There are no shortcuts with security. Your protection is only as good as the tools that you utilize. Perfect example is Encrochat. Encrochat was a popular encrypted mobile phone service in Europe which was used by many criminals. The French police hacked the network and installed backdoor access. They eavesdropped on communications which lead to many arrests throughout Europe. Moral of the story pick your tools carefully.

First step is to protect the data on your computer. You should encrypt all your data to prevent unauthorized 3rd parties from reading it. Most people use Windows which is notorious for it's vulnerabilities. Newer versions of Windows have BitLocker installed which is a data encryption program. I don't recommend it since I operate under the belief that Microsoft gives back door access to the government. I personally use VeraCrypt. It is a free program and allows you to encrypt your entire hard drive. Requires you to enter a password upon booting the computer in order to decrypt the data. You can't get anymore secure than that. It is very user friendly. A novice will be able to walk through the steps of installation and setup. Remember to create a 16 plus random character password. Save the password in a secure location. Click the link to view a guide on how to install and configure VeraCrypt.
https://www.howtogeek.com/108501/the-how-to-geek-guide-to-getting-starte...

Second step is to encrypt your internet traffic. This is a two step process. I first use DNSWatch. This is an anonymous and encrypted DNS server that doesn't log any DNS queries or record your history. Never use your ISP's DNS server. You do not want your history being recorded. Below you'll see the IP addresses to use for DNSWatch. Click the link for a guide on how to update DNS.
https://www.howtogeek.com/167533/the-ultimate-guide-to-changing-your-dns...
Primary DNS: 84.200.69.80
Secondary DNS: 84.200.70.40
Now we want to focus on encrypting internet traffic. Mullvad is the only VPN I recommend. You give absolutely no personal information upon creating an account. An account number is generated for you. You then load the account with money. I recommend using cryptocurrency to pay for services. A VPN, or virtual private network, is a technology that establishes a secure tunnel between two or more devices. In laymen terms a VPN encrypts all your internet traffic and masks the final destination from the ISP. Your internet service provider (ISP) has the ability to track which websites you visit. Those websites, in turn, can see who your ISP is. The ISP keeps records of your activity which can be shared with the government.
https://mullvad.net/

Third step is using a secure browser. Waterfox is a great option. It doesn't report to Mozilla by default. Deletes the user’s online data (passwords, cookies, browsing history) automatically from the computer. Blocks hidden trackers automatically.
https://www.waterfox.net/

Fourth step is two parts. Securing your messages and emails. Signal is hands down one of the best messaging programs out there. It is free to use. It supports voice memos as well as voice calls and audio calls. The encryption protocol is open sourced therefore you can verify that there isn't any hidden backdoor access. They use end-to-end encryption so only the sender and receiver can read messages.
https://signal.org/
You will also need a secured email. ProtonMail uses end-to-end encryption. They have zero ability to read emails. It is also free for a basic account.
https://protonmail.com/

Lastly is to change your MAC address. Your network card has a unique MAC address that makes it identifiable over the network. This is how devices are able to communicate with each other over a network. If your computer is ever seized, your MAC address can be used to verify that your computer was used to transmit data. I use a free program called Technitium MAC Address Changer. It is a free utility to spoof MAC addresses. Visit the link to download and get instructions.
https://technitium.com/tmac/

Utilizing all these tools will keep you secure. Don't assume invincibility. If an entity wants you bad enough, they will most likely find a way. The average person should feel safe. Rule of thumb is to maintain safe internet browsing. Don't visit potentially harmful sites. Pirated media sites are notorious for unsavory practices. Don't install programs that aren't trusted. Never download attachments that aren't from trusted people. Verify the sender of emails.Utilize a good virus protection such as Bitdefender.