zlacker

>>mouse_+(OP)
Behind a NAT you're safe even with Win9x. Idk about XP-latest, but you don't want to connect a fresh pre-SP installation right to the uplink cable. I wouldn't do that with any version of windows, even from the "windows server" line.

>>wruza+td4
Curiously enough, the youtuber who tried this with windows XP did the same thing with Windows 98 [1]. And it gets hit by strange packets and scans, but that system was fine even when running for a day or two.

1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssTIx0qm2to

>>tetha+sh4
For a really ancient OS like Windows 98, I'd think >99.99% of exploits out there target newer OSes & simply don't work on Win98. Safety by obscurity.

That said: for every idiot who hooks up a Windows 98 machine to the internet, there might be some other idiot checking whether exploits targeting it, still work. Or exploit kits that sniff an OS, and select exploits to apply accordingly.

Vulnerabilities tend to have a long tail...