Do I need to bind my IP in uTorrent?

Mr_Ford

I've been doing that every time, because the data doesn't go through openvpn.exe.  It gets annoying having to do an ipconfig an changing the settings each time I reconnect though.

If I don't do it, can companies link my downloads back to me?

Osborne_Cox

I don't use Windows version, but you'd want to bind to either VPN IP or the VPN adapter if possible.

Mr_Ford

If I didn't, would my ISP be able to tell I was using torrents?

Khariz

If we say "yes" will you take the advise instead of asking the question again?

ebikesrc2u

There is a torrent checker here:

https://ipleak.net/

I'm using the current uTorrent 3.4.5 in Windows with OpenVPN Client -not PIA.

Every time I do this torrent test it passes, and I do NOT bind IP or use special Windows commands to achieve this.

Also, in the BitTorrent Preferences I have everything checked enabled except for legacy connections. Many people have recommended not having many of these settings checked and enabled, but WHY is my uTorrent test passing every time saying it's protected???

A lot of people are very confused about this issue, and I'm not an expert to know the correct answers. All I know is my uTorrent passes the test, so is it wrong???

Who really knows the answers???

ebikesrc2u

If anyone really knows the correct uTorrent setting answers for the above post, in the BitTorrent Preferences Menu, then please do share.

I did a search in the uTorrent Help section and found this about binding IP with an adapter and also found a potential binding problem issue with Windows:

How do I make µTorrent use a specific network adapter?

Set the net.bind_ip option to the IP address of the adapter you wish to use for incoming connections. Set the net.outgoing_ip option to the IP address of the adapter you wish to use for outgoing connections.

These are found in the Advanced settings of uTorrent:

net.bind_ip: If your computer setup requires that you use a specific LAN adapter for incoming connections, you may specify that adapter's IP address here.

net.outgoing_ip: If your computer setup requires that you use a specific LAN adapter for outgoing connections, you may specify that adapter's IP address here.

Note that Windows will sometimes ignore this setting and use other adapters due to their binding orders in Windows. To fix this, read Microsoft's knowledge base article KB894564.

Mr_Ford

Khariz said:

If we say "yes" will you take the advise instead of asking the question again?

I didn't get an answer to my question (still haven't, actually), and I waited several days.  Obviously I needed to ask again.  Saying "you'd want to" is not the same as telling whether or not my ISP could see what I was downloading if I don't bind the IP.

UltraHumanite

Mr_Ford said:

Khariz said:

If we say "yes" will you take the advise instead of asking the question again?

I didn't get an answer to my question (still haven't, actually), and I waited several days.  Obviously I needed to ask again.  Saying "you'd want to" is not the same as telling whether or not my ISP could see what I was downloading if I don't bind the IP.

Mr_Ford said:

I've been doing that every time, because the data doesn't go through openvpn.exe.  It gets annoying having to do an ipconfig an changing the settings each time I reconnect though.

If I don't do it, can companies link my downloads back to me?

You shouldn't be binding your IP. What do you mean data doesn't go thru openvpn.exe? Please be more specific about your configuration and what you're doing.

Khariz

Let's try this answer:

If you configured PIA correct, there's *technically* no reason to ALSO bind the torrent client to the TAP adapter, except as a failsafe.  But, there is no harm or downside to doing so, however, as binding the TAP adapter is a "killswitch" inside the Torrent application itself.  Basically, if the juice isn't flowing through the TAP adapter, then then torrent client can't send any traffic through your network.

So Yes...if you are using a torrent program that allows you to specify the adapter, then specify the adapter.  But none of this has anything to do with your ISP knowing what you are doing.  It has to do with your Real-IP being exposed to the trackers and thus the folks who issue the DCMA notices, which will trickle back down through your ISP to you.

To hide from your ISP, PIA is suffcient (unless it goes down and you don't have a killswitch enabled).

ebikesrc2u

Khariz said:

Let's try this answer:

If you configured PIA correct, there's *technically* no reason to ALSO bind the torrent client to the TAP adapter, except as a failsafe.  But, there is no harm or downside to doing so, however, as binding the TAP adapter is a "killswitch" inside the Torrent application itself.  Basically, if the juice isn't flowing through the TAP adapter, then then torrent client can't send any traffic through your network.

So Yes...if you are using a torrent program that allows you to specify the adapter, then specify the adapter.  But none of this has anything to do with your ISP knowing what you are doing.  It has to do with your Real-IP being exposed to the trackers and thus the folks who issue the DCMA notices, which will trickle back down through your ISP to you.

To hide from your ISP, PIA is suffcient (unless it goes down and you don't have a killswitch enabled).

Excellent points, and thanks for the clear and understandable answer.

Here is a related question that may have some relevance to the issue at hand... Does anyone know how reliable the OpenVPN client works to holding its connection with PIA using Windows OS???

I'm using W 8.1, and I never see any OpenVPN disconnect issues with where I connect to at PIA. BUT. I'm wondering IF there are disconnects that are actually happening that are reconnected to the OpenVPN client before some timeout log gets created to even know for certain if there have been any temporary disconnects??? I write down the time and date of the login, but it remains a solid connection according to the tray icon reporting.

Is a log file being created by OpenVPN that I can check to see if there are any temporary disconnects and re-connections that are not being reported in the system tray icon connection information???

This kind of solid connection NEVER happens when using the Windows PIA Client with DNS and disconnect features enabled. It will often disconnect, and then I have to manually reconnect more than 50% of the time with these broken connections. That is a big PITA.

So, is there a way to activate and check any OpenVPN log files that track any temporary lost connections and reconnects [or temporary timeouts] to know whether connections are being lost for short periods of time???

Thanks for your help....