Separate OS with separate drivers, one for mining and one for gaming?

[brett87]

Hello,

I new to mining. I have an RTX 3060 I want to mine when I'm not using the PC and shut off mining when gaming. Therefore, I need to download the v.470.05 drivers, and I'm worried about possible trojan or malware from mining files.

My questions:
1. Can I have two OS of Windows 10 on two separate SSD drivers?
2. One driver can have the latest GPU drivers for gaming, and the other has the v.470.05 driver for mining? (can I switch them in the bios setting anytime?)
3. If I get a trojan or malware on the mining driver. Will it affect the other driver even if the different OS separates them?

Thanks for your time,
Brett

[PrivacyG]

On a single drive, you have the opportunity to install as many Operating Systems as you like.  It is named Single, Dual or Multi Boot.  In case you own two drives, it is possible to install an Operating System for each of them.

Now regarding your malware concerns, I suggest that you physically disable the SSD you do not need to use anymore.  In the event of a virus infection, all connected disks shall be flagged as potentially compromised storage devices.

By the time you are done with the gaming, unplug your gaming SSD and switch to the mining one.  As long as you do this every time, one of two hard disks will be saved in an unfortunate event.  Despite this being safer however, there still is a chance of having your BIOS infected instead.  In consequence, I suggest extra care about the source and kind of files you are about to download and execute.

I also recommend verifying binaries and files before installing or launching them.  Verifying signatures and checksums lowers the chances of an infection.  Linux makes for a better security as well.

Take your time and be patient if you want everything to work accordingly.

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Regards,
PrivacyG

[brett87]

On a single drive, you have the opportunity to install as many Operating Systems as you like.  It is named Single, Dual or Multi Boot.  In case you own two drives, it is possible to install an Operating System for each of them.

Now regarding your malware concerns, I suggest that you physically disable the SSD you do not need to use anymore.  In the event of a virus infection, all connected disks shall be flagged as potentially compromised storage devices.

By the time you are done with the gaming, unplug your gaming SSD and switch to the mining one.  As long as you do this every time, one of two hard disks will be saved in an unfortunate event.  Despite this being safer however, there still is a chance of having your BIOS infected instead.  In consequence, I suggest extra care about the source and kind of files you are about to download and execute.

I also recommend verifying binaries and files before installing or launching them.  Verifying signatures and checksums lowers the chances of an infection.  Linux makes for a better security as well.

Take your time and be patient if you want everything to work accordingly.

-
Regards,
PrivacyG

It sounds like a safer route; I'll have two physical SSD and switch them whenever I need them. I do more research on how to verify the binaries and files.

Thanks for your response!

[vapourminer]

It sounds like a safer route; I'll have two physical SSD and switch them whenever I need them. I do more research on how to verify the binaries and files.

there are 2.5 and 3.5 inch drive cages that can hot swap drives that mount in your case if it has an external bay. you just pull the one you dont want out and throw the other in. power off in between of course.

cant get much more isolated that that.

example:
https://www.amazon.com/ICY-DOCK-Trayless-Hot-swap-Mobile/dp/B01LZJNR91

[brett87]

It sounds like a safer route; I'll have two physical SSD and switch them whenever I need them. I do more research on how to verify the binaries and files.

there are 2.5 and 3.5 inch drive cages that can hot swap drives that mount in your case if it has an external bay. you just pull the one you dont want out and throw the other in. power off in between of course.

cant get much more isolated that that.

example:
https://www.amazon.com/ICY-DOCK-Trayless-Hot-swap-Mobile/dp/B01LZJNR91

Sweet idea! it's like swapping different OS drives like a CD tray lol

Thanks!

[brett87]

1. Can I have two OS of Windows 10 on two separate SSD drivers?

It's possible. But AFAIK Windows 10 doesn't support dual boot (where both are Windows 10), so you might need to install each of them by unplugging another SSD.

2. One driver can have the latest GPU drivers for gaming, and the other has the v.470.05 driver for mining? (can I switch them in the bios setting anytime?)

Driver is installed on OS, not the nios. So it's possible to have different driver version on different OS.

3. If I get a trojan or malware on the mining driver. Will it affect the other driver even if the different OS separates them?

If both SSD are plugged in and mounted, it's possible. You can partially avoid it by not mount SSD which not used, but it won't help if the trojan is very smart (can detect and infect drive which isn't mounted).

Thanks for the advice!

