Windows Vista was the start in my eyes. XP (pro) was amazing. And then Vista came out and it broke a lot of things. Security was garbage, applications would constantly lose root files
Vista only lasted 2 years before they went back and turned it into Windows 7 with a few small tweaks, but more or less the exact same thing
98 still had plenty of jank, but it was worlds better than 95. I would add 3/3.11 to the "good" list if only because that was basically the only other option for a lot of people and it did what it needed to. I don't recall personally seeing windows 1 or 2.
edit: I guess I could throw NT mostly into the good section, but I mostly just did tech support for it rather than using it.
12 is in a weird cybersecurity limbo. It's supposed to have a top-notch built in anti-virus and firewall, but Microsoft has said the same thing for Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11. Yet systems are still getting compromised. If Microsoft included a VPN with insurance guarantee of function, I'd be 1000% on board
Windows Defender is actually really good for the common person. If you're doing highly