Linux in and of itself is no guarantee for a safer presence online, though, it is basically better than microsoft because the OS has no issue with many known malware attacks etc. That said, you still can find yourself in hot water. Think of ransom ware.  Imagine, you are researching a couple of things, following a link or two and all of a sudden you get that dreaded screen:  https://sensorstechforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/stf-cryptodevil-ransomware-virus-crypto-devil-ransom-message-note-window.png Using a linux Livecd will basically mean such an attack is useless, as your harddisk is not part of the platform you are working on. The worst that can happen is that a USB stick worth a couple of dollars will no longer work. The reason is that your HDD may be protected by a password (bios setup HDD password after setting admin / master password). Additionally,  because consciously you made a distinction between the place where you keep your data, and the place where you simply research things online. It is very easy to boot up your computer from an USB stick, have a second USB stick ready for temporary file storage during your research, power it all down, power your computer up normally and move the data to permanent storage. (never forget to backup from time to time!) The remedy is to simply replace that USB and install your preferred OS as a livecd. And you re ready to go. Probably 20 minutes work or so.  It is not because those hackers are super smart. We are super dumb falling for the ease of use and the laziness to understand what exactly we are doing.  Now calculate the price to have your data restored and freed against a once in a lifetime 20 minute deep wipe and reinstall of a live CD.  My advice? DE-google! That includes dropping Chromium and it' s derivatives, Android, and for all intends and purposes the linux closed up derivative Apple.  Of course, talking to techies ...... they exhibit perfected the "true Scotsman"  argument without realizing it. ( I do; hahahaha)