Hi all,
I've been running XP-Pro for a couple of months now without any security updates installed, I am connected to the net via a broad band modem which is generally connected 24/7 - 'as i download a lot using Kazaa lite'
The other day my whole system seemed to slow down and as both my anti virus programs could not find any viruses on the system i started to worry a bit - thinking - could be a hacker???
I have zone alarm fire wall, AVG anti virus, and just recently installed Norton-2003 full package.
I have now installed the security updates and my system is very usable but seems to be just as slow, I initially did not install the security up dates as i remember the last time that i installed them it seemed to slow the system down.
Can anyone please inform me on the following -

Have i made a grave error by not installing them initially, and what are the chances of been hacked?

Am i right in thinking that these updates slow the system down when installed?

How can i check to see if there are, or has been any hacking going on

If i have been hacked, would i have been too late by installing the updates after a hacker has had access to my system?

Go easy on any tech-stuff! im very new to all of this

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

skylark