With millions of visitors per day KickassTorrents (KAT) is currently the most visited torrent site on the Internet.
As a result, copyright holders have taken aim at the site in recent years, resulting in ISP blockades in the UK, Finland and elsewhere. Soon, even Australia may be added to this list.
While these blocks are somewhat effective, there are also plenty of ways to circumvent them. KAT itself is operating various proxy sites, for example, and today it steps up its unblocking efforts by joining the dark web.
Through a newly launched domain KAT users can now access their favorite site on the Tor network. Tor, which stands for The Onion Router, is an encrypted anonymity network that can’t be easily blocked by ISPs.
“Good news for those who have difficulties accessing KAT due to the site block in their country, now you can always access KAT via this address lsuzvpko6w6hzpnn.onion on a TOR network,” Mr. White announces.
Tor users can access regular websites, but also dedicated Tor sites that use an .onion address. People who want to access these addresses have to be connected to the Tor network, through the special Tor browser for example.
TorrentFreak spoke to KAT’s Mr. White who informs us that an .onion address was added by popular request, making it easier for users to bypass even the strictest blockades.
KAT is not the first torrent site to become active on the Tor network. The Pirate Bay has had an .onion address for several years already. In addition, there are also several smaller torrent and warez communities active on the dark web.
Thus far the response from KAT users has been mostly positive, with many welcoming bridge to the dark web.
“This is fantastic news. I had quite some difficulties trying to log in. Now no more,” one user notes. Another one adds, “welcome to Tor KAT family, nothing beats sailing on the dark net.”
