, it’s time to search for the torrents you want to download. Torrents are small files that contain information about the files you want to download, including their size, name, and the trackers that coordinate the sharing of these files.

Here’s how you can search for torrents:

1. Open your preferred web browser and visit a reliable torrent indexing website. Popular torrent websites include The Pirate Bay, 1337x, and RARBG.
2. Use the search bar on the torrent website to enter the name of the movie you want to download. You can also search by genre, actor, or any other relevant keywords to narrow down your results.
3. Browse through the search results and look for the movie torrents that best match your criteria. Pay attention to the number of seeders and leechers. Seeders are users who have completed the download and are sharing the files, while leechers are users who are still in the process of downloading.
4. Click on the torrent file you want to download. This will usually prompt your BitTorrent client to open automatically, and the information about the torrent will be displayed.
5. Read through the torrent details, including the file size, comments, and ratings if available, to ensure that you are downloading the correct movie and a safe file. Look for trusted and verified torrents whenever possible.
6. Before proceeding with the download, you may have the option to choose specific files within the torrent. For example, if the torrent contains multiple audio tracks or subtitles, you can select the ones you want to download.
7. Once you have made your selection, click on the “Download” or “Get Torrent” button on the torrent website. This will begin the download process, and the file will be added to your BitTorrent client.

Remember to exercise caution and download torrents from reputable sources. Be mindful of copyright laws and avoid downloading copyrighted material without proper authorization or permission.

Now that you have successfully searched for a torrent to download, it’s time to move on to the next step: downloading the torrent file.


Step 4: Download the Torrent file

Once you have found a torrent you want to download, the next step is to download the torrent file. The torrent file contains the necessary information for your BitTorrent client to connect to other users and begin the downloading process.

Here’s how you can download the torrent file:

1. After clicking the “Download” or “Get Torrent” button on the torrent website, your web browser will prompt you to save the torrent file. Choose a location on your computer where you want to save the file and click “Save”.
2. The download process may take a few moments, depending on the size of the torrent file and your internet connection speed. Once the download is complete, you will have the torrent file ready to be opened by your BitTorrent client.
3. Navigate to the location where you saved the torrent file. It is usually in your “Downloads” folder or the location you specified during the save process.
4. Double-click the torrent file to open it with your BitTorrent client. Alternatively, you can launch the BitTorrent client and use the “Open Torrent” or “Add Torrent” option to locate and open the downloaded file.
5. Your BitTorrent client will now analyze the torrent file and begin connecting to other users who have the desired movie file. It will establish connections with seeders and leechers, allowing the download process to commence.
6. At this point, you will see the movie file appear in your BitTorrent client’s interface. The client will start downloading the file in small pieces from multiple users to maximize the download speed and efficiency.
7. Depending on the size of the movie and the number of seeders, the download process may take some time. You can monitor the progress of the download in your BitTorrent client and observe the download speed, remaining time, and the availability of seeders.

Remember, it is important to be patient during the download process, especially if the movie file is large or the number of seeders is limited. Once the movie file is fully downloaded, you can move on to the next step: opening the torrent file in the BitTorrent client.


Step 5: Open the Torrent file in the BitTorrent client

After downloading the torrent file, the next step is to open it in your BitTorrent client. Opening the torrent file will allow the client to start the downloading process by connecting to other users who are sharing the same file.

Here’s how you can open the torrent file in your BitTorrent client:

1. Launch your BitTorrent client if it is not already open. You can usually find the client’s icon on your desktop or in your applications folder.
2. Go to the “File” or “Open” menu in your BitTorrent client. Alternatively, you may have an option to directly drag and drop the torrent file into the client’s interface.
3. Navigate to the location where you saved the torrent file in the previous step. Select the torrent file and click “Open” or “Add” to load the file into the client. The client will then analyze the torrent file and display the associated details.
4. In the BitTorrent client’s interface, you will see information about the torrent, including the number of seeders and leechers, the file size, and the download progress.
5. At this point, you may have the option to choose specific files within the torrent that you want to download. In some cases, a movie torrent may contain multiple files, such as subtitles or different video resolutions. Select the files you want to download by checking the corresponding checkboxes.
6. Once you have made your selection, click “Start” or “Begin” to initiate the download process. The BitTorrent client will begin connecting to seeders and leechers, downloading the selected files in small pieces.
7. You can monitor the progress of the download in the client’s interface. It will display details such as the download speed, the remaining time, and the availability of seeders. The download speed may vary depending on your internet connection and the number of seeders sharing the file.
8. Be patient while the files are being downloaded. The time it takes to download the movie will depend on various factors, including the movie’s size, your internet speed, and the availability of seeders. Once the download is complete, you can move on to the next step: selecting the files to download.

