Why are torrents used for pirated stuff?

[dewcoons]

A torrent is a program that allows people to share files located on their computers with other people. It is also called Peer To Peer files sharing (P2P)

The alternative is to create a web site and then post the file on the web site for download.

If you were to create a web site and put illegal content on the site, you would be slapped with a zillion dollar law suite with 60 seconds of hosting the site.

With P2P sharing, you remain anonymous, you have no cost for setting up or maintaining a web site, you can go on and off line with your sharing whenever you want, etc. So it is much easier and quicker to share using a P2P model then creating a web site. (Whether the content is legal or not.)

If you are doing illegal uploading, of course you want to use a method that makes its hard for them to track you down.

Although today the illegal sharing is shifting. The torrent (and other P2P models) are being replaced with "Skydrive" and similar cloud storage sites where you can upload all kinds of content (including copyrighted material) and then give the people you want to share it with access to your drive. No one else can see it. The music/movie industry can not track it. And you can still share with reduced risk of being caught.