I grew up in the 90s. I remember using dos commands and installing a cdrw drive in our family’s compaq pc so I could burn cds with music I found on Kazaa. Somehow, I didn’t learn what I needed to in order to set up what I’d like to have privacy wise.

Posting here before I just start getting computer science textbooks, looking for any resources to increase my knowledge and ability with computers, networking, and connectivity. Podcast, video content creators, books, anything. I’m going to make time to do some online learning for python. My current programming knowledge is limited to excel/VBA

What I want to have:

Linux mini pc connecting to tv for torrents/streaming. I’ve heard about using a mini pc before the isp modem to filter dns and tracking- I do not understand this, but I have heard of flashing routers with different os

As safe and private a phone as possible that can still be moderately convenient- probably going to get a used pixel with graphene using Wi-Fi only/no sim

Security cameras with secure, private storage- need to learn about self-hosting

Below are the topics I’d like to be able to study on my own time. I’m grateful for any advice but I’m stubbornly curious and need to understand the underlying concepts- not just a step by step.

Internet protocol; I get the gist of things like dns is a phone book for ip addresses; vpn is a not a magic bullet, it’s just a shifting of trust; cell phones are pretty much unable to be completely anonymous without tremendous work and sacrifice.

Computer/network systems; troubleshooting Linux problems, editing boot loaders defaults (I have a pc w dual boot windows and Linux, tried to remove the Linux to try another distro, couldn’t get it). Flashing Wi-Fi routers and associated troubleshooting, setting up self hosting- plex jellyfish, backup data. Performance figures for computers and what that means for various applications, like you’d need x gb for this, and an ssd of x for that

Purchasing and scrubbing used devices- I like the idea of reducing e waste and picking up a dell optiplex from a thrift store.

I’m also aware I’m in that space where I don’t know what I don’t know yet; so I’m probably missing topics.

What am I missing? Where should I look?