There is no "five-second rule" here. I'm jumping ahead of Mac, but if you EVER go online you need every Windows update available as well as a firewall and an up-to-date virus engine. This also applies if you EVER load files of any kind from others. In other words, YES.

If you use any other MS apps, especially Office programs, they also need to be updated for the same reason.

And before any of that, the first three rules of computer security remain:
1. Back up your work.
2. Back up your work.
3. Back up your work.

Just sayin'.

"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."