Private trackers

Private Tracker Flowchart

What is a private tracker?

Private trackers provide the same functionality as public trackers, but are generally invite-only. The overall concept is to filter out users who are not willing to seed or give back. If your content needs are filled on public trackers, private ones may not be worth your time.

How secure is a private tracker?

This depends entirely on the practices of whoever is running it and popularity. Niche trackers may go under the radar while larger trackers are often targeted by anti-piracy groups and attackers. This explains why many trackers have static user limits.

Invitations

Registration control is usually maintained by an invitation system. Trusted and contributing members can grant new users permission to register at the site. Classification of a trusted and contributing member varies by sites, leaving some trackers more difficult to join than others.

Some trackers maintain an interview system. Most notably, What.CD.

Privacy

It's generally recommended to use different emails, usernames, and passwords on every tracker you join for maximum privacy. Tracker staff often have relations and share user information with each other. While you may not be doing anything wrong, having a sense of aloofness should still be in mind. Check if your tracker permits the use of VPN to prevent profiling.

Tracker Drama

Heard your favorite tracker's admins are a bunch of invite-sellers? Site linked to notorious webmasters? Content = Content. Don't bother getting caught up with the latest staff news. However if you do happen to use a conspicuous tracker, never use the same password or email you'd use on another reputable tracker. There have been cases of admins storing passwords in plaintext and using them to bruteforce into other sites.

Public Invites

Be wary, trackers do not usually permit public giveaways. Do not post your real email in the open unless it's temporary or not connected to you in any way.

Notable Private Trackers

• HDbits (HDB)
  • Large HD tracker with over 100,000 torrents and ~1,400 TiB of content.
• What.CD (WCD)
  • Music tracker with over 2 million torrents.
• Broadcast the Net (BTN)
  • Large ratioless television tracker.
• Pass the Popcorn (PTP)
  • Large movie tracker. Content ranging from black and white obscura to the latest blockbuster.
• Anime Bytes (AB)
  • Anime tracker with over 100,000 torrents. Many torrents are freeleech.
• IPTorrents (IPT)
  • Massive general purpose tracker.
• Waffles.FM (WFM)
  • Medium-sized music tracker. Regarded as what.cd alternative.
• TehConnection (TehC or TC)
  • Medium-sized movie tracker. Regarded as PTP alternative.
• Freshon.tv (TvT)
  • Medium-sized television tracker.
• OiNK (OPP)
  • What.CD, Waffles.FM, and other's predecessor.

See Also

• Piracy