On the net, you are a sitting duck unless you undo some Microsoft setup. I should say now that I have no knowledge of the later version the Windows operating systems. I have only dealt with Windows 95 and 98 and they frustrate me deeply. I don't want to go any further than Windows 98, though I've heard that the latest version is really very good. So remember, these opinions are based on Win95/98 and besides, I'm so fed up with them that I seem to have become biased against Micro$oft.
Windows has to be easy to use. Microsoft's primary philosophy is to enable you to do anything without knowing what you are doing. On the other edge of the sword, this enables you to be got at by anyone who does know what they are doing ........
You have no idea what traps are waiting for you. Microsoft products are made to sell. That seems all they are interested in. To sell to ordinary people who don't know much about computers. Sitting ducks for the blossoming cluture of criminals and vandals who use the net.
Microsoft's concern for keeping you out of trouble seems to be somewhere down their list of priorities, and they go to almost rediculous lengths to make their software usable by novices. To meet their primary requirement they have all possible features of their software already enabled. Every feature is set up to enable the easiest access to the capabilities - like having all your doors open. This avoids the user having to find out how to turn something on. Quite a significant saving of effort for an unskilled user and a critical selling point for Microsoft.
What's the catch? Putting it in other words, if all features are enabled for you (all doors open), then they are open for anyone else who can get to your computer. In fact Windows is notorious for being riddled with gaping security flaws. And there are so many people out on the net waiting for computer novices. On top of all this, Microsoft encourages bad practices. There are things that you end up doing that create hazards for you - and also your friends. Windows is set up so that you do these things without you being any the wiser.
It's like having all your doors open and, as if this isn't enough, you are set up to "put your foot in it", repeatedly until some time in the future when you are woken up to the traps.
I never had any interest in net security issues till one night I noticed my modem working flat-out when there was supposed to be nothing for it to do.