Vulnerability when no internet applications are active

I sometimes find that the firewall and anti-virus software I'm running
impacts the performance of another application so severely that I want to
temporarily turn off the firewall and other security software to enable the
other application to complete more quickly. For example, disk backup
software.

I've tried a number of firewall and anti-virus applications. Some have less
impact than others, but the all have a significant impact on certain
applications. So I don't think finding a more efficient firewall and a-v
application is the best solution.

Assume an always-on internet connection, NO browser running, NO mail client
running, NO XP firewall running, NO 3rd-party firewall running, NO anti-virus
monitor running. When I say "no xxx running", I mean that the software is
installed but is not running/not activated at the time in question. In
general, which of the following statements is closest to the truth?

1) The computer is not vulnerable to any outside threat.
2) The computer is just as vulnerable as it would be with any of those
applications running.
3) The computer is somewhat vulnerable but the chances of an attack are
quite small.

How, if any, does the answer change if the computer in question is connected
to a wireless network with XP file and printer sharing enabled?

TIA,

Phil
.

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