Any experienced internet user knows that BitTorrent is a protocol for peer-to-peer file sharing. BitTorrent trackers can provide a list of files available for transfer, and allow the client to find peer users, known as ‘seeds’, who may transfer the files using a specialized BitTorrent client. Given how efficient it is for sharing large files, it’s hardly surprising that BitTorrent accounts for around three percent of all internet traffic worldwide.
Technically, you can access files via BitTorrent using your home computer, but it can cause complications, as connected peers can see your device’s IP address, you can be targeted by bad actors like hackers.
As BitTorrent is sometimes used to share copyrighted files, some networks and ISPs also block or ‘throttle’ the protocol, making downloading directly to your machine more difficult.
This is where seedboxes come in. A seedbox quite simply is a remote server, specifically designed for downloading/uploading files via BitTorrent at high speeds—usually 100Mbps (8MB/s) to 10Gbps (1250MB/s).
Once the files are in the seedbox, users can then download them to their own devices using other common protocols like HTTP, FTP, SFTP, or rsync.
Not only does this bypass the worry of sharing your IP address with strangers, it makes for much more efficient management of your files.
Why do you need a seedbox?
It’s true that you can mask your IP to some extent by using a VPN, though not all allow BitTorrent traffic. This also won’t help if your ISP places caps on how much data you can download. Some popular seedbox providers let you install OpenVPN server, allowing you to connect securely without paying for a separate subscription.
If you normally use an iOS device, you’ll also have noticed that the App Store isn’t exactly loaded with BitTorrent applications, but setting up a seedbox allows you to manage downloads via the web interface in your mobile browser.
Of course, you can accomplish much the same thing by renting your own VPS (Virtual Private Server) and installing software manually, but seedbox providers take much of the hassle away from you.
Aside from being specifically designed for fast file sharing, all seedboxes come with a number of preinstalled applications. Naturally, chief among these are popular BitTorrent clients like ruTorrent, Deluge, qbittorent, and Transmission.
Setting up and configuring these apps via the seedbox web interface works virtually identicallywith the crucial caveat that they can be connected 24/7. This makes it much easier to maintain a good sharing ratio, which is necessary for some private trackers.
