The landscape of torrent downloading has been profoundly reconfigured since the beginning of 2026. Domain seizures are multiplying across Europe, the Digital Services Act (DSA) has imposed new obligations on proxy hosts since March 2026, and several historical public indexes are facing repeated DDoS attacks.
In this context, the habits of users looking to download movies and series for free are evolving towards less centralized solutions, with risks that remain poorly understood by a large portion of the public.
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Decentralized search via IPFS: what qBittorrent v4.6.0 changes for torrents
Since April 2026, the open-source client qBittorrent has integrated a native decentralized search feature via IPFS in its version 4.6.0. This technical evolution reduces reliance on centralized indexes like 1337x or The Pirate Bay, whose domain names are regularly seized by authorities.
The principle is based on a network of distributed nodes: instead of consulting a single website to find a torrent file, the user queries a peer-to-peer network that has no central point of failure. For a user accustomed to searching for movies and torrents on cpasbien or other similar platforms, the transition remains technical.
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The risk for novices lies in the difficulty of verifying the authenticity of files on a decentralized network. On a traditional site, the number of seeders and comments serve as indicators of reliability. On IPFS, these benchmarks disappear, and downloading a corrupted or malicious file becomes more likely without prior knowledge.
Domain blocks and DSA obligations: the regulatory framework of 2026
The extension of the DSA in March 2026 introduced a constraint that affects the entire downloading chain. Hosts of proxies and free VPNs must report suspicious torrent traffic, which mechanically favors paid VPN services whose practices are auditable.
This obligation changes the game for users who relied on free VPNs to mask their activity. Providers without a clear business model find themselves exposed to sanctions, and several have already stopped relaying BitTorrent traffic.
Domain seizures accelerated in the first quarter of 2026, according to TorrentFreak. Mirror sites that allowed access to blocked platforms see their lifespan reduced to a few weeks, sometimes just a few days. Users are forced to regularly change their address or turn to alternative solutions like direct download (DDL).
Public torrent sites in 2026: increasing reliability and instability
Among the platforms still active, The Pirate Bay and 1337x remain the most visited, but their stability is no longer guaranteed. LimeTorrents, for example, has experienced a series of outages related to DDoS attacks that are reportedly originating from production studios, according to testimonies gathered on specialized forums.
YTS continues to offer a movie-oriented catalog with smaller file sizes, making it popular among users with modest connections. EZTV remains a reference for English-speaking television series. Ground reports vary on the actual reliability of these platforms from month to month.
To assess the safety of a torrent file on these sites, a few criteria remain relevant:
- The number of active seeders, which indicates both the popularity of the file and the potential download speed
- The presence of user comments confirming the integrity of the downloaded content
- The uploader’s age on the platform, with verified accounts generally being more reliable than recent accounts
VPN and torrent client: practical precautions for downloading movies
Using a paid and audited VPN remains the most direct precaution to protect privacy when downloading torrent files. Free VPNs, already not recommended before 2026, are losing relevance with the new obligations of the DSA.
The choice of torrent client is also important. qBittorrent remains the reference open-source client, with no ads or integrated third-party software. Its version 4.6.0, with IPFS search, positions it as a credible alternative to proprietary clients.
A few points to check before starting a download:
- Activate the VPN’s “kill switch” feature, which cuts off the internet connection if the encrypted tunnel disconnects
- Ensure that the torrent client is configured not to share the real IP address via the DHT protocol
- Prefer files with a coherent extension (a movie does not weigh a few kilobytes) to avoid trap files
- Scan each downloaded file with antivirus software before opening
Direct download DDL: an alternative to torrent sites
Direct download (DDL) works without a peer-to-peer network. The file is hosted on a traditional server, which eliminates the risk of IP exposure associated with the BitTorrent protocol. DDL does not require a torrent client, a simple browser is sufficient.
The downsides include speed, often throttled on free hosts, and the availability of links, which frequently disappear due to takedown requests. French-speaking DDL sites change addresses as often as torrent platforms, complicating tracking for users.
Downloading free movies and series in 2026 requires a level of technical vigilance that previous years did not demand. The migration to decentralized protocols like IPFS promises increased resilience against blocks, but it shifts the responsibility of verification onto the user. Without a reliable VPN, without a properly configured torrent client, and without a habit of checking files, the risks of security and legal issues remain high.