Just keep in mind it's a path, take your time.Also, what may be important to you may not be for someone else and vice-versa, so look up and read up on threat modeling. This should probably be first on your list.
mini pc before the isp modem to filter dns
You mean after the modem and before your network? Then that solution is feasible, otherwise it really depends how The Net enters your domicile, odds are coax or fibre...You may be able to flash your modem+router+switch black box the ISP provides, but YMMV on that one.Regardless, you can set-up that mini pc inside your network as the authoritative DNS server to act as a DNS sinkhole — i.e. using a PiHole.
I have a pc w dual boot
Suggestion: linux-only with windows inside a virtual machine; other virtual machines can be used for self-hosting also.
backup data
Use 3-2-1 and make sure your backups are working.Look into RAID and LVM or, better yet, ZFS.
dell optiplex
Lenovo Thinkpads tend to have a following in linuxland, but that's personal preference.
What am I missing? Where should I look?
Techlore has a series of videos on the topic and, along with the new oil, they have a weekly video on security and privacy. Non-tech-friendly. There are quite a few podcasts on these topics.
You can further your privacy by using frontends to common abusive sites (which i link to, sorry), such as invideous for youtube, etc.
A programming language is always interesting, linux is mostly based on C and it's not a bad start. I'll duck for cover now. Shell scripting — bash in particular — will get you a long way, as well a command-line text editor to change config files.
What does me being or not being there have to do with anything?
So when others give their opinions (clearly identified as such) you demand evidence, but when you do the same you provide none? You're either a troll or an idiot, which is kinda sad 'cos most of the english-speakers here were actually trying to be rational for a change.KTHXBYE
without demanding any of that information as payment?
Can Putin not read The Intercept?Does Putin even need to?Snowden deleted all traces of that stash once he delivered it to the reporters. He's in Russia 'cos it's a way for Putin to annoy the US.
Last time i searched for "lightweight" linux distros (for an old Thnkpad) the ones i saw recommended the most were: TinyCore, Puppy, Porteus, Absolute, antiX, Q4OS, Slax,, Sparky, MX.I saw Bohdi and other Ubuntu-based distros suggested quite a lot as well but my definition of lightweight means under 1GiB usage.For a DE go with XFCE or some other lightweight DE.
They succeded in a way, XMPP lost a lot of users back then in the era when communications where migrating from group-focussed IRC to individual-focused Whatsapp (or their respective walled-gardened messengers).Better than matrix in the ways 2poVoq@slrpnk.net listed above.
Where are all the law-abiding citizens clamoring that their 2A defends them from the government?