If memory serves, get allied with the Fed factions on one or more stations in Fed space, do the money-donation missions if your economy isn't a problem, otherwise do regular missions as you prefer. It's been some years since I did those, so things might have changed.
The old things online should still work. I can't remember the names of the system, but it's basically running backwards and forwards between the two systems, which is no different whichever version you have. The old Sothis - Ceos route should still work. You do data and cargo deliveries continuously. There are better routes because I remember somebody doing it in one day. Here it is. Forget the first part about how to get the money in Quince. That's gone forever, but the grind for the Corvette at NIU HSING, Gorbatko Terminal might still work. Please let us know.
Are you joking? What's wrong with illegal passengers? The police only try to blow you up if they scan you and find them, so avoid getting scanned. It's not difficult: Don't use the docking computer outside a station and drop a heatsink every time you get "scan detected". I've done thousands of passenger missions (about 350,000 passengers), most of which had illegal passengers, and I never got scanned once. You don't need any skill, just learn what you have to do.
You don't need a lower heat signature. I can always get in the station before the police scan me in any ship. Just make sure you drop out directly in front of the slot, then boost straight in and wipe your nose on the top or bottom of the slot as a brake. If you look carefully, you'll see that when you drop out, the police spawn down the side of the station. They have to fly to the front before they start their patrol. I'm in before that. That method is really good when you have a bounty on you or are carrying anything they don't like. For an outpost, boost straight to the landing pad and position your ship just above it, then let the docking computer put it down. At an outpost, a mission-spawned NPC sometimes tries to follow you in and scan you, but if you boost straight in, they don't get close enough until you're in your final descent, which is when you drop a heatsink that will protect you until landed. I've never used silent running.
