a malware-free torrent utility?

[AlecWest]

Just curious if such a thing exists nowadays. It seems like most modern torrent software developers have aligned themselves with toolbar purveyors and other invasive "companion" software. For example, I was using uTorrent without issue until my Firefox auto-updated itself to Firefox 25 on November 7th. Before the 7th, if I clicked on a link to a page that no longer existed, a Firefox window opened telling me so. But starting on the 7th, it took me to a "Page not found Yahoo Error Handler" page. Basically, it was a Yahoo search page telling me the page didn't exist. But in my Firefox extensions menu, it showed plug-ins for both uTorrent and Conduit Search (which web research told me had partnered with uTorrent). Note that these two plug-ins are not available on the Mozilla site. So, they must have been added to my Firefox plug-ins (without my knowledge) when I installed uTorrent ... remaining dormant until my November 7th auto-update to Firefox 25.

BTW, when I first noticed this bug, I ran Spybot, Superantispyware, and Avast scans for malware - coming up empty.

uTorrent was easy to remove. But Conduit Search didn't show up as an installed program. To get rid of it, I had to do a system search for any files/directories using the "Conduit" term as part of it's name. And to delete some of them, I needed "Administrator" privileges. After I was done, I checked out "about:config" and was able to reset (remove) any mention of Conduit Search in Firefox.

Then, I rebooted ... and the Yahoo Error Handler issue disappeared. Here's a mention of this Conduit Search/uTorrent partnership in uTorrent's own forum:

http://forum.utorrent.com/viewtopic.php?id=141506

BitTorrent also has a partnership with Conduit Search. The only difference appears to be that the browser hijack with uTorrent favors Yahoo searches while the browser hijack with BitTorrent favors Bing searches. Here's a page on it in BitTorrent's own forum:

http://forum.bittorrent.com/topic/346-done-with-bittorrent-conduit-bing-hijacking/

Anyhoo, I'm open to suggestions of "bug-free" torrent clients ... especially clients that can handle both torrents and magnet links.

P.S. Anybody use Transmission-qt for Windows?

Regards,
J. Alec West

[newpath]

I removed uTorrent and all its malware for the same reasons you have stated. I also disliked uTorrent being adware. Anyway, try qBittorent. So far, I have seen no malware issues with this software and it seems faster than uTorrent.

[El Heggunte]

...........

Anyhoo, I'm open to suggestions of "bug-free" torrent clients ... especially clients that can handle both torrents and magnet links.

version 1.8.5 of µtorrent:

http://www.oldapps.com/utorrent.php

[Baldrick]

I'm moving you to our computer section. This is not really video related. It's just a download utility.

[bat999]

... Anybody use Transmission-qt for Windows?

No
But TransmissionBT with Linux is no-frills rock solid.
Are you gonna test drive Transmission-Qt Win?

[roma_turok]

You just too paranoid

1) uTorrent not installing any malware when its running, just in FIRST uTorrent install, need only deselect install toolbars in installation setting
2) You cannot find anything better than uTorrent, trust me I also search, just for fun before: utorrent alternatives
3) If want remove ad bar follow this guide: How to Remove Sponsored Ads from uTorrent

[deadrats]

i personally like vuze, though i've also used some open source ones that weren't that bad.

[Kerry56]

Older versions of uTorrent work well. I use 2.2.1.

Yes, it handles magnet links.

[bat999]

roma_turok probably has the right idea.
If you can get rid of the malware then stick with uTorrent.

[hello_hello]

I still use utorrent, but not the more recent versions due to the extra bloat and advertising. I run utorrent 2.2.1 myself. It worked when it was released and it works today.

[deadmeow]

Utorrent is the best, I use and old version 1.8 and it has no bundled bloat ware. Newer utorrent versions as have been mentioned are bundled with bloat ware that you have to manually de-select at install.

[davexnet]

I'd also vote for uTorrent 2.2.1 build 25302. It seems clean, I've never seen anything "extra" after the install.
You could always disconnect from the 'net before starting the setup.

[nic2k4]

Opera has a built in torrent client, at least version 12 does. I haven't tried version 17 yet, so I can't confirm, but everything seems to point that it does too. And, no malware attached; well if you don't count the google toolbar, but you can choose not to install that. Always do custom install on any software, you would be surprised how many supposedly big name packages try to slip crap in.

[Noahtuck]

I use uTorrent 2.2.1 build 25110
A hacked version that has everything not needed removed and allows for.....
Well, it's customized "hacked"

Never had any issues with it or it installing anything extra.
But you can not find it at the official uTorrent site.

There are also a few private trackers I know of that do not allow newer builds of uTorrent because of bugs/issues in/with the newer versions.

[davexnet]

I use uTorrent 2.2.1 build 25110
A hacked version that has everything not needed removed and allows for.....
Well, it's customized "hacked"

Never had any issues with it or it installing anything extra.
But you can not find it at the official uTorrent site.

There are also a few private trackers I know of that do not allow newer builds of uTorrent because of bugs/issues in/with the newer versions.

Thanks for the info. I found build 25110 at oldversion.com - according to their site meter it's been downloaded
over 7000 times. Can you "elaborate" a little more on the "customization"?
Another torrent site I belong to recommends 2.2.1 build 25154 - but it doesn't really delve into the reasons
why they pick that specific build (unfortunately).

[AlecWest]

Thanks for all the replies ...

... but ...

When I tried to install uTorrent 2.2.1 build 25203, I unchecked the two toolbar blocks ... but it installed them anyway. I uninstalled one of them (it took about 3 minutes). But it won't let me uninstall the 2nd one. Also, it added a plug-in to my Firefox browser. I deleted it ... I hope. I'll attempt to "manually" uninstall that 2nd toolbar. And, I think I'll move on to Transmission-qt and see how it behaves.

Regards,
J. Alec West

[-t40-]

This is installed on my PC...I decided to reply to this thread because I don't understand anything about that "malware" talk.
All I did were to forbid internet access for installer and to tweak settings to get rid of adds inside interface,got no toolbars no nothing.

[AlecWest]

All I can say is that I'm glad others were luckier with uTorrent than I was. I finally did get that 2nd toolbar deleted by doing a uTorrent "wash-out" in my registry. Jeez ... v2.2.1 left more garbage in registry than the last more recent version I installed ... even more than Conduit.

Regards,
J. Alec West

[davexnet]

All I can say is that I'm glad others were luckier with uTorrent than I was. I finally did get that 2nd toolbar deleted by doing a uTorrent "wash-out" in my registry. Jeez ... v2.2.1 left more garbage in registry than the last more recent version I installed ... even more than Conduit.

Regards,
J. Alec West

Sorry to hear you got tool bars. I downloaded my version (2.21 25302) from oldapps.com.
If in doubt of any installer there are a couple of things you can do. Set a restore point first.
Secondly, disconnect from the net before opening the installer. Either pull the ethernet cable out
or issue the command ipconfig /release from the CMD box.

[Hoser Rob]

... Anybody use Transmission-qt for Windows?

No
But TransmissionBT with Linux is no-frills rock solid.
Are you gonna test drive Transmission-Qt Win?

Haven't tried the windows version either but I'll also vouch for the linux version 100%.

Actually, before I started using linux I used windows programs ported from linux a lot. They're generally better behaved. And the media programs don't bugger up your windows by installing 3rd party codec packs that take over the whole system. You just can't do that crap all that easily in linux.

[AlecWest]

The Windows version of Transmission is "truly" malware-free and works great (though it doesn't recognize magnet links). But for my purposes, it's all I need.

Regards,
J. Alec West

[dessieclive]

Tixati is the best has scheduler and direct magnet select