Hi im looking for help from someone that knows even something about proxys. Thing is i was using an ntl proxy and i checked my firewall with a few online firewall tests (symantec etc and a few others). It came back telling me that all but 3 of my ports were closed, so 3 were open apparently, the rest were closed and none were stealthed. So i thought i would remove the proxy and try the tests again and now its coming back telling me in all of them that my computer is fully stealthed and is invisible to all on the internet etc and when i try and send pings it blocks them which is good i imagine. Anyway after all this i just want to know is it safer to use a proxy even if it comes back telling you some ports are open and none are stealthed or is it better to just go with my own ip address which is fully stealthed and locked down ?
Any info would be appreciated - thanks
(ps. i know this may be a stupid question and the answer seems obvious to me that i would probably be better using my own, but i would appreciate any comments - upsides and downsides to each option if possible)