Use Firefox + uBlock Origin.
Firefox is the top non-Chromium browser, offering nice security and privacy features. It also boasts the best compatibility with uBlock Origin for effectively blocking ads and other harmful web content.
Change your DNS settings.
DNS can enhance the browsing experience by increasing speed and bypassing restrictions, as your Internet Service Provider (ISP) usually offers a slower default DNS that may censor websites according to their preferences.
Set up a VPN network.
VPN enhances online privacy and security by encrypting the connection and masking the IP address. It protects your identity, and allows access to restricted content. It's important to note that not all VPNs are good, especially for privacy. My personal recommendations are Proton VPN and Mullvad VPN.
For torrenting: Install a reputable torrent client such as qBittorrent.
Torrent client is a separate program that is essential for downloading files via torrent files, which is a method distinct from direct downloads.
For torrenting: Bind VPN network to your torrent client.
Ensures torrenting only happen when the VPN is active, lowering the chances of a leak of the IP address to essentially zero.