Here is the ultimate guide on how to find, uncover and NOT download fake Torrent files from various sites.  Read it!! It takes 60 seconds but you’ll save hours!

Some of the tips are obvious…..but people aren’t very bright so the obvious has to be stated.

1). Read the ratings.  Most Torrent sites have User Feedback Areas, if it’s reported as a Fake, then it probably is.  You will have a user or two who are working with the forger who will “pad the stats” but generally speaking if it’s fake it’ll be listed as such.

2). Download the Preview.  Some Torrents offer Sample.avi files so that you can see the quality.  Download it first and look at the quality, if it looks like part of the trailer….it’s a fake.  Don’t download it.

3). RAR Files.  If the file is RAR-ed stay away from it.  The file is most likely password protected and to get the password you will need to visit a web-site or install software.  SCREW THAT!  You’re begging for a virus then!  ZIP Compression passwords can be easily cracked so they go with RAR so that you have to visit their sites and generate traffic for them.

4). aXXo is a real person.  aXXo does exist and has phenomenal movies.  The fraudsters taint his good name by releasing fakes.  You can find the official list of his offerings here and here.  If you are picking them up from anywhere else, you are most likely going to get fakes.

5). Size Matters.  aXXo releases are built for a CD.  One CD.  That’s it.  If it says aXXo and is 2GB, it’s not real.  Stay away from it.

6). Watch for misspelled words.  Forgers are not the smartest and their grammar and spelling are atrocious. If the title of the movie is not spelled correctly, don’t download it.

7). Use P2P Guardian.  Use P2P Guardian for your downloads.  The MPAA has in the past released fake films to trap people.  P2P Guardian blocks the IP Addresses of MPAA, Government and Law Enforcement agencies so you won’t be able to download anything from them, and they can’t see what you are downloading.  If the download won’t start or it’s really slow, it’s a fake.

8). Use FakeFinder.  FakeFinder is a software utility that will block out fake files and those who are hosting and tracking them.  A+ software.

Follow this guide and happy downloading!

Tags | General, Linux, Networking, Security, Windows Vista, Windows XP