How to Restrict Utorrent to VPN on NordVPN

If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either a fan of the movies, TV shows or games that are featured on utorrent or are at least curious about what the heck it is. Now that you’ve probably gotten over the shock of finding out about this ‘thing’, you might be wondering how to restrict it to a VPN.

In this article, we’ll tell you exactly how to do that. Restricted means you can only access the torrent client while connected to a VPN. That way, your personal data is protected and you can’t be intercepted by law enforcement or nosy neighbours when you’re downloading or uploading files using the ‘free’ version of the program. 

Install And Configure The VPN Software

The very first thing you’ll need to do is install a VPN app on your device. We recommend NordVPN because of its popularity and strong security features. You’ll also need to configure the VPN app to connect to the internet via a secured (HTTPS) connection. This ensures all your internet activity, including your downloads, are encrypted and your personal data is protected. It also means the person you’re communicating with is also protected, providing a better layer of security.

Some VPN apps, such as ExpressVPN, can be configured to use a virtual private network (VPN) in order to connect to the internet. This approach can be problematic because there’s no guarantee what other apps you have installed on your device may be using the VPN or may not. To avoid this, we recommend you avoid using this type of VPN app.

Activate ‘Private Mode’

Once you’ve installed the VPN app, you’ll need to open it and navigate to the ‘private mode’ tab. Take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the settings here. By default, the VPN will be set to connect to the internet via a public WiFi hotspot, which is fine if you’re using a mobile device or laptop, but if you’re using a desktop PC, you may want to change this to connect via a VPN. This will ensure your activity, including your downloads, are encrypted and private.

It’s important to note that while in ‘private mode’, your PC will need to be connected to the internet via a private (VPN) connection in order to utilize the torrent client. If you’re still using your laptop for other tasks, you may want to use a different device for your torrent needs. A smartphone, for example, would be great as it can be used for anything you need and also provides stronger security features than a laptop.

Launch Utorrent & Connect To Your VPN

Once you’re in ‘private mode’, it’s time to launch the torrent client. This can be done by either searching for the program in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store (if you’ve downloaded it from there) or by clicking the ‘utorrent’ button on the desktop app itself.

Once you’ve launched the torrent client, it will display all your available local connections. Select the one you’ve previously connected to via a VPN and click the ‘Connect’ button. This will connect you to the VPN. Once connected, you’ll be prompted to enter your username and password. Enter the details and click the ‘Connect’ button.

You’ll see a yellow padlock in the bottom right-hand corner of the window. This is your VPN’s certificate and it verifies that you are indeed connected to their network. This is also displayed in the taskbar at the top of your screen. You can click this to view the certificate. You can click to disconnect from the VPN at any time.

Now that you’re connected to the VPN, it’s time to use it to access the utorrent site. When you arrive at the site, click the ‘logo’ button in the upper right-hand corner of the browser window. This will open up a small menu, click ‘Create Account’ under the menu. You’ll then be presented with a form, enter your email address and choose a password. After you’ve created an account, you’ll be returned to the main menu. Now, it’s time to download some TV shows or movies. You can use the filters to narrow your search or use the search box to type in what you’re looking for. When you’ve found something of interest, click the ‘Watch Now’ button to begin streaming the content. Once the movie has finished downloading, click the button again to close the program and resume where you left off before closing it down. If you’re worried about your data usage, you can click the small downward pointing arrow next to the Netflix and Spotify logos on the taskbar at the top of your screen to access your monthly data usage. You can also press the ‘Data Sense’ button to see the details of your current plan or go on the website to update your plan and save. When you’re done using the torrent app, remember to close it down. You should now only see a padlock in the bottom right-hand corner of the window when you’re connected to the internet via the VPN. This means you’re restricted to only use the torrent app while connected to the VPN. If you forget, you can click the connected device on the upper right-hand side of the window to see a list of all the apps currently connected to the VPN. Simply click the padlock to disconnect from the VPN and make sure to close all the apps when you’re finished. You can also go into your VPN app’s settings and click the ‘Disconnect’ button to disconnect from the VPN at any time, or even when it’s connected to another device. Of course, you can always use your backup laptop or desktop if you forget to log off your smartphone or tablet when you’re done using them. Then, when you turn on your device the next morning, you’ll be prompted to enter your master password to activate it. This will then connect you to the VPN and allow you to use the torrent app as normal. If you forget your master password or it gets lost, you can deactivate your phone and create a new one. This will then connect you to the VPN and allow you to use the app as normal. Be careful when creating a new password as you must use a mixture of uppercase and lowercase letters along with numbers and symbols. Also, make sure to write down the 24-character hexadecimal representation of the password you’ve just created. This will ensure you remember it as there’s no autocomplete for hexadecimal passwords. Once you’ve created a new password, it’s time to launch the torrent app and log in using the new details. Then, you can use the app as normal. When you’re done using the app, again, be careful to shut it down properly. You should now see a padlock in the bottom right-hand corner of the window when you’re connected to the VPN. This means you’re now restricted to only use the app while connected to the VPN. If you forget or lose this password, you’ll have to create a new one to connect to the VPN. Be careful when creating a password as you must use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters along with numbers and symbols. Once you’ve created a password, it’s time to launch the app and log in using the new details. Remember to always use a strong password and keep it hidden from view. If you forget this password, you’ll have to create a new one to log in to your PC or mobile device. Be careful when creating a password as you must use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters along with numbers and symbols. Once you’ve logged in using your new password, it’s time to use the app as normal.

Use The VPN To Access Other Sites

While the above steps show you how to restrict Utorrent to VPN, you may also want to consider using the service for other activities. Let’s say you have a favourite website that isn’t compatible with a VPN. You can always use the VPN to access that site and keep your private data secure. This is easily done by clicking the ‘gear’ icon in the upper right-hand corner of the browser window when you’re connected to a site that isn’t compatible with the VPN. This will then display a menu containing all your configured VPNs. Click the icon of the VPN you wish to use and then click the ‘Connect’ button. You’ll then be connected to the chosen VPN and the website you were trying to access will appear to be encrypted and secure.