Consequences of not doing windows updates?

[Coaster]

Just wondering what would happen if you didn't do any windows updates.
I know someone who doesn't do them for his laptop. He's got a BT router as per the telly adverts but will it protect him from any security issues?

 

[rjm2k]

His laptop won't slow down to a crawl over time... But any security fixes / general improvements wont be on his machine so it may be more vunerable to viruses etc - having an uptodate scanner may mitigate this to some extent.

 

[vemyr]

If he's connected to the internet, which being connected to the router implies, then yes he absolutely needs the updates. If it's because he doesn't have a genuine Windows key then he should get one. Having a firewall set up in the router will help for a small percentage of attacks. Without updates it's entirely possible his computer will become part of a botnet.

 

[DazH]

Also Microsoft have to fix the fix they put out for the fix which was meant to fix the error

 

[dcawkwell]

Generally I say windows updates are more trouble than they are worth.
I have fixed many computers where a windows update has made the computer
completely unusable.

I always switch it off on my computer. Only last year I was using something then all of a sudden next day it stopped working. Yes a windows update
had stuffed it.

If it ain't broke don't fix it.