Can I get cought downloading movies using torrents?
Torrents do not work off of a server-based system. Instead, they use “trackers” that are like a central storage of filename, hash, and the IP and port numbers of everyone sharing and downloading the torrent. Because of this, yet, they can identify your IP and other IPs that are downloading a specific torrent. Trackers are illegal to set up in many countries, mainly the US, so that is why a lot of them are based out of other countries. Sites like PirateBay and Mininova search trackers all over the web for the files you search for, but even these sites would be illegal in the US, though I think some lawsuits are still pending on that. The only country that I know of where you are 100% safe downloading and uploading torrents is Sweden, but many other countries, like Japan and China have no incentive to police their citizens over requests from the US-based MPAA and RIAA, which are the two organizations that actively sue individuals.
