I keep getting this message about P2P on my free account. What is going on, and why is it happening? (using USA VPN within USA). I’ve tried different USA free VPNS, but they all have the same problem. My internet is fine when I disconnect

VPN
1

I keep getting this message about P2P on my free account. What is going on, and why is it happening? (using USA VPN within USA). I’ve tried different USA free VPNS, but they all have the same problem. My internet is fine when I disconnect.

2

Removed due to reddit third party app charges

3

Gotta pay when you want to torrent. The free servers are meant for people in countries where normal internet usage is not possible (censoring, forbidden sites) or when privacy is wanted from prying eyes.

4

If you are not using a torrent, it usually means that you have some other applications, that create torrent like traffic.

For example some game clients use build in torrent to download updates.

5

How protonvpn detects torrent use and who is using it without compromising privacy ?

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I think windows update Delivery Optimization option could trigger some P2P traffic, might be worth making sure it’s disabled if you are on Win?

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Are you a gamer? Are you using Steam? I know that Steam implemented a new networking feature a while ago that utilizes P2P. You might want to double check that in Steam’s settings and turn that off.

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idk, how do I disable it?

9

right, so how do I disable P2P?

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“torrent” use the P2P protocol.
ProtonVPN doesn’t know if you are downloading a torrent or not, only know that you are using the P2P protocol.

Although many games use this protocol to deliver updates or content, Windows itself provides the ability for updates to be delivered via this protocol as well.
But the P2P is hugely associated with torrents, and the free version of ProtonVPN is mostly intended for people living in certain countries with a high level of censorship.

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You don’t ‘disable’ P2P. You should look if you have any P2P applications running. This could be, for example, qBittorrent, uTorrent (remove that shit), Soulseek etc… There are a lot more so take a look in your Programs and Features for any apps that may use P2P.

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“The P2P protocol” does not exist. However ProtonVPN just have to analyze traffic and look for some fingerprints (looking for some Bittorrent payload,…)

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You are right, and I know that P2P is not a protocol, I shared my idea wrongly.
But what I meant was what you said, that ProtonVPN just needs to analyse what kind of traffic it is or what protocol is used.