[Chai]

Please advise, I need to start learning more about privacy, I honestly have no idea where to start.

Do note that privacy and anonymity are both different.

* Anonymity - Not being able to Identify you.
* Privacy - Not being able to see what you're doing.

I currently have a few addons on my browser.

That barely scratches the surface.

At the absolute minimum, you should have a VPN and Tor Installed, use a private search engine as well as a private browser, and also protect your data with encryption. Although your MAC address doesn't leave your local/Internal network, It's still good practice to spoof It.

Operating In a controlled environment, especially with applications downloaded and executed, Is also a must - a VM or Sandboxie will suffice. For added protection, you can run Sandboxie Inside the VM and launch everything within Sandboxie Itself.  Making yourself less unique through browser fingerprinting Is paramount, but It's way beyond the scope of this post to cater for every detail Involved.

I understand that the best time to start is always 'now'. However in terms of OPSEC, I feel like I have totally compromised myself, I feel like I would need to do the following:

1. Format my drive
2. Run OS such as Qubes
3. Change location and networks
4. Everything you listed plus more


What would be your first steps if you were to start from scratch?