If you have good lockpick skill (and / or lockpicks / expanded lockpicks) you can hunt footlockers in random encounters. Footlockers can be found in city squares with enemies. Sometimes the footlockers are surrounded by bear traps, so be careful. They can be disarmed using the traps skill. It is also good to have Treasure hunter perk, it helps you to find more items. And if you find blueprints and have sufficient profession levels, you can craft guns and armors yourself.
And don't worry about getting killed and losing stuff. It happens to everyone. It sucks in the beginning, but sooner or later you will have tons of way better stuff. Set up a tent camp and store important items there. And remember to never bring anyone there. Never. Just don't do it. In FOnline many players are ruthless and will kill you and steal all your valuable items, so trust no-one. If you want to bring another player to your tent, make a second tent where you keep nothing valuable.
I hope this helps you to get started.