These ISOs often disable Windows Update and Defender permanently. If you download a shady cheat engine or a cracked game on a stripped ISO, there is nothing stopping a rootkit from owning your PC. You are the antivirus now.
Never download an ISO from a random torrent link. Always use the official Discord channels or GitHub repositories of the mod creators. Malicious actors love to inject miners into "gaming optimized" ISOs. windows 10 iso gaming
You play kernel-level anti-cheat games (Valorant, Fortnite, CoD). You aren't comfortable reinstalling drivers from scratch. You need your PC for work/school and gaming. The "Better" Alternative Before you nuke your OS, try debloating your stock Windows 10. Run a script like Chris Titus Tech’s Windows Utility or Sophia Script . This turns off the telemetry and removes the apps without breaking security features. These ISOs often disable Windows Update and Defender