3
From my understanding this is how trackers work:
- I want a file. My BitTorrent client tells the trackers I want that file
- Other peers who also want that file do the same thing.
- The tracker connects me to those peers and/or connects those peers to me and we all download the file together.
However, if I am using a VPN how do they connect to me? I tested the VPN I am using with https://ipleak.net/ and http://ipmagnet.services.cbcdn.com and it always shows my VPN's IP. How do the peers connect to me if they don't know my real IP?
EDIT: Downvoter, care to explain? I'm open to constructive criticism.
@Ramhound Yes, I know that all the traffic from me goes through the VPN and then goes to it's destination. I know how a VPN works. What I want to know is how someone, who isn't connected with me and thinks my IP is the VPN's IP, can possibly connect to me on my real IP. In my view, it is impossible unless the VPN uses NAT somehow, and that can only happen if I have established the connection with the peers somehow first. How that works is what I want to know. – Mark Read – 2017-02-23T03:39:05.687
2Your VPN IP IS your real IP. If you connect to the VPN, you have 2 IPs. One assigned from your ISP, and then one assigned from your VPN. The difference is that the VPN transfers data through a tunnel that you established using your ISP's IP. – TJJ – 2017-02-23T07:31:36.790
1Let's take an example: Imagine you connect to the internet using your phone line. So, you call your provider to open a tunnel for internet traffic, and the data is passed over the phone line. If I were to transfer your question to this situation, then it would be: "How can servers from the internet send me data if they don't know my telephone number?". You see the point here? – TJJ – 2017-02-23T07:34:47.110