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How do you download torrentless torrents? Use Magnetiser for Firefox
Want to download torrents without downloading a .torrent file first? You can do it with Magnet links, which are supported in a bunch of major torrent clients, including uTorrent and Vuze (formerly known as Azureus). Instead of using a .torrent file, the magnet protocol uses DHT and the torrent's hash, so you've essentially got a torrentless torrent. Magnet links can be tricky to find, but a new Firefox add-on called Magnetiser lets you pull them from Torrentz or isoHunt. With Magnetiser installed, go to any torrent detail page and click the "magnetise" button in your toolbar. You should be prompted to pick a torrent client that supports magnet links, and then your download will start. As TorrentFreak points out, this is pretty cool when a .torrent file has been removed, but Torrentz or isoHunt still have the hash data. You can add trackers to Magnetise manually, but it comes preloaded with the most commonly-used trackers, so it should work right out of the box.
Magnetise isn't up on the Mozilla add-on index yet, but TorrentFreak has linked to the .xpi file, which you can download and drag to Firefox to install.
[via TorrentFreak]
Comments
6
Subscribe to commentsnumerwanNov 10th 2009 3:48PM
eztv uses the magnet links... when i figured it out it was actually pretty nice...
BNov 11th 2009 12:35AM
Alright, come on guys. Those of us who create digital media are human beings, too. We have bills to pay, just like everyone else. Please don't be socially irresponsible by posting information helping people pirate or suggesting that it's perfectly okay. You wouldn't post information telling people how to skip-out on paying their plumber, but for whatever reason, people think it's okay for digital work.
whiskeyNov 11th 2009 12:59AM
I'm sorry that your content gets pirated. I really am.
But there's some content out there that's not being pirated, yet it's distributed via torrents/magnet links (open source and creative commons stuff like music and programs, even entire OS).
Cook shows talk about using a sharp knife, it's up to the public to use said information for evil though.
nukeeNov 11th 2009 1:44AM
BitTorrent is a completely legal application with some great uses. Ever try to directly download a major Linux Distro the day it's released? Yeah, it's impossible. The only way to get it is by using BitTorrent.
BNov 13th 2009 8:12PM
> BitTorrent is a completely legal application with some great uses. Ever try to directly download a major Linux Distro the day it's released?
Uh huh. And the reason the torrents are gone? Is there any other reason than it was taken down due to copyright infringement?
> Cook shows talk about using a sharp knife, it's up to the public to use said information for evil though.
You could make the same argument about automatic weapons as well. Based on your argument, there should be no laws against automatic weapons, sniper rifles, bazookas, dirty bombs, cocaine, etc - because it's all dependent on how you use it.
It's rather silly how BitTorrent users like to pretend it's all about legitimate uses. Afterall, even this website has pointed to illegal torrents (just today, they list the Microsoft Office 2010 Beta 2 torrent). And their image above includes "openbittorrent" - aka PirateBay 2.0.
nukeeNov 15th 2009 3:01AM
Plenty of people use HTTP and FTP to pirate stuff as well. So should we ban that protocol as well? Same goes for Rapidshare, Megauplad, Hotfile, and many other hosting services. Look, I'm sorry if piracy has affected you, but ridding the world of BitTorrent would have no effect on it.