Saturday, February 14, 2009

Safe Torrent Downloading with Vertor | MakeUseOf.com - Sent using Google Toolbar

Safe Torrent Downloading with Vertor | MakeUseOf.com

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Safe Torrent Downloading with Vertor

Jan. 13th, 2009 By Jimmy Rogers

safe torrent downloadingIn the last few months, I've noticed more and more infected torrents and torrent sites out there. The problem with securely downloading torrents is that many of the sites are based overseas or generally don't get the benefit of mainstream security vetting. Here is one secure torrent site that offers safe torrent downloading.

VerTor is a new site that reworks the concept of torrenting. Most torrent search engines simply track and list as many public torrents as they can find.  VerTor first downloads and scans any potential torrent to make sure it doesn't have any spyware, malware, or viruses.  If the file is a video, VerTor will take a set of screenshots as well, so you can verify it is what you are looking for at a glance.  Likewise with audio files, VerTor creates a short preview of each file so you can listen before commiting to a download.

By first verifying all its torrents, you can feel a little bit safer when downloading torrents online. Of course, after downloading a torrent, it's always wise to scan the output file before opening it, just in case.

vertor- secure torrent site

As you can see, the site is designed to be a little less like the typical "text-based search engine" and a little more like a community. The people out there downloading movies and TV shows are obviously very enthusiastic about them, so VerTor offers some reviews/news options to users who want to discuss the hottest downloads. The reviews I have seen so far are very elaborate and include many links external references.

VerTor offers an added feature for users who have found a torrent they want on another site. The Torrent Check function allows users to input a torrent's hash code (a long alphanumeric code found alongside many torrent listings) and check to see if that torrent has been scanned previously by VerTor. While VerTor's library of torrents is relatively small (compared to older torrent sites), it will invariably grow and this tool will become more and more useful.

vertorWith any new technology, there are a number of potential flaws.  The time it takes to download all these torrents, scan them, and sample them will shave some efficiency off of VerTor's offerings.

Also, as I said before, VerTor is new, so it will take time for its scans to soundly cover all of the files you might be interested in. That being said, VerTor is a good "first place to check" when looking for new movies or TV shows.

The security and ease of use make it a smart choice among torrent sites. There is a good FAQ about torrenting in general and each file gives the option to download directly from your browser via a virtual machine, instead of requiring a separate torrent client. It's a great place for noobies if ever there was one.

Overall, VerTor is still a fledgling among some very large birds (The Pirate Bay, Mininova, isoHunt). That being said, no one else is offering a Vertor-stule verified safe torrent downloading service. The interface is fairly simple and the list of torrents will find just about any popular file you are looking for. Definitely add this one to your list!

(By) Jimmy Rogers is a Biology major at George Mason University and an avid freelance tech blogger. Check out his blog, Mason Tech Beat. Also follow him on Twitter or just send him an email if you want to get in touch!

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