Torrent clients work on everything. We didn't need VPNs when I used them because nobody cared much back then. Linux works fine, but I hear you need to attach you client to the VPN or you'll just be exposed. Unrelated to Linux, some people recommend "seed boxes" (cloud server to seed and receive materials), but I don't know where to get one or what any specifics. I think it might just be a type of VPS.