[StressedDev]

Windows XP machines should not be connected to a network because they no longer receive security patches. They will get hacked if they are connected to a network (and please remember that not every piece of malware is obvious, some malware is stealthy, and just steal information from the hacked machine).

Also, you connect a machine which can be hacked, you are not just hurting yourself. That machine can be used for a lot of malicious purposes including DDOS attacks, sending SPAM, allowing attackers to hide their true location, etc.

[anthk]

If you disable all the networking and RPC service crap it can be pretty secure with Retrozilla for Gopher, Supermium+UBlock Origin and a hosts file.