Lesson on Creating torrent and seeding

Talking a lot of topic about downloading, and now we will talk about how to be a seeder and share your file online using Bt. To create a torrent, we need trackers.

Here is an example of BT trackers:

http://tracker.prq.to/announce
http://inferno.demonoid.com:3389/announce
http://tracker.phogotorrents.com:2006/announce
http://altimit-dev.net:6969/announce
http://privatetracker.limitedivx.com:2710/announce.php
http://tracker.torrentbox.com:2710/announce
udp://tracker.bitcomet.net:8080/announce


and a lot more, where we can find from the torrent we downloaded or just do a search on google



Usually to create torrent, from the BT client go to File -> Create new Torrent (or CTRL + N).
Then select the files to seed and put on the tracker that's all. We can use more than one tracker at the same time. The more tracker we put, the more effective for other peers to track the seed. Many trackers are used because in case if one tracker goes offline or down then other tracker can still help to maintain the linking between the peers.



For further information: http://torrentfreak.com/how-to-create-a-torrent/



One more thing before I end my post is to talk about super seeding.

What is super seeding?

Super seeding is a feature that allows seeders who are the only seed in the swarm to solely seed pieces that are found nowhere else in the swarm . It is also known as initial seed in utorrent(To enable it just right click the torrent go to Properties and tick Initial Seeding). The super seeding client pretends not to be a seed, but pretends to be a peer with an incomplete file. Then the client shares with one peer only, usually the one with the fastest upload to others and that peer can then share that piece with the swarm. This allows the super seeding client to maximise the efficiency of the upload by only sharing those pieces nobody else has.


In conclusion, I think super seeding should be used only depend on the situation. Due to some other things about the behaviour of super seeding, this function does not work well in swarms with one peer and one seed only. So it is only good when the seeder is the only seed, and there are more than two peers. Therefore, it is bad and ineffective to leave it on all the time. Most good clients should switch it on only depend on the situation. Or else it may cause degradation on speed for everyone.



Internet Resources:
How to create a torrent TorrentFreak, [Doc, Online], 30 June 2007
URL: http://torrentfreak.com/how-to-create-a-torrent/


Super-seeding - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, [Doc, Online], 30 June 2007
URL: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super-seeding

Windows Worm spread through BitTorrent

An emergent news come from torrentfreak saying that there is a Windows worm that infects WinXP is probably Vista also that spread through BitTorrent.

"The worm, W32/Impard-A, is a highly sophisticated program with multi-lingual support that can effectively spread itself, delete and send other, rival malware present on the computer back to its creator, and utilise BitTorrent in achieving its goal."
(Article from torrentfreak)

This worm will try to find BitTorrent client from the computer such as bittorrent.exe and if it finds the client it will then copy itself to a specific location and then start to seed itself through Bt. This make senses as:

"Why should the malware author waste bandwidth downloading his worm to thousands of Windows computers around the globe, when he can make his army of zombified ones redistribute it for him, free of cost?"
(Article from torrentfreak)

In conclusion, Bt technology now can even be exploit to help the virus maker to spread his virus anywhere while also SAVING his bandwidth. It looks very convenient for them with the help of Bt technology. If they still continue exploit the advantage of Bt, maybe one day all ISP will ban BT forever for sure. Let's pray that wouldn't come through.

Internet Resources:
Windows Worm Uses BitTorrent to Propagate TorrentFreak, [Doc, Online], 29 June 2007
URL: http://torrentfreak.com/windows-worm-uses-bittorrent-to-propagate/

Beware when BT!!

Regarding some news information from Cnet News, I found out that nowadays BT is becoming more dangerous. Especially there is adware, spyware and worse virus is hiding inside the torrent files. Since, BT now is used widely around the world in sharing files. Some people exploit the use of BT technology to spread virus to BT peers.

Files like videos and music now may have adware and spyware hiding inside without notice by Bt leechers when they download it and it is globally distributed over the Bt web sites. Actually, BT is a virus free technology compare to P2P which is worse because it has no central search technology exists where the P2P software itself such as Kazaa have been already associated with adware and spyware. Therefore the only way to spread the adware and spyware is through hiding inside the torrent files.

In conclusion, the simple way to avoid these problems is to avoid download torrent sources from untrusted web site. We must also always check for the files that we have downloaded whether the file is in exe format or not from the torrent before we start downloading because it is obviously an executable virus. For example, if we are downloading movies, the extension must be in avi or rmvb those video format instead of exe. We must also not forget to scan for virus with anti-virus software after the download complete for safety purpose. It may be troublesome but for our computer safety wasting one or two minutes may save our computer from the evil adware, spyware or even the virus that may bring harm to our computer.

