Whenever you email yourself a file or use something like Dropbox to transfer files between devices, your data lives on a server somewhere as an intermediary. If you'd rather cut out the middleman, Takeafile.com uses peer-to-peer technology to transfer files, no plugins required.

When it comes to sharing files on BitTorrent and Usenet, it doesn't get any better than private trackers and indexers. But by definition, they're very exclusive, so you can't just waltz in the front door. Here's how to get access to the best private file sharing communities.

Peer-to-peer file sharing services like BitTorrent Sync are great ways to share large files without paying for third-party cloud storage, but they still require you to download software. FilePizza shares files using peer-to-peer right in your browser.

Yesterday, the Australian Senate passed legislation which will require ISPs to block sites that are found by a court to enable piracy. Just how soon will that happen and what effect will it have?

Having been a child of the home computer boom of the early 1980s and then worked with computers for many years, I can't help but sigh every time a new campaign to reduce piracy comes into effect.

Chrome: Although Chromebooks have limited storage space, they make a great BitTorrent machine since you're less likely to be affected by malware. JSTorrent is a BitTorrent client that works on any Chromebook.

Android/iOS/Web: When you need to transfer a file from your PC to your mobile or vice versa, you could turn to Pushbullet. But for a faster, no-signup and secure method, Send Anywhere is a worthy alternative.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) lending: yes, it sounds like BitTorrent for banks, because it kind of is. But if you were that kid -- the one who took games of Monopoly a little too seriously -- you will love this concept. And if you just think banks should give people a fair go and cheaper credit you'll love it too.

Windows/Mac/Linux: Security is naturally a balance between convenience and safety. If you prefer to stay on the safe side of that spectrum, your chats can't get much more secure than Bitmessage.

BitTorrent isn't the quiet haven it once was. These days, everyone's looking to throttle your connection, spy on what you're downloading, or even send you an ominous letter. If you use BitTorrent, you absolutely need to take precautions to hide your identity. Here's how to do that with a simple proxy.

BitTorrent Sync, the peer-to-peer secure Dropbox alternative, announced a brand new Android app today. As a bonus, it can also keep a version history of your files.

In the wake of unsurprising reports that Game Of Thrones is currently the most-pirated TV show, BitTorrent, Inc has put up a blog post arguing that "piracy happens outside the BitTorrent ecosystem". That's technically true, but it's dodging the bigger issue: torrenting is now effectively a synonym for "potentially dubious download" for most people.

If you've ever wanted a security-focused, Dropbox-like file and folder syncing option, BitTorrent decided to answer your wishes with BitTorrent Sync. Previously in private alpha, BitTorrent Sync is now available to the public for Windows, Mac and Linux.

Dear Lifehacker, Everywhere I go, I see Bitcoin popping up. Many web services accept payments in the form of Bitcoin, and some even sell their homes for the stuff. I know it's a digital currency, but where does it come from and how is its value determined? More importantly, should I bother earning it and using it for any reason? Thanks, Bitconfused

These are dark days for BitTorrent. Using it leaves you open to fake torrents, viruses, ISPs throttling your connection and media companies that snoop to see what you're downloading. If you want to avoid all that, you can create an uber-private BitTorrent community that only you and your friends can access. Here's how.

Android: uTorrent, our favourite BitTorrent client for Windows and Mac, now has a full BitTorrent client for Android, so you can download torrents right to your phone no matter where you are.

Dear Lifehacker, My favourite private BitTorrent tracker, Demonoid, has apparently gone down for good. I was so dependent on it for its quality, security from viruses and protection from prying eyes. Where can I torrent safely now that Demonoid is gone?

News Limited CEO Kim Williams gave a speech to the Australian International Movie Convention this week discussing the rising prevalence of piracy online. I've got a lot of sympathy for the argument that blithely downloading content through BitTorrent is a hugely damaging activity for content creators, but there's a crucial element of Williams' speech that's deeply deceptive and fundamentally ignorant.

Think you've been careful with your BitTorrent activity? Think again. ScanEye is a new site that creepily knows what you've downloaded on BitTorrent and shows it to you shows, serving as a good reminder to keep your activities private.