Popcorn Time Is Back to Help You Watch Movies and TV Shows
For those who are healthy but stuck inside due to the limitations associated with the oronavirus, this is similar to how the universe gave us an excuse to binge to watch our favorite movies and TV shows (or catch up on our gaming magazines ). Most of us will probably run one of the many paid streaming services to fix our content, but there are also many free options , including Popcorn Time, a popular (and not very legal) free streaming app that uses the technology BitTorrent for searching and watching videos.
Unlike other BitTorrent apps, Popcorn Time lets you play almost instantly whatever you want to watch – you don’t have to wait for the download to complete. However, since the main purpose of the app is to access copyrighted content, let’s be clear: we do not condone piracy, and as stated in Popcorn Time’s official terms of service, you are breaking the law by downloading copyrighted material. If you’re in trouble, there are several places where content is legally available via BitTorrent .
Aside from piracy issues, the word “BitTorrent” is also associated with a variety of other things, and some of these can be disabled by the idea of using a BitTorrent client due to other reasons, such as user interaction or data privacy considerations.
Popcorn Time is easy to set up and navigate. The media player uses a graphical interface similar to Hulu or Netflix, allowing you to search for content by keyword. It has playback controls and settings for changing subtitles, stream quality, and more, and it also has tons of advanced network settings available for those who need them.
As far as data security concerns, Popcorn Time trackers should ensure that you download the files you want from safe locations by default, and you can even add your own to increase the number of titles you can watch. Just remember that BitTorrent activity is visible to your ISP and other companies that track your browsing history. If you are concerned about this, download a reliable VPN service (there is also a paid VPN built into the app) and use a browser that keeps your privacy while looking for other things to browse – just not Tor, since it was not built with BitTorrent in mind, and on in fact, it may be less secure than other browsers for torrenting activity. It’s also worth reading our beginner’s guide to BitTorrent if you’re new to all of this.
If you’re happy with all of these caveats, Popcorn Time is available for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Android TV . Just, you know, don’t download anything illegally.
Oh, and be mindful of internet bandwidth and data plans if you share the same network with family, friends, roommates, or other tenants in the building. Torrent clients can easily clog the network, and since people now rely on home Wi-Fi more than usual, it would be rude to link it all to acquiring morally questionable content.