Internet Resources:
Spyware and adware hide in BitTorrent downloads, News at CNET.co.uk, [Doc, Online], 28 June 2007
URL: http://news.cnet.co.uk/software/0,39029694,39190147,00.htm

BT Search engine

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Way to bypass tracker error in BT

For those without VPN, we know that now TMnet not only restrict by speed, even the tracker is also blocked and always return Connection Closed By Peer error. Now there is a way to bypass it.

Step 1 :Download PROXOMITRON at http://www.proxomitron.info/files/download/ProxN45j.exe

Step 2 :Install it, off all running program including the BT clients and then open PROXOMITRON. Below is the interface of the software:

(Click on the image to view larger size)

Step 3 :From the Edit Filters dialog box, click Headers

(Click on the image to view larger size)

Step 4: Scrll down and find User Agent: SpaceBison (Out) then click it on the Out Check Box

(Click on the image to view larger size)

Step 5:After finish setting the PROXOMITRON, go to the BT client and set the proxy server with

Type: HTTP

Proxy: localhost

Port: 8080

Remember to tick the checkbox of Using the proxy server for peer-to-peer connections

Below are example of utorrent client settings:

(Click on the image to view larger size)

In conclusion, I do not know how can this technique last long but TMnet sure would not just sit there doing nothing. They may then come out with some other new idea or technology to block us and throttle us again. May all the BT users with god speed~

Creadit goes to nazwa69 from torrent jiwang.

Bad News about VPN Server

Nowadays, I found out my BT speed to be degrade at about 20~30kbps only whereas I normally can achieve as high as 70~80kbps. I send an email asking about the BT speed and the VPN provider reply me with the problem.

From the reply:

As the server is no longer located locally, the speeds for asian torrents is bound to drop somewhat. This is due to the TM Datacenter's new policy of jacking up the prices so it is no longer possible for me to continue hosting a server locally (at least not at RM30 rates). All shared servers are now capped at 2mpbs whereas dedicated would cost me around RM600/mb

I've noticed your IP 219.95.*.* which is probably why you are experiencing slow speeds. I could put you on any server in the world (except Malaysia) and you'd still get slow speeds. I'll repeat this again, Malaysian servers can no longer be used for VPN services due to the increase in prices over there and their implementation of capping on shared servers. I'm willing to host the VPN at a low profit but I'm unwilling to make a loss either, prices have shot up by more than 1000% (last time was on 100mpbs shared, now they asking for dedicated bandwidth to continue hosting). 1mbps at the datacenter will cost me approximately RM500 or more, how can I afford to continue hosting it?

In conclusion, although we get to use BT but still not that effectively. Seem like TMnet is trying to put a stop on P2P/BT in the near future. They are trying to cap the speed connecting to the international server and restrict us to as much as possible. Now even the TM new policy has make the server hosting price rising very high, it is giving most of us especially BT users a very hard life.

TMnet Blame Streamyx Broadband Users on P2P/BT Usage

TMnet is very unhappy with Streamyx Broadband Users who exploit and utilize most of their bandwidth. It has once come out on the news at TheStar.

"CYBERJAYA: Peer-to-peer (P2P) traffic is choking up local broadband lines with 20% of users utilising 80% of the total bandwidth, according to Internet service provider (ISP) TM Net Sdn Bhd.
Dr Fadhullah Suhaimi Abdul Malek, general manager of TM Net’s corporate and strategy services, said that as the number of local broadband subscribers increases, more users are expected to use P2P applications such as Kazaa and BitTorrent to transfer files online. "

"“We are not against our customers using P2P. However, it is an unfair situation which needs to be addressed, as we cannot upgrade our infrastructure (merely) for the benefit of the minority,” he said."

Article taken from: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2006/3/1/technology/13540730&sec=technology

Actually, someone also agree that TMnet done the right job in order to maintain the services at the best condition for us. It may seem so unfair if someone else is sucking up all the bandwidth therefore affecting others connection to slowdown. If people only use the broadband to surf and find out that accessing the site is as fast as dialup speed, TMnet will then be blame for not providing them good connection speed.

In conclusion, I feel that TM Net regrets in its decision to offer unlimited broadband packages. I’m afraid TM Net will stop offering unlimited packages soon, and force all users to switch to time-based broadband packages. It may be fair for some user, but not for heavy downloaders. It is fortunate that now TMnet did not implement this measure instead they buy hardware from international country to throttle the P2P/BT traffic.

Internet Resources:

The Star Online TechCentral - Malaysia Technology, [Doc, Online], 16 June 2007

URL: http://star-techcentral.com/tech/story.asp?file=/2006/3/1/technology/13540730&sec=technology