As any enthusiastic torrenting aficionado would tell you, PeerBlock is a free and open-source firewall that fastens the process of downloading the torrent and makes it more secure by blocking notorious IP addresses.
The truth of using PeerBlock, though, is totally different from how it looks like on paper. In reality, PeerBlock sets out to allow users by providing them with more control over their online interaction, along with the possibility to monitor their p2p ventures. Nevertheless, a severe lack of security peculiarities stands in the way of PeerBlock improving security while torrenting.
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To help you stay safe while downloading torrents, here are our top PeerBlock Alternatives, but before we get started, let us have a quick gander at some common problems surrounding PeerBlock:
Why Should Torrent Users Look For Alternatives To PeerBlock?
Some causes as to why users should go for alternatives to cover the following:
- Do not hide your IP address.
- Throttle your connection bandwidth
- Spy all your P2P activities
- Gives no encryption
Because of all such objects, users are on the lookout for some legitimate online privacy tools that not just help them in downloading torrent but also secures their online experience. Well! Today, VPNs are proven exceptional tool that provides a robust online browsing experience.
Best PeerBlock Alternative For Torrenting
Without any further ado, let us explain our stance on the list we have curated here. There are thousands of articles listing PeerBlock alternatives by the security method they use, that is whether they are VPN or PeerBlock ‘counterparts’, but for the ease of reading, we’ve mixed them all, starting with:
1) VPN (Virtual Private Network)
To relate the technology of a Peer blocking software to a VPN would be the most unfair comparison. Since the primary function of a Peer-blocking software is to block malicious IP; in contrast to a VPN, which focuses on concealing your IP and encrypting user’s online data.
To be safe while downloading torrents; try looking for a VPN that offers quintessential features like a kill switch and high-grade encryption.
Only pick a trustworthy VPN for torrenting; otherwise, you will be caught.
2) PeerGuardian:
Powered by Phoenix Labs, PeerGuardian is an open-source and free privacy firewall and PeerBlock alternative. The software has a user-friendly interface and has the following benefits to offer to users:
- Allows users to ban or enable peers: Unlike PeerBlock, PeerGuardian takes a more logical approach to block IPs. Instead of frantically blocking harmless IPs; PeerGuardian provides users with the freedom to go through their IP lists and decide what list to allow and what to block. Besides, users can also opt for blocking or allow an IP either permanently or temporarily as well.
- Users can customize their IP address blacklist: Another feature that makes PeerGuardian an instant hit with torrenters is the fact; that users can customize their IP blacklists and add IP ranges they’d like to avoid and remove specific addresses already present in the blacklist.
Although PeerGuardian allows users to exercise an unprecedented amount of control over their p2p activities, it does have some drawbacks. The biggest one being the lack of supported platforms; which is currently limited to Linux only and a dormant Windows version.
3) SimpleWall:
Another open-source and free application on our list is none other than the popular SimpleWall; which distinguishes itself by offering the following features:
- It’s effortless to use and understand: Simply put, what makes SimpleWall stand out from the rest of the herd: the high configurability it offers to users. Instead of spending hours fiddling with the software settings; users need only click on the ‘Enable Filtering’ button, and SimpleWall will automatically block all peers that have malicious links.
- Allows users to configure settings according to their needs: Similarly, to PeerGuardian, SimpleWall offers users the option to customize what peers to restrict; allow for a particular application or the entire system.
In addition to the feats mentioned above; SimpleWall takes a more rounded approach to security and offers other privacy-centric specs as well; which include certain debugging features; along with the fact that it disables any existing spy trackers present.
Like PeerGuardian, SimpleWall has limited accessibility for Windows only.
4) IPlist:
The forth pick on our list is another free and open-source application that sets out to block specific IP addresses and ranges called IPlist. Some key features of the app include:
- Allows users to create specific blacklists: The most significant aspect of IPlist is the spectacular amount of control it will enable users. Moreover, the security-focused application works in line with IPTables, which allows torrent users to create their IP blacklists and whitelists in addition to the blacklists already present.
- The app is regularly updated: Unlike most popular alternatives to PeerBlock such as PeerGuardian, IPlist has received multiple updates and bug- removals since its launch in 2008.
With the positive features out of the way, however, there are some drawbacks to using IPlist over other PeerBlock alternatives. The biggest drawback is that IPlist is only compatible with Linux and has an interface that requires users to overcome a learning curve.
Unlike other mentions on our list, IPlist takes some time to get the hang off, but the pay-off is worth it since bonus features include port forwarding, IP blocks, detailed logs, amongst many others.
5) BeeThink IP Blocker:
The next mention on our list in the versatile BeeThink IP Blocker, which has the following benefits to offer to users:
- It surveys the online connection in real-time: Unlike other Peer blocking alternatives; BeeThink IP Blocker monitors each incoming and outgoing packet of data; while providing users information about its local address, remote address, etc.
- Offers users the opportunity to lookup IP addresses: Although this isn’t a feature seen in the trial version of the application; BeeThink IP Blocker enables users to search up specific IP addresses and their own information.
Moreover, BeeThink IP Blocker allows users the ability to configure their own black and whitelists; along with supporting Apache’s .htaccess files as well. The only drawback to using the BeeThink IP blocker is that it is only compatible with Windows Operating System.
In Conclusion:
Ultimately, we feel it our responsibility to remind you all to stay vigilant; while downloading torrent, irrespective of the security technologies they have used.
Although all of the software mentioned above are excellent at ensuring users stay far away from malicious IP addresses, exercising caution doesn’t cost anything. It makes for a more secure internet in the long run!