By following these instructions, you will successfully open the torrent file in your BitTorrent client and initiate the downloading process. Pay attention to the download progress and ensure that you have a stable internet connection throughout the process.


Step 6: Select the files to download

Once you have started the download process by opening the torrent file in your BitTorrent client, you may have the option to select specific files within the torrent that you want to download. This can be useful if the torrent contains multiple files, such as subtitles, different video resolutions, or bonus content.

Here’s how you can select the files to download in your BitTorrent client:

1. Look for the list of files within the torrent in your BitTorrent client’s interface. It is usually displayed as a file tree structure, showing the different folders and files contained in the torrent.
2. Browse through the folders and files and identify the specific files you want to download. You can usually recognize the files by their names, extensions, or file sizes.
3. If you want to download all the files in the torrent, keep the default selection, which typically selects all the files.
4. If you only want to download specific files, uncheck the checkboxes next to the files you don’t want to download. This will exclude those files from the download process.
5. If the torrent contains folders, you may have the option to selectively download files within each folder. Expand the folders to reveal the individual files and make your selection accordingly.
6. Double-check your file selection before proceeding with the download. Ensure that you have selected the correct files and deselected any unwanted files.
7. Once you are satisfied with your file selection, click “Start” or “Begin” to resume the downloading process. Your BitTorrent client will now proceed to download the selected files while skipping the deselected ones.

Selecting specific files to download can be helpful if you have limited disk space or if you are only interested in certain aspects of the torrent. By customizing your file selection, you can optimize your download process and save time and storage space.

Now that you have selected the files to download, you can continue monitoring the download progress in your BitTorrent client while eagerly anticipating the completion of your movie download.


Step 7: Monitor the download progress

Once you have selected the files you want to download, it’s important to monitor the download progress to ensure a smooth and successful downloading experience. By keeping an eye on the download progress, you can gauge the speed, estimated time remaining, and overall reliability of the download.

Here’s how you can effectively monitor the download progress in your BitTorrent client:

1. Keep the BitTorrent client window open and visible on your screen. This will allow you to easily access and monitor the download progress without interrupting the downloading process.
2. In the client’s interface, you will usually find a dedicated section or tab that displays the active downloads. This section will provide details such as the download speed, the number of seeders and leechers, the remaining time, and the overall progress of the download.
3. Watch the download speed, which indicates how fast the download is progressing. This speed can vary depending on various factors, including your internet connection speed, the availability of seeders, and the overall health of the torrent. Higher download speeds usually indicate a faster download process.
4. Observe the number of seeders and leechers. Seeders are users who have completed the download and are actively sharing the files, while leechers are users who are still in the process of downloading. A higher number of seeders generally results in a more stable and faster download.
5. Check the remaining time estimated by the client. This estimation provides an approximate time frame for the completion of the download. Be aware that this time may fluctuate as the download progresses, depending on the availability of seeders and changes in download speed.
6. Take note of any warnings or error messages that might appear. These messages can indicate issues with the download, such as low disk space, connectivity problems, or file integrity issues. Address these issues promptly to ensure a successful download.
7. Occasionally check the health of the torrent. Some BitTorrent clients provide a health indicator that shows the overall status of the torrent. A healthy torrent usually has a higher number of seeders and a good download speed.
8. Be patient throughout the download process. Download times can vary depending on the size of the movie file, the speed of your internet connection, and the availability of seeders. Avoid interrupting or pausing the download as this can affect the overall progress.

By proactively monitoring the download progress, you can ensure that everything is running smoothly and resolve any issues that may arise. This will help you to have a successful and uninterrupted movie download experience.

Now that you know how to monitor the download progress, let’s move on to the next step: seeding the downloaded files.


Step 8: Seed the downloaded files

After successfully downloading the movie files through BitTorrent, it’s important to contribute to the network by seeding the downloaded files. Seeding ensures that other users can download the files as well, creating a healthy and sustainable sharing ecosystem.

