Feature Request: Hybrid Tor Mode for Anonymous Peer Sharing

[tinyplayerss]

Suggestion

Summary:
I propose adding an optional “Hybrid Tor Mode” to qBittorrent that allows users to download and seed torrents over both public torrent networks and the Tor network simultaneously. This feature would enable faster downloads, anonymous seeding, and more resilient torrent swarms while remaining fully optional for users who do not wish to use Tor.

Feature Description

New Setting:
Under Advanced → Network Settings, add a checkbox:

[ ] Enable Tor-based Seeds/Peers

Optional Configuration:

Tor proxy/SOCKS5 settings

Bandwidth limits for Tor uploads

Hidden service setup for private torrents

Behavior when enabled:

The client routes Tor-enabled swarm connections through the Tor network.

Pieces are requested from both public and Tor peers to maximize download speed.

Users can optionally seed files into the Tor network, acting as hidden-service seeds.

Hash verification ensures piece integrity across both networks.

Public peers remain fully compatible, ensuring no disruption to existing torrent swarms.

Benefits

Faster Downloads:
Aggregating pieces from both Tor and public peers increases available sources and reduces overall download time.

Anonymity:
Tor routing protects the IP addresses of both downloaders and seeders who opt-in.

Redundancy and Reliability:
More peers result in fewer stalled downloads and increased swarm resilience.

Optional and Non-Intrusive:
Users who do not want Tor functionality will experience no changes to current behavior.

Open-Source Friendly:
Leverages qBittorrent’s existing infrastructure; minimal changes required to integrate Tor as an optional network layer.

Technical Notes

Tor adds latency but increases aggregate sources. Proper scheduling of piece requests can maximize download speed.

DHT and trackers may need Tor-compatible options, or private hidden-service trackers could be used.

The feature is fully opt-in, so users who prefer standard public torrent behavior are unaffected.

Conclusion:
Adding a “Hybrid Tor Mode” gives qBittorrent a unique, cutting-edge feature: combining privacy, redundancy, and performance in one optional mode. This would make qBittorrent not just a torrent client, but a platform for secure, high-speed, and anonymous file distribution.

Use case

Example Use Case

A user wants to distribute a large Linux ISO securely and anonymously:

Creates a torrent in qBittorrent

Enables “Tor-based Seeds/Peers”

Seeds the torrent — Tor users join the swarm without exposing their IP

Public peers can still download normally

Result: faster, private, and redundant file distribution

Extra info/examples/attachments

No response

[gderf]

Are you really serious about this idea?

The Tor project frowns on using their network for torrenting, and they say that many exit nodes explicitly block such traffic. Many consider torrenting over Tor an abusive use of a volunteer operated network.

[tinyplayerss]

Are you really serious about this idea?

The Tor project frowns on using their network for torrenting, and they say that many exit nodes explicitly block such traffic. Many consider torrenting over Tor an abusive use of a volunteer operated network.

I understand the concern, and to be clear: I am not suggesting using the public Tor network or its exit nodes for torrent traffic.

I’m aware that the Tor Project discourages BitTorrent usage on the public Tor network, and I agree that abusing a volunteer-run anonymity network would be inappropriate.

What I’m proposing is different: using Tor’s open-source onion-routing technology as a basis for a separate, opt-in, torrent-specific overlay network, completely independent from the public Tor network.

In other words:

No public Tor relays

No Tor exit nodes

No impact on the existing Tor ecosystem

This would be a Tor-like network (similar to how projects like I2P or Tor hidden services reuse concepts), where all participants explicitly opt in to carrying torrent traffic.

qBittorrent would simply expose an optional mode to participate in such a network, without touching or burdening Tor itself.

I fully agree that the public Tor network should not be used for torrenting — the goal here is to reuse proven open-source routing concepts, not the Tor network infrastructure.