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.zone
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    9
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    13 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.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      3 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.

      • Chewy@discuss.tchncs.de
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        7 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.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      arrow-down
      4
      ·
      12 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.de
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        7 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.

      • truxnell@aussie.zone
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        11 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).

      • calm.like.a.bomb@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        11 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.