I know this is a dumb question… But i cant really aford a vpn like at all, is it possible to torrent without using a vpn in the USA or will i get in some trouble and go to jail if i torrent without a vpn?

The reason i cant get a vpn is because im just broke and im young enough to live with family so i cant really get a job.

  • truxnell@aussie.zoneEnglish
    101·
    21 hours ago

    Stick to private trackers, the risk of being caught is dramatically lower (harder to get it, smaller user base, companies target the big public ones)

    • mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
      4·
      11 hours ago

      Private tracker security is, at best, security theater. You (a random nobody) can get an invite with nearly no effort. You really think a billion dollar industry can’t manage to get in and spoof as a legit user? There are entire companies that specialize in corporate espionage. Use a VPN (or seed box) even on private trackers.

      • truxnell@aussie.zoneEnglish
        1·
        5 hours ago

        They absolutely can of course. However, its easier for them to go after the easier fish that are public and advertise/make profit off work, much the same way a theif will levitate toward the least secure/most attractive house to rob. That said, country makes a huge difference - risk profile between a US citizen and say a Romanian is very different.

        • mic_check_one_two@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
          1·
          1 hour ago

          Yes and no. They’re going after uploaders, and the vast majority of uploaders post on private trackers. Some may also crosspost to public trackers, but that’s usually after a delay, or a third-party reposting it.

      • truxnell@aussie.zoneEnglish
        2·
        5 hours ago
        • keep a eye on https://redlib.trux.dev/r/OpenSignups/ for sites that briefly open for anyone to signup
        • keep a eye on https://lemmy.world/c/opensignups (not as trafficed as reddit sadly, might be better lemmy alternatives around)
        • Look for sites that do IRC interviews (MAM, RED, OPS)
        • Invite from a trusted friend (Note: I recommend being slow and steady and avoiding invites, its safer to ‘make it your own way’ - You can potentially lose your account(s) if someone youve trusted does something dodgy like buy/sell accounts - you have to absolutely 100% trust the person longterm and anyone theyve invited)
        • Never ask for invites, especially publically/DM’s/unsolicited.
        • Once into a reputable site and rank up a little through seeding/account time, look for invite/power user forums to request invites to other sites. This is how you branch out over time and ‘recruit’ your way through trackers.
        • If your into ebooks MAM is a excelent starting place, its incredibly easy and forgiving and has a good invite section to springboard from (and friendly/welcoming community).
        • TL is really good, has lots of freeleech packs, and is open semi-regulary, often when another tracker has issues/downtime.

        Info:

      • Chewy@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        4·
        16 hours ago
        • Pay for a month for TorrentLeechs seedbox promo to get an invite.
        • wait for opensignups. HUNO, FearNoPeer, onlyencodes are solid options.
        • do an “interview” at MAM. After downloading and seeding all you’ve downloaded for a few months, you’ll be able to get into the trackers mentioned above and a few others (e.g. Aither).
    • tfowinder@beehaw.orgEnglish
      64·
      20 hours ago

      Most private trackers require seeding seedboxes.

      I’m sure OP would find it hard to find an Invite without spending money.

      • Chewy@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
        2·
        16 hours ago

        If you permanently seed all you’ve downloaded and you’ve been using a tracker for a while, bonus points + upload should usually cover all your downloading needs.

        Starting out is difficult without a seedbox though. Especially of you don’t use Cross-Seed to seed to multiple trackers. In that case it is considerably easier to pay for a seedbox.

      • calm.like.a.bomb@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        3·
        20 hours ago

        Where are you getting these ideas from? I’m on multiple private trackers and none require a seedbox. They may require a seed ratio, but that’s a totally different matter.

        Also, some private trackers offer invites from time to time and some provide a way to be invited via an interview. I got into two of them by interviewing.

      • truxnell@aussie.zoneEnglish
        2·
        20 hours ago

        Really can’t say that’s the case. A lot of PTs have bonuses points and other things for long term seeding, and you can then buy upload or reduce download, or regular site wide free-leech, or free-leech over xGB, or Perma freeleech while you seed 1tb. You can do perfectly fine on a home connection as long as you don’t mind keeping some torrents seeding (like you ideally should be to share back) You can go from open reg PTs to mid or elite teir PTs off a home connection and no seedbox (if you out in some elbow grease).