Improve user safety by adding a "Use VPN and set the network interface" warning #15884

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opened 2026-02-22 02:35:23 -05:00 by deekerman · 1 comment

deekerman commented

2026-02-22 02:35:23 -05:00

Owner

Originally created by @HendrikHuebner on GitHub (Jul 3, 2024).

Suggestion

Torrenting without a VPN can cause your IP address to get logged, possibly resulting in a fine. Most users know this but many turn their VPN off manually. Many cases of "leaked" IP addresses are caused by the user accidentally having their VPN turned off while qbittorrent is running, possibly in the background without the users knowledge. This could be easily prevented, if users are informed that it is possible to "bind" qbittorrent to a VPN by setting the network interface. I did not know about this feature for a long time and only found out about it when I came across by chance in some reddit thread.

I suggest the following:

Add a popup which warns the user that it is recommended to use a VPN and set the network interface in the settings.
The popup should appear on startup, and can be disabled by checking "Do not show again" or setting the network interface in the settings.

I think something like this is particularly important for qbittorrent, because its very easy to torrent without a VPN on accident with this client. Afaik there are no UI widgets to disable autostarting and when closing the client, it still keep running in the background until you actually kill the process.

Use case

No response

Extra info/examples/attachments

No response

Originally created by @HendrikHuebner on GitHub (Jul 3, 2024). ### Suggestion Torrenting without a VPN can cause your IP address to get logged, possibly resulting in a fine. Most users know this but many turn their VPN off manually. Many cases of "leaked" IP addresses are caused by the user accidentally having their VPN turned off while qbittorrent is running, possibly in the background without the users knowledge. This could be easily prevented, if users are informed that it is possible to "bind" qbittorrent to a VPN by setting the network interface. I did not know about this feature for a long time and only found out about it when I came across by chance in some reddit thread. I suggest the following: Add a popup which warns the user that it is recommended to use a VPN and set the network interface in the settings. The popup should appear on startup, and can be disabled by checking "Do not show again" or setting the network interface in the settings. I think something like this is particularly important for qbittorrent, because its very easy to torrent without a VPN on accident with this client. Afaik there are no UI widgets to disable autostarting and when closing the client, it still keep running in the background until you actually kill the process. ### Use case _No response_ ### Extra info/examples/attachments _No response_

deekerman added the

Feature request

Proxy/VPN

labels

2026-02-22 02:35:23 -05:00

deekerman commented

2026-02-22 02:35:31 -05:00

Author

Owner

@xavier2k6 commented on GitHub (May 25, 2025):

ANNOUNCEMENT!

For anybody coming across this "Feature Request" & would like/love to see a potential implementation in the future!
Here are some options available to you:

Please select/click the 👍 &/or ❤ reactions in the original/opening post of this ticket.
Please feel free (If you have the "skillset") to create a "Pull Request" implementing what's being requested in this ticket.
(new/existing contributors/developers are always welcome)

DO:

Provide constructive feedback.
Display how other projects implemented same/similar etc.

DO NOT:

Add a "Bump", "me too", "2nd/3rd" etc. or "criticizing" comment(s).
(These will be disregarded/hidden as "spam/abuse/off-topic" etc. as they don't provide anything constructive.)

@xavier2k6 commented on GitHub (May 25, 2025): ## ANNOUNCEMENT! For anybody coming across this **_"Feature Request"_** & would like/love to see a potential implementation in the future! **Here are some options available to you:** 1. Please select/click the 👍 **&/or** ❤ `reactions` in the original/opening post of this ticket. 2. Please feel free _(If you have the "skillset")_ to create a **_"Pull Request"_** implementing what's being requested in this ticket. **_(new/existing contributors/developers are always welcome)_** ____ **DO:** * Provide constructive feedback. * Display how other projects implemented same/similar etc. **DO NOT:** * Add a "Bump", "me too", "2nd/3rd" etc. or "criticizing" comment(s). **(These will be disregarded/hidden as "spam/abuse/off-topic" etc. as they don't provide anything constructive.)**