What Is File Sharing?
File sharing is the practice of distributing and providing access to many forms of media. These files can be digital media, multimedia, documents, etc. Peer-to-peer (P2P) is one of the many channels that can be used to achieve this. P2P file sharing is the sharing and distribution of digital media using P2P networking technology. Through this, users are given access to various types of media using a peer-to-peer software program. This software searches for other computers connected on a P2P network for it to find the desired content. P2P file-sharing technology has grown and evolved throughout the years. One still stands so relevant today: the BitTorrent protocol. It’s a communication protocol most commonly used for transferring large digital files, which are mostly media.
A Short History of ExtraTorrent
ExtraTorrent (commonly abbreviated as ET) served as an online index of digital content comprising a large assortment of entertainment media and software. It was founded in 2006 by an administrator with the pseudonym of “SaM.” At the same time, the torrent sites TorrentSpy and Mininova were ruling the file-sharing ecosystem until other alternatives came out of the woodwork. ExtraTorrent fought hard and grew an exponential following throughout the years. Along with The Pirate Bay and Kickass Torrents, it became one of the oldest and most reliable torrent sites around. What attracted a large number of users to the site was it hosted a huge collection of torrent and magnet links across a variety of content. Another highlight feature was its powerful and advanced search functionality. It seemed there was nothing you couldn’t find in using the search box. Right after Pirate Bay, ExtraTorrent became the second-largest torrent website. The site had millions of daily visitors and followers in its run. It even celebrated its tenth anniversary in November 2016 by changing its logo and starting a contest for users, guessing its top downloaded films to win prizes. Eventually, copyright advocates and watchdogs took notice. With reports of legal pressure, the torrent download website voluntarily shut down on May 17, 2017. A message from “SaM” replaced the site and stated that operations will cease permanently and all mirror domains will be wiped as well. Shortly thereafter, there were several attempts to cloning it. Only one (extratorrent.cd) has survived, though it has been blocked in some regions and countries.
How Do Proxy Sites Work?
So here we are, with the question of how to make the remaining ExtraTorrent mirror site work? The answer is through proxies. So what are they really? You can think of proxy servers and sites as a gateway or intermediary between the Internet and you. Proxies separate end-users from the websites they visit and browse. These intermediate servers also hide your Internet Protocol (IP) address. This allows you to gain access to a website without letting that same page trace you and your location. Aside from privacy, they also offer levels of security and functionality as needed. Unfortunately, proxy sites are not complete without their own drawbacks. Some contain files that are either incomplete or riddled with viruses or malware. Others carry too many pop-up advertisements which are sometimes offensive and inappropriate.
List of 10 Best ExtraTorrent Proxy Sites for 2019
Finally, we arrive at the part that you’ve been waiting for. Here’s the complete list of the 10 best proxy and mirror sites to use for ExtraTorrent in 2019. As of this writing, all entries listed below are in good working condition. A disclaimer though, this torrent sites list is purely for informational purposes only. In no way do we support using them as channels for illegally downloading copyright-protected content.
VPNs as Alternative to Unblock ExtraTorrent
Aside from proxy servers and sites, there’s also another ingenious way for you to use and enjoy ExtraTorrent. It is through a Virtual Private Network or VPN. Once again, allow us to explain. VPN, like its namesake, is a private network that uses a public network (the Internet) to connect remote users or sites together. In simpler terms, it’s a service that allows you to privately and safely access the web. The VPN ensures this by routing the connection through a server and at the same time hiding your online activity. How does it work for you? First up, you must start the VPN service by selecting and downloading any VPN software. This particular software encrypts your data even before the Internet Service Provider (ISP) notices it. The data goes through the VPN server and then continues to your online destination. Be it any type of search engine or website, this online destination reads the data as coming from the VPN server and its location, not from your device and position. In short, VPNs acts as a security and privacy solution. So, that’s it! If any or all forms of torrent sites are barred or even banned in your region, you can also opt to use VPNs to unblock ExtraTorrent. With a VPN, you just select a server of a different country and then visit any of the listed entries above.