Is Dual Booting Safe for Gaming?

For my two cents, Linux doesn't get infected quite like Windows does. If you keep your Windows drive unmounted when using Linux, you'll minimize risks. But if you're really worried about malicious software, you might consider keeping your critical files on Linux instead.

Running anti-cheat games on Linux can be tricky; you might run into compatibility issues. If you’re worried about potentially harmful software, a second Windows installation could be a safer alternative. But to answer your question about access: if both drives are connected, an infected Linux setup can easily reach your Windows files. To minimize risk, consider using separate drives, encrypt them, or even unplug one while using the other.

The real concern is with how secure Windows is, especially after updates that can overwrite your bootloader. As long as your OS installations are on different drives, you should be alright. I would also recommend encrypting both setups to provide an additional layer of security.

Honestly, Linux is generally more secure than Windows, but if your Windows drive is mounted in Linux, it can be accessed by any malicious software. However, if it's not mounted, there's no issue at all. For dual booting, just ensure your Windows and Linux installations are on separate drives to avoid troubles with Windows updates messing with your bootloader.