TorMonitor

How to reach blocked torrent sites with a proxy or DNS over HTTPS

Updated 2 min read Needs TorMonitor Pro

Short answer

Open Preferences (⌘,) ▸ Torrent Sites. Turn on Resolve site addresses with a custom DNS server, keep DNS over HTTPS selected and pick Cloudflare, Google or Quad9, then click Test DNS. If that isn't enough, turn on Access torrent sites through a proxy and enter an HTTP or SOCKS5 proxy. These settings only affect the in-app site browser and are part of TorMonitor Pro.

Many internet providers block sites by answering DNS lookups for them with a wrong address. Your browser then can't find the site, even though nothing else is wrong. TorMonitor can look up site addresses with a DNS server you choose, over an encrypted connection, so that kind of block no longer applies. For stricter networks it can also go through a proxy.

TorMonitor Torrent Sites preferences with a proxy server section and a custom DNS section offering DNS over HTTPS with quick-fill buttons for Cloudflare, Google and Quad9
Preferences ▸ Torrent Sites: a proxy and a DNS server used only by the site browser.

Steps to use encrypted DNS#

  1. Open TorMonitor ▸ Preferences… (⌘ ,) and choose Torrent Sites.
  2. Under Custom DNS, turn on Resolve site addresses with a custom DNS server.
  3. Keep DNS over HTTPS selected for Protocol.
  4. Click a quick-fill button: Cloudflare 1.1.1.1, Google 8.8.8.8 or Quad9 9.9.9.9, or type your own server.
  5. Click Test DNS, then OK. Open the site again from Torrent sites.

Steps to use a proxy#

  1. On the same page, turn on Access torrent sites through a proxy.
  2. Choose the Type: HTTP / HTTPS (CONNECT) or SOCKS5.
  3. Enter the Proxy address and Port, and a username and password if your proxy needs them.
  4. Click Test proxy, then OK.

What is and isn't affected#

  • These settings apply to the Torrent Sites browser and to .torrent files it downloads. The address bar shows the active route.
  • Your other apps, Safari included, are not affected.
  • HTTPS pages stay encrypted end to end; TorMonitor runs a small local relay that only passes the bytes along.
  • BitTorrent traffic itself does not use these settings. It has its own proxy under Preferences ▸ Connection ▸ Proxy server.

Note Make sure accessing the site is legal where you live. Blocks are sometimes court-ordered.

Questions#

Is this the same as a VPN?#

No. A VPN routes all of your Mac's traffic. This only changes how the in-app site browser finds and reaches sites.

Should I choose DNS over HTTPS or plain DNS?#

DNS over HTTPS. Plain DNS is unencrypted and can be intercepted by the same network that blocks the site.

Is this feature free?#

No, proxy and custom DNS for torrent sites are part of TorMonitor Pro.