n00b to the Privacy Game and would appreciate some help

Hi all, I've been reading this website for a short while now and would like some info on what specific things I can do to protect my privacy. The only things I have running at the moment are the following:

SpyBot - Search & Destroy 1.1 RC4
SpyBlaster
AdPurger 2.51
457kb HOSTS file from Smartin-Designs

I use Internet Explorer 6 SP1 for browsing, and I have the Privacy slider set to Medium High. I've been reading some negative posts about the slider, though, are there any recommendations for settings you could give me? I frequently use vBulletin, phpBB and UBB forums, so I'd like to have those kind of cookies saved automatically, the ones that store my username and password. Most others I think I can do without, unless a specific site requires cookies (ie; Xbox.com) to even run properly.

Also, I've been hearing alot about Proxies. Where is the best place to go to in order to research these a little bit? I understand the basic gist of how a Proxy works (client -> proxy -> server, etc.), but I don't know very much about actually using one. Would a Proxy add much complexity to standard internet usage? I ask this, as I have other people using the same computer and ease-of-use is high on the priority list.

For internet security I currently use Grisoft AVG 6.0 - Free Edition and Sygate Personal Firewall (free). Hopefully that's enough information to get some advice, and any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

 

Hi anon

Welcome at Wilders.
Please have a look at this site, that has screenshots about how and where to change your settings on the privacy tab.

It was used to convince me in this thread: http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=5326;start=0

I´ll leave the proxy part for someone more knowledgeable in that field, but you can start reading up on it here: http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=5940;start=0

Regards,

Pieter