and didn't have anything, or anywhere to be that needed secrecy

Come on. Are you sure? You're OK with everyone you know – each individual person – knowing everything you do? If so… I'm jealous of you.

That "tracked via TOR" thing is something that only somebody with loads and loads of resources can do, which they can only do by controlling loads of nodes / hijacking individual computers / other methods I'm not listing here because I don't want to tell people how to do these things. It'll protect you from Google somewhat, and Facebook slightly more, but not from the NSA. (I think it was the NSA? One of those US governmental organisations.)

Firefox is better than Chrome, generally. It's not pushed as much, but fewer people are attacking it and it's run by an organisation that doesn't want to sell you. (Though Mozilla is being paid off by Google to include Google as the default search engine, etc., so change the settings as soon as you get a new Firefox.)

I don't see why Dissenter and Gab would be taboo. Are they really? Dissenter has a couple of problems, but I'd still use the website (if I cared about what other people think, and wasn't just a closed-off narrow-minded sort of person) – just not the extension.

If you want any other computer questions answered, hit me. I'll explain as best as I can, but keep in mind that I, like all others, am biased in my answers. Like that Firefox v.s. Chrome thing: I know that my personal bias was coming through there. I mean, I'm Right™ about that, but still.