bittorrent DescriptionBitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing (P2P) communications protocol. BitTorrent is a method of distributing large amounts of data widely without the original distributor incurring the entire costs of hardware, hosting and bandwidth resources. Instead, when data is distributed using the BitTorrent protocol, each recipient supplies pieces of the data to newer recipients, reducing the cost and burden on any given individual source, providing redundancy against system problems, and reducing dependence on the original distributor. The protocol is the brainchild of programmer Bram Cohen, who designed it in April 2001 and released a first implementation on 2 July 2001. It is now maintained by Cohen's company BitTorrent, Inc.Usage of the protocol accounts for significant traffic on the Internet, but the precise amount has proven difficult to measure. There are numerous compatible BitTorrent clients, written in a variety of programming languages, and running on a variety of computing platforms, include uTorrent, BitComet, Deluge, TurboBT, and Transmission.
Characteristics Category : general-internet | Evasive : yes | Risk :  | Widely Used : yes | Standard Port : tcp/dynamic udp/dynamic | Has Known Vulnerabilities : yes | Capable of File Transfer : yes | Prone to Misuse : yes | Used by Malware : yes | Tunnels Other Application : no | Excessive Bandwidth : yes | |
AnalysisBitTorrent is one of the more innovative and sometimes "legitimate" peer to peer applications available. Originally implemented by Bram Cohen, BitTorrent was initially both a client and a protocol. Since that time, there have been many other client software programs that have implemented the BitTorrent protocol, such as uTorrent, BitComet, Azureus, ABC, TurboBT, etc. Unlike many other peer to peer applications, BitTorrent technology has even been adopted by some companies for distribution of their business data, software and content updates. There are also commercial products for content distribution and storage services that are using BitTorrent technology.
BitTorrent utilizes parallel distribution of content through data partitioning and decentralized management of file directories. Essentially it partitions a file into smaller pieces called torrents which are then copied among a group of peers. Each peer, upon receiving a torrent, can start serving the torrent to other peers. The coordination of "who has what" used to be achieved through centralized servers known as "trackers". However, these static "trackers" posed vulnerability and legal issues for BitTorrent users, which motivated the introduction of DHT (distributed hash table) to BitTorrent clients. DHT effectively is a "trackerless" method of delivering distributed content. DHT serves as a directory of "who has what", where "what" is a hash key computed from the name of a file to be shared. The keyspace partitioning scheme determines where the torrents of the file should be kept for distribution. DHT provides BitTorrent with scalability, fault tolerance, and improved anonymity. |