Hello Labrat
For sure, you can't be totally anonymous by using a VPN or proxy. VPN can log your activity on the internet for every website you visit, plus VPN can protect you from man-in-the-middle attacks from other hackers on your network or your ISP provider, but they themselves are man-in-the-middle attackers on their customers by default. That's why it's legal in most of the world because authorities can have access to anyone's data on their server by power of law, so never trust any VPN provider. If you still like to use VPN, it's better to use no USA VPN provider and only Russian VPN providers.
But there is a great solution to browse, chat, or access almost any protocol anonymously; you can use it beside a VPN or without a VPN.
Solution :
The solution is to Run "Tor socks5 proxy" on your PC and use that socks proxy on your Browser / Telegram / ICQ / Jabber / FTP / SSH etc. It almost works with all protocols.
To do this follow those steps
1) download the Tor browser from HERE
and extract the files to your desktop or any location you like. then go to folder \Desktop\Tor Browser\Browser\TorBrowser\Tor.. you will find 'tor.exe' there copy that file to your desktop for easy access all you have to do now is click on it to Run.
When you click on tor.exe, you will receive a Tor Socks5 proxy, which changes IP every 10 minutes from the Tor network. Go and insert that IP & port (127.0.0.1 port 9050) on your Firefox browser (Network Settings) there as a SOCKS host, and make sure you enable "Proxy DNS when using SOCKS v5" option there at the bottom of the proxy settings page to prevent DNS leaks. Plus, this will allow you to browse Tor domains from your Firefox without needing to use the Tor browser itself .
when you run tor.exe it will looks like the image below .
2 ) install those Firefox Addon
Canvas Fingerprint Defender
CanvasBlocker
WebGL Fingerprint Defender
Those Addons will fake & block your browser FingerPrint, your Browser fingerprint is very unique and imortant to Fake or Hide its not less important thank hidding your Ip address , Read more about Browser Finger Print Here
3 ) Diable Tracking cookies Learn how
Now you make yourfirfox browser as much secure as TorBrowser so far .
using Tor Broswer itself than those addons and Tricks still the best options, since Tor have this Function build by default but still some disadvantege in the tor Browser that it do not Store any cookies even for the sites you Trust or and have no History for the sites you Visted all cookies is Vanehed once your close the Tor-broswer and have to re-Enter your login creditils for evey site you Vist for me its over rated secuirty option but it still the Best to use the TorBrowser itself .
now you can use this tor socks proxy in all your Apps / Programs conneted to the interent , tor Socks ( Tor Network ) is the most anonymous on planet earth Today since each connection is routes to 3 Tor Random Nods before it comes back to you with data , the same when you send data via Tor network .
Hope this was useful for you or for any one searching for the same topic.
DNA
@Admin