Anonym.OS is an OpenBSD based Live CD which aims to provide anonymity in an easiest manner that   your mum can use it. Download it from here. You have to no worry about configuration of Tor, e-mail client, instant messaging application etc. Anonym.OS comes with all of them when you boot up Live CD! Anonym.OS uses a variety of techniques to provide security and anonymity, starting with changing the TCP parameters to give the impression that it is running Windows XP in order to blend in crowd. It provides very strong firewall protections, disallowing any inbound traffic and only allowing encrypted and/or anonymized traffic outbound. Anonym.OS automatically "socksifies" all non-SOCKS aware clients and protocols, including DNS.

Windows Automatic Update Service does the job well but collects lots of information about you. If you insist on privacy you have turn it off and use alternative ways explained below. However if you are lazy to update your system it may be better to turn it on and stay more secure.

Autopatcher is a very good alternative to Windows Update Service. You download a base install which includes SP2 (in case of XP) then they releases monthly updates. You can download updates for other Windows versions.

Advantages

• You don't need to download again and again when you format your drive.
• No need a browser to download updates. Update files are distributed via BitTorrent system.

Disadvantages

Introduction to Privoxy

Privoxy is a web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities for protecting privacy. It modifies web page data, manages cookies, controlls access, and removing ads, banners, pop-ups and other obnoxious Internet junk. Privoxy has a very flexible configuration and can be customized to suit individual needs and tastes. Privoxy has application for both stand-alone systems and multi-user networks. Privoxy is based on Internet Junkbuster (Until version 2.9.13, Privoxy was also known as Internet Junkbuster) and it is released under the GNU General Public License. It runs on Linux, Windows, Mac OS X, AmigaOS, BeOS, and most flavours of Unix.

Search Engines profile your searches and track your IP, location and so on. You can defend yourself by simple preventions.

Scroogle

Scroogle is a screen-scraping proxy for the Google search engine that deletes your search records within 48 hours. Search engines see Scroogle IP not yours. There is Google proxy and Yahoo proxy exists. There is support for 28 languages, and Mozilla offers a Scroogle plug-in for the Firefox search bar. Scroogle is operated by Google critic Daniel Brandt, who also runs the Google Watch website. We provide a Scroogle Search box in this website. Daniel Brandt owns another website about Google privacy issues http://www.google-watch.org/ which is very informative. Donation of few bucks will be good for future work of Scroogle.

Most of laptops are produced with built-in microphone and camera which caries high privacy risk.

• Disable built-in microphone by connecting a plug into the external microphone so because there is no microphone at the end of the plug you can be sure that it is disabled.
• Cover the lens of the camera that do let light come in to camera lens.
• If possible buy a laptop
  
  

Introduction to Proxomitron

Proxomitron is a Web Filter and it works as a Personal Proxy ( proxy on your PC). It is the most advanced filter system available to free to use. Actually it is better than most of the commercial software. It's strenght comes from its flexibility. You can adjust Proxomitron anyway you like.

Proxomitron intercepts web pages before they reach the web browser, and then alters the page as the user desires by removing or adding code. It can be configured to block popup ads, blinking banners, regular advertisements, annoying sound clips, and almost anything else on web pages, through the use of regular expression filters.

JAP is Java based Open Source anonymization software. JAP uses strong encryption between the user's computer and the JAP provider's servers.

Official explanation of how JAP works as below:

• JAP Client program installed on the user's computer.
• Mixes Anonymizing intermediaries which mix the data streams of various users together.
• InfoService A separate service which provides meta-information about the available mixes (that is, mix cascades), number of users currently using the mix cascades, and the current load on the mix provider.

CCleaner is removes unused and temporary files from your system and also a fully featured registry cleaner. Yu can download it from here. Choose Basic or Slim version. Standard Version comes with a Yahoo toolbar.

Cleans the following Windows components:

• Internet Explorer
  - Temporary File Cache.
  - URL History.
  - Cookies.
  - Hidden Index.dat files.
  - Last download file location.
• Firefox
  - Temporary File Cache.
  - URL History.
  - Cookies.
  - Download manager.
• Recycle Bin
• Clipboard
• Windows Temporary files
• Windows Log files.
• Recent Documents (on the Start Menu).
• Run history (on the Start Menu).
• Windows XP Search Assistant history.
• Windows XP old Prefetch data.
• Windows memory dumps after crashes.
• Chkdsk file fragments.

Advanced Options allow cleaning of:

• Menu Order cache
• Tray Notifications Cache
• Window Size and Location Cache
• User Assist history
• IIS Log Files
• Custom Folders

Application Cleaning:

As well as cleaning up old files and settings left by standard Windows components, CCleaner also cleans temporary files and recent file lists for many applications. Including:

Security & Privacy Complete 2 makes easy to arrange settings for security and privacy. It is more comprehensive than xp-AntiSpy. It is better to use two program to ensure settings properly applied. It is free and open source you can download it form here. You need .NET Framework in order to run it. Be sure to check Red colored options to preserve your privacy. If you are lazy to check this options download ini file from here and then place it to C:\WINDOWS and press Restore Backup. Before using this program create a Sytem Restore point. If anything goes wrong you could roll back easily. Also I do not recommend disabling Automatic Update Service and Background Intelligent Service if you don't manually update your system. However, if you are keen on better anonymity then look up Windows Automatic Update Alternatives section so you can turn off automatic update service. If you will update your system regularly you can disable it if you will not leave it unchecked. Sometimes disabling and enabling automatic updates may require re-boot to function properly.