Here’s how you can seed the downloaded files:

1. Once the download is complete, leave the BitTorrent client open and avoid deleting or moving the downloaded files. Keeping the files in their original location ensures that they are available for other users to download.
2. Check the status of your completed download in the BitTorrent client’s interface. The client will usually indicate whether you are seeding or not.
3. If the client shows that you are not currently seeding, you may need to manually enable the seeding feature. Look for options like “Start seeding,” “Seed this torrent,” or similar options within the client. Enable the seeding feature to start sharing the downloaded files.
4. Configure your seeding settings if necessary. Some BitTorrent clients allow you to set preferences related to seeding, such as upload speed limits and the maximum number of connections. Adjust these settings according to your preferences and available network resources.
5. Leave the BitTorrent client running in the background while connected to the internet. This allows your client to establish connections with other users who want to download the same files. The more seeders available, the faster and more reliable the download process will be for others.
6. Be patient while seeding the downloaded files. Seeding is a contribution to the BitTorrent community and ensures the longevity of the files for other users. The amount of time you should seed depends on personal preference, but a general rule of thumb is to continue seeding until you have uploaded at least as much data as you downloaded.
7. Consider adjusting your seed ratio settings if available. Some BitTorrent clients allow you to specify a seed ratio, which determines how long you continue seeding until you stop. For example, a seed ratio of 2.0 means you will continue seeding until you have uploaded twice the amount of data you downloaded.
8. Remember that seeding is optional, but highly encouraged to support the BitTorrent community. By continuing to seed your downloaded files, you contribute to the overall availability and health of the torrent network.

Seeding is a crucial part of the BitTorrent ecosystem, ensuring that files can be downloaded by other users and maintaining a healthy distribution network. By seeding the downloaded files, you become an active participant in the sharing process and contribute to the success of the BitTorrent community.

Now that you have learned how to seed the downloaded files, you are ready to enjoy your movie knowing that you have supported the sharing community!


Step 9: Enjoy your downloaded movie

After successfully downloading and seeding the movie files through BitTorrent, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the movie you’ve been eagerly waiting for. Here’s how you can enjoy your downloaded movie:

1. Locate the downloaded movie files on your computer. They are typically saved in the directory you specified during the download process or in your BitTorrent client’s default download folder.
2. If the movie files are compressed or archived, extract them using a file extraction program. Popular extraction programs include WinRAR, 7-Zip, or The Unarchiver. Simply right-click on the compressed file and choose the “Extract” or “Extract Here” option to extract the movie files.
3. Once the movie files are extracted, you can play them using your preferred media player. Most media players, such as VLC Media Player or Windows Media Player, support a wide range of movie file formats.
4. Double-click on the movie file to open it with your media player. The movie should start playing after a few moments, and you can enjoy the film on your computer screen.
5. If you prefer to watch the movie on a larger screen, you can transfer the movie files to a compatible device, such as a smart TV, media streaming device, or external hard drive. Connect the device to your computer, copy the movie files to the device, and use the device’s built-in media player or a connected media player to enjoy the movie on your TV.
6. Adjust the audio and video settings as desired. You can customize the playback quality, subtitles, audio tracks, and other settings within your media player to enhance your viewing experience.
7. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your downloaded movie! Immerse yourself in the storyline, stunning visuals, and captivating performances as you indulge in the cinematic experience.
8. Once you have finished watching the movie, remember to properly store the downloaded files. Consider keeping them in a secure backup location or deleting them if you no longer need them to conserve disk space.

By following these steps, you can fully enjoy the movie you’ve downloaded through BitTorrent. Remember to respect copyright laws and use legal sources when downloading movies to ensure you have the right permissions to enjoy the content.

Now, grab your popcorn, get comfortable, and experience the magic of cinema with your downloaded movie!


Conclusion

Downloading movies through BitTorrent offers a convenient and efficient way to access a vast library of films from the comfort of your own home. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you can easily navigate the process of choosing a BitTorrent client, searching for torrents, downloading and installing the client, downloading torrent files, opening them in the client, selecting files to download, monitoring the download progress, seeding the downloaded files, and finally, enjoying the movie you’ve downloaded.

It is important to remember to use reputable torrent websites, respect copyright laws, and download movies from legitimate sources. Always ensure that you have the proper permissions or rights to download and distribute copyrighted material.

Keeping an eye on the download progress, seeding the downloaded files, and enjoying the movie are the final steps in the BitTorrent movie downloading process. By participating in seeding, you contribute to the sharing community and assist other users in accessing the files you have downloaded.

However, always exercise caution while downloading movies through BitTorrent and protect your computer from malware or malicious files. Use reliable antivirus software and keep it up to date to ensure a safe downloading experience.

Now that you have learned the necessary steps, you’re ready to embark on your journey of downloading movies through BitTorrent. Enjoy the vast collection of movies available at your fingertips, and may your movie-watching experiences be filled with excitement, entertainment, and memorable moments.
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Until next week,

- js.



















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