I'm assuming the best way to protect myself from trojan and malware by the following:

• Verify the checksums and verifying signatures as suggested by PrivacyG
• Have AV active while mining
• Physically replacing the two SSD with the dual OS
• Run Minner on a guest account without admin privileges as suggested here https://www.reddit.com/r/MoneroMining/comments/7l4c00/avoid_running_miner_with_administrator/

Hopefully, I'm not missing anything, and this should be enough to protect the bios from a very smart trojan.

[TheMimic1]

Hello,

I new to mining. I have an RTX 3060 I want to mine when I'm not using the PC and shut off mining when gaming. Therefore, I need to download the v.470.05 drivers, and I'm worried about possible trojan or malware from mining files.

My questions:
1. Can I have two OS of Windows 10 on two separate SSD drivers?
2. One driver can have the latest GPU drivers for gaming, and the other has the v.470.05 driver for mining? (can I switch them in the bios setting anytime?)
3. If I get a trojan or malware on the mining driver. Will it affect the other driver even if the different OS separates them?

Thanks for your time,
Brett

Whenever you on your PC you always have the option to choose where to boot from either SSD 1 or SSD 2, it's as simple as that and yes I've been doing these for a long time now, I am running my mining OS from a pen drive and running my main PC for other files and movies from HDD that comes prebuilt with the PC, it's 100% doable

[FloridaKid]

Hello,

I new to mining. I have an RTX 3060 I want to mine when I'm not using the PC and shut off mining when gaming. Therefore, I need to download the v.470.05 drivers, and I'm worried about possible trojan or malware from mining files.

My questions:
1. Can I have two OS of Windows 10 on two separate SSD drivers?
2. One driver can have the latest GPU drivers for gaming, and the other has the v.470.05 driver for mining? (can I switch them in the bios setting anytime?)
3. If I get a trojan or malware on the mining driver. Will it affect the other driver even if the different OS separates them?

Thanks for your time,
Brett

It depends on which miner you plan to use, to avoid downloading Trojan in your PC make sure you go for popular mining software or OS only, I will leave list of few ones I'm currently using right now

1. NBminer
2. Nicehash
3. Phoenix miner

These miners are very popular and you don't have to be scared when using them, Nicehash is more newbie friendly

[Welsh]

Hopefully, I'm not missing anything, and this should be enough to protect the bios from a very smart trojan.

There aren't many people who would target the likes of me, and you capable of creating as sophisticated code, so generally you would likely be safe from one that embeds itself at a bios level. So, "very smart" malicious programs would likely still be able to do it, however you aren't likely going to be a target for these more sophisticated approaches, there's simply better targets for them. Plus, the mediums you are likely to visit, and download from aren't likely to be a place where these things are hosted. Although, that doesn't mean you shouldn't be cautious, and take very precaution necessary.

So, following the advice of others here, and not downloading from non trusted sources you should generally be fine.

[NotATether]

1. Can I have two OS of Windows 10 on two separate SSD drivers?

It's possible. But AFAIK Windows 10 doesn't support dual boot (where both are Windows 10), so you might need to install each of them by unplugging another SSD.

That's only if you use the windows bootloader. It's possible to install Windows 10 on two different partitions and then install GRUB to the disk bootloader location, and then manually add entries for both Windows 10 installations. The old windows installation will just be temporarily inaccessible until you configure GRUB.

By the time you are done with the gaming, unplug your gaming SSD and switch to the mining one.

Or just unmount it from Disk Management...

[PrivacyG]

Whenever you on your PC you always have the option to choose where to boot from either SSD 1 or SSD 2, it's as simple as that and yes I've been doing these for a long time now, I am running my mining OS from a pen drive and running my main PC for other files and movies from HDD that comes prebuilt with the PC, it's 100% doable

Or just unmount it from Disk Management...

I prefer to assume that a compromised computer has all disks involved in the process.  It is a bold mistake to boot from a secondary disk and thinking that the other is secure due to the fact that it is unmounted.  First and foremost, as far as I am concerned, Disk Management is not open-source.  Even if the software from Microsoft is legit, how do you know your real Disk Management has not been replaced by a malicious version?

The virus infecting your Windows disk may be intelligent enough to get into your other drive and insert malicious codes in the boot sector.  Next time you boot up your secure disk and switch back to Windows, the virus may know the encryption password of your secure disk.  From then on, everything in both disks is compromised.

Why do security experts typically tear their devices down and physically disconnect cameras, microphones and wireless modules?  While such modules can be disabled through coding, it is possible that a conflicting malicious code exists.  In consequence, your laptop camera may be on and the virus may be so smart the LED next to your camera will not even turn on.

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Regards,
PrivacyG