I have just installed qBittorrent and I found the option Preferences > Encryption mode:, that can be set to Allow, Require or Disable encryption. What does it do? If I don't use encryption, would other users in my LAN or my ISP or other subjects (apart from seeder I download from) be able to discover what I'm downloading or seeding?
Update
I should make the question a bit clearer. If I set Encryption mode: to Require encryption, would it be possible for a third party (ISP, public WiFi provider and so on) to discover what I'm downloading or seeding targeting me as a specific user or my specific internet access point and not, e.g., downloading or seeding a certain file to see what other IPs are doing the same? If so, what is the difference in enabling the option against not enabling it?
I'm not looking for a way to prevent anyone from monitoring my bittorrent activity - I should be able to set up a VPN or proxy system (or at least to find out how to do that =)) if I need - I'm just trying to understand what the option actually does.
It will accept connections of that type. "Require" means you only connect to encrypted clients. "Allow" allows for both unencrypted and enforced encryption clients. "Disable" means encrypted connections are not accepted.
That setting is about CONNECTING with other clients that either have or have not enabled encrypting.
Yes. Mind the bold bit. An ISP can always see what your IP is, what site you linked to and what you clicked so it does not matter if you encrypt the download of the torrent. They should not do this unless there is an warrant for an investigation.
Yes. But that is also possible with encryption.