Thinking about embracing Islam

Assalamu alaikum, everyone. I’ve been on a journey exploring faith, and I’m seriously looking into becoming Muslim. I’ve had some chats with friends who worry about how some people twist Islam to push violent ideas. They brought up stuff like incidents where someone commits awful acts claiming it’s for Allah-like a pilot going rogue or terrible suicide attacks. I’m trying to learn, but it’s a bit confusing. How do I tell the difference between real Islamic teachings and the extreme versions some push? If I take my shahada, how do I stick to the mainstream, peaceful path and steer clear of dodgy groups or interpretations? Any advice from practicing Muslims would mean a lot.