So, I am looking for the best ways to lock your internet up. Currently running Tor/Privoxy, Zone alarm free, avg free, spybot, Ccleaner.
Tor & Privoxy & vidalia are all excellent software. NOD32 is all hype look into Kaspersky for AV protection. It's the number 1 ranked in AV software.
TOR and Privoxy is not free 'garbage'. I personally run and use Tor & Privoxy & vidalia myself. The TOR network is excellent for what I need it for.
Also, TOR uses SSL to encrypt all data, and doesn't even leak DNS requests, as long as it's configured properly and using an appropriate proxy (such as Privoxy, which comes in the bundle)
If you really want your system locked down then disable 'unneccessary services' running on your system. Configure your web browser for *browser security*. Check file permissions, use STRONG passwords, rename the administrator account. Create a bogus Admin account. Make sure to disable
*Active Directory* Use NTFS for partitons and run EFS for Encryption. Enabling auditing (If you want to make sure your security is being maintaned you need to enable auditing). HINT event viewer.
Run a firewall configure the firewall. Also, make sure to check the firewall logs. Keep your system and all your software up to date usually can be done through windows update.
Learn to *Harden the Windows TCP/IP stack*:
Why? So, SYN Flood and other SYN-based DoS attacks can be blocked for your protection. The list can go on and on.
Brian_Fenner <---you don't know what you're talking about. Just because it's free doesn't mean it's *garbage*. Nmap, Fport, Process explorer, tor, John the Ripper, Metasploit Framework, Netcat, hping2, Ettercap, Netstumbler, Aircrack, the list can go on & on. Point is, free software is the shizzzzzzzzznittttttttttttt. A bunch of hackers, programmers, geeks, write and analyze lines and lines of computer code and you call it garbage. Not k00l dude. Just my two cents.
Cheers, 0x0161