Starting with Linux for Privacy and Political Ideals

Use your current OS to create a bootable USB with a Linux .iso of your choice—Ubuntu would be a good start. Tools like Rufus or BalenaEtcher work great for this. When it's ready, restart your PC, press the boot menu key (it varies by manufacturer), and select the USB to try out Linux without installing it on your system.

I think CachyOS could be a great match for you! It's user-friendly and focused on performance, which suits newer machines. It's always good to try a few out and see what clicks.

You can try out different Linux distributions by creating a live USB. Just put Ubuntu on a USB stick and boot from it to test it out. If you like it, you can install it; if not, there are plenty of other options. I personally use Pop!_OS on my new Lenovo, which is based on Ubuntu. They’re pretty similar, so you can explore different aesthetics while learning.

I’ve tried a couple of distros for privacy, and I think Ubuntu is user-friendly for starters. If you're super concerned about privacy, consider Tails OS, which runs entirely from a USB stick and keeps your activity anonymous by using Tor. It's a more temporary option, but it's really secure. For longer-term use, try a 'What is my distro?' quiz to help you find one that fits your needs.

As a fellow anarchist, I steer clear of closed-source software. Canonical, which owns Ubuntu, is leaning towards more closed-source stuff like Snap. I think Debian is a solid choice, and since Ubuntu is based on it, you'll find it familiar. I suggest running a live USB of it first to see how it feels before fully switching your OS. You can always try out different distros if you want to explore more!