Hi everyone, I'm pretty new to cryptocurrency in general, and I'm trying to figure out the best way to buy and store it.

I’ve heard a lot about Bitcoin, but I’m a bit confused about how to get started. What’s the safest way to purchase Bitcoin?
Are there specific wallets I should be using? Should I keep my Bitcoin in an exchange wallet, or is it better to use something like a hardware wallet?

For me the safest way is through a reliable exchange like Coinbase, Binance, Kraken... These sites are pretty secure, but remember, since they're online, they can still get hacked. So make sure you’ve got 2FA enabled to keep things safe.
For long-term storage, use a hardware wallet and use an exchange wallet if you’re just starting out, but don't keep too much there.
Also using a proxy for buying and storing Bitcoin is an option if you want to hide your real IP address, i think most people do it.