Here’s one surefire test to see if your browser is leaking info, or you don’t have the proxy configured properly: try logging into your router’s admin interface from work using its local IP (e.g. 192.168.1.1). If you can pull it up, then your traffic is going out through the proxy. If not, then you’re probably not using the SSH tunnel or proxy server properly, and your traffic is going out over the internet the same way as it normally would.
You can use port 563 if your 443 at “home” PC is used. Usually most of the “web content” systems allow HTTPS to port 563.
Software Links
CopSSH: http://www.itefix.no/i2/node/27
Putty: http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html
Portable Firefox: http://portableapps.com/apps/internet/firefox_portable
MyEnTunnel: http://nemesis2.qx.net/software-myentunnel.php
Tutorial Links
http://theillustratednetwork.mvps.org/Ssh/RemoteDesktopSSH.html
http://www.broadbandreports.com/faq/vnc
http://thinkhole.org/wp/2006/05/10/howto-secure-firefox-and-im-with-putty/
http://www.zunta.org/blog/archives/2005/08/29/sshirking_work/
http://www.zunta.org/blog/archives/2005/08/30/sshirking_work_1/