Some people on here like torrents but i have never actually come accross any yet. What are they and how do they work? Are they legal?

Torrents can be legal. They're just a good way of sharing large files on the net.
Only problem is lots of people use the torrent network for sharing copyright material.
They're very simple though. You can download uTorrent or another server software and use the search function in it to find whatever you want....

To be more technical, torrent files are small data files which contain metadata about file being shared and about the Tracker which is a server which helps with the communication between the peers who are downloading and/or uploading the file. Torrent clients use these files to request the file for download from the peers who have it amongst other things

With virtually all BitTorrent Clients you not only download you also upload at the same time. As soon as you have part of the file your client will start uploading it to other sharers if requested.

This is why many people in the States are being sued by RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America)and MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America), collectively and unaffectionately known as MAFIAA (Music And Film Association of America).

Its quite difficult to sue someone for downloading a CD or Movie because its only theft at most and they can only sue for actual damages which would be at most in the region of $15 to $50, not really worthwhile.

But people uploading these files are distributing without a license which is Copyright Infringement and can potentially be sued for up to $150,000 for each file distributed plus face imprisonment.

This is why you should never use bit torrent for downloading copyrighted material because you automatically upload also.

If you must use BitTorrent regardless if the files are legal or not you should consider using a program like PeerGuardian which is kind of like a firewall which stops or attempts to stop particular IP addressed from accessing your computer, specifically your shared files.

In my opinion uTorrent is the best Windows Torrent client.

Thanks for the in depth reply. I think i'll leave well alone!!

A concerned parent contacted me last year after her daughter was sent a threatening legal letter for sharing files. The family were successfully taken to court and managed to get the fine done to £2500. The daughter wasn't aware she was sharing files (just thought she was downloading) and had installed the software on the family machine (Not torrent but Kazaa I think)

Parents thought that they could argue that their daughter was a minor and it'd not go to court but the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) Solicitors took the parents instead.

Used to be safe when so few knew about it but not now - not worth the risk in my opinion and it's a great way to spead virii and other devious software!

eeek!