No Internet Connectivity due to Torrents

[Terminator_523]

Since January, 2018, I have had “No or limited internet connectivity.” My internet would work fine for a while, but then I would suddenly not be able to connect to the internet through any browser. The ONLY fix for this would be to re-format my computer and re-install everything. After 6 months of trouble shooting, I finally narrowed down a possible cause of this issue.  I just don’t know how to prevent this from affecting my computer. Can anyone help?

Here’s the details. I went to PirateBay and downloaded some torrents. I also use uTorrent. Within a short while after starting the downloads, I was no longer able to connect to the internet. ESET anti-virus and malware programs detected nothing. A system restore did not fix the issue. I even made a complete image backup of my computer from BEFORE I installed any torrents, and I still had no connection after restoring my computer image.

Rebooting the modem and router works for a short while, but after several reboots it will no longer connect. I end up reformatting to get my internet back.

While I was reformatting my 1st computer, I copy and pasted these torrents onto my 2nd computer and started downloading them. I did NOT go to the PirateBay website directly, but just used these torrent files and uTorrent. The same thing happened, and I have no internet connection on that computer either.

To triple check this was the cause, after I reformatted my 1st computer, and made an image backup using Paragon BEFORE installing uTorrent and downloading any torrent files. My internet was working fine.After I made an image backup, I started downloading these torrents again, and my internet stopped working after a half hour. When I restored my computer to an earlier time (when my internet was working), I still had no internet connection and now must reformat again.

Is anyone familiar with this problem? WHat is going on? I do no use a VPN, because it makes my computer very slow. But will using a VPN prevent me losing internet connectivity? If I use the Pirate Browser, will this help also?

Thank you for any suggestions you can offer. This is driving me crazy!

Moe edited Jul 14, 2018 12:43 pm this post because: The report torrents/comments section is for posting links to torrents or comments on TPB that break rules. Not for posting help requests. moved

[TheBeard]

VPN won't stop you losing connection but wil protect you from your ip being seen. Not to be smart but you went to an awful lot of trouble by re-format my computer and re-install everything to solve the not connect problem. I am not familiar with utorrent, does it have ads? Have you configured it right? Try tixati the portable version. i would get rid of utorrent before reformatting. Do you have a option of checking adapter settings or similar wording?

[politux]

What torrents are you downloading? Please link. Sounds like you downloaded a virus.

[0zz0]

I almost don't believe you, reads like bs...

can you ping anything? your isp, your router, yahoo.com?  does only torrents stop working or html, pop, smtp, etc, ad nauseum,   Do you have too many connections, breaking your t*****ip?  Have you checked you isp email for warnings?  did you stop downloading the torrents?  I mean, torrents are not worth more than 5-10 min wasted time NOT 5-10 DAYS.  If it don't work move on to something new and possibly more exciting...\\\]

[TheBeard]

And you should be very careful with torrents. Some films will say it needs a special codec to play. If it does drop it. The 'special codec' is malware

[Mr.Masami]

And you should be very careful with torrents. Some films will say it needs a special codec to play. If it does drop it. The 'special codec' is malware

This is very old method but they still try to use it. New methods they use are more sublime.
I won't describe them here because it could be used by scammers that still use the old methods.

For safety just open files with your player, not with association by double-clicking. If it doesn't play, delete it.

As for the OP problem:

Where do you download your uTorrent ? if it's not from the official website it may be infected.
All software and drivers should be downloaded from their official website. Unless you're using some premium pirated software, but for free software never use other source than the creators website.

Rebooting the modem and router works for a short while, but after several reboots it will no longer connect. I end up reformatting to get my internet back.

Looks like an ISP throttling or router failure. Your internet is probably working after reformat because you gave time / didn't use the router for a while so the ISP gave you another chunk of time to use.
If you know how, download latest version of firmware for your router and reflash it. If you don't - read manual, it's pretty simple but if you're not careful you can brick it.

Since January, 2018, I have had “No or limited internet connectivity.” My internet would work fine for a while, but then I would suddenly not be able to connect to the internet through any browser.
......
After 6 months of trouble shooting, I finally narrowed down a possible cause of this issue. I just don’t know how to prevent this from affecting my computer. Can anyone help?

I will narrow it a little further - You started torrenting on January not knowing that your ISP has transfer limits.

You've been Terminated by your ISP.

Possible solutions (if that's the case): Stop downloading big files or get better deal for your Internet.

My friend got Internet with *no limits - the asterisk was described in the agreement on page 666 with the smallest font possible that tells they may throttle down connection at any time if required.
He got the same issues as You when he download too much. He said rebooting the router helps for a while. But waiting should be enough.

PS. If you have WiFi enabled, change your password - maybe someone is using your connection without your knowledge.

[tgkid88]

Sounds like ISP bullshit. Install a vpn and try again

[RobertX]

The only codec pack you "need" in Windows is the K-Lite codec, or better yet, just use VLC; that has codecs built-in.

If it's anything else, don't download it.

Not trying to advertise, just laying down the ground rules.

[BigNoise]

The only codec pack you "need" in Windows is the K-Lite codec, or better yet, just use VLC; that has codecs built-in.

If it's anything else, don't download it.

Not trying to advertise, just laying down the ground rules.

^ is off-topic and wrong without mentioning the OS-version.
Codec packs were released for Win XP and below, and are no longer required if one uses a proper player.

[haanuman]

Get malwarebytes free and scan it. I once had something like this and it was some trojan -_-