I keep my Windows machine off the Internet for several reasons.
- One is the forced updates that Microsoft now requires. Never did updates when they first came out from MS - too many times they have caused havoc. Always waited to see the results after others did the update install - then I would download and install the update. Prime example was the latest W10 update - it created havoc with a bunch of SONAR users. I never had an issue. Also, it seems almost common now that MS updates require folks to reauthorize some plugins.
- MS forced telemetry - the computer belongs to me, not MS. When they started requiring telemetry (along with forced updates) that was two strikes against them.
- Forced ads - can't stand it. Again, its my machine and I don't want ads on my desktop. That made it strike 3.
- By not being connected to the 'net, I can turn off other applications that typically run in the background. This includes WIFi and Antivirus. These two things alone allow the computer to run much faster. It is also stable. I use the drivers from the companies for video, audio, etc. MS often replaces those drivers with their own, causing problems. Again, stability is no longer an issue.
For connecting to the 'net I use Linux. When I download updates to SONAR I do it through the product page for Cakewalk. In fact, if it wasn't for SONAR I wouldn't run Windows at all.