Torrents

[#1]

Have just downloaded a copy of Mint 14 and noticed there are various options for the download on the official website, one of these is a torrent. Must admit I know nothing about torrents and choose an alternative option but out of interest is there any advantage in using a torrent or is it vulnerable.
I have always associated torrents with something dodgy but as I say I know nothing about them.

[#2]

Torrents are just a technology for sharing files.  What you share is a different matter!
http://netforbeginners.about.com/od/peersharing/a/torrenthandbook.htm

[#3]

As Kelly says they are just an alternative way of distributing content. Some apps will actually use torrent tech to download/share the file you are downloading. LEGAL torrents are not quite as well known as their shadier brethren.
If you download using a torrent then the load is taken off the serving machine, as it comes from lots of people (once it has started). I believe that a client is installed by default in Mint, so all you would have had to do was click on the torrent file.
They can be as fast as a direct download or extremely SLOW, depends on many factors. I tend to get the ISO's as torrents as it saves the bandwidth on the Mint servers.

[#4]

Thanks for that info and link to that site. 

[#5]

If you're downloading Linux distros, using torrents is the helpful/polite thing to do, since the load is taken off their servers/saves them bandwidth ( especially helpful when a new version is released) and they are after all providing you with a free OS and their work is often community funded by donations.

[#6]

Another bonus with deluge which I use is that it checks the file you have downloaded and compares it to the original so if you're doing a biggish download say a linux operating system you can tell if there was any errors before you burn the disc and make yourself a nice silver coaster.

[#7]

I always use torrents for Linux and its often faster for smaller distros.