I was just reading through the interview process for RED, and they specifically forbid the use of VPN during the interview. I don’t understand this requirement, and it seems like it would just leak your IP address to the IRC host, which could potentially be used against you in a honeypot scenario. Once they have your IP, they could link that with the credentials used with the tracker while you are torrenting, regardless of if you used VPN while torrenting.
ITT: Wicked coping with some terrifyingly invasive practices from people none of us know. Seriously, some of this stuff is super concerning.
For the known top trackers, it’s to have more control over nefarious users such as duped accounts, banned users and potential law enforcement trying to sign up. Sure it’s not a bulletproof solution to deal with bad actors but it’s still an effective way. You gotta remember that these trackers are free (yet private). The admins/operators don’t get paid, so last thing they want to do is waste time dealing with such users.
At the end of the day you still have to trust them with your real IP, but it’s mostly to protect themselves afaik. I obviously can’t speak for every tracker out there.
If you’re this concerned, just stick with public trackers or usenet. Private trackers have rules for a reason. If you’re so paranoid about them, avoid them.
There are enough private trackers without the requirement of using a VPN.
RED is so not a honeypot. Y’all paranoid. If your threat model includes hiding your IP from one of the most respected private trackers in the game, then you should probably stick to public where they don’t care if you use a different VPN every time you log in.
My point wasn’t so much that I think RED is shady but that exposing my IP seems like an unnecessary requirement to join. Why can I not have my membership tracked via an anonymous account? If they are concerned about account harvesting or something, then the interview already seems like a good enough measure, accompanied by seed ratio minimums.
You know how in these kinds of discussions there’s always a bunch of nobodies who come crawling out of the woodwork to defend the person or group being accused or pointed out for doing shady shit. I don’t know it just seems weird and suspicious. Apparently I’m not the only one who noticed because they’re getting rather aggressively downvoted.
Why can I not have my membership tracked via an anonymous account?
Because FEDs and movie studio lawyers would use anonymous accounts. All of these requirements exist for one reason, to protect the site and it’s users. If you want anonymous then you should stick to public trackers.
and they specifically forbid the use of VPN during the interview.
Don’t trust anyone who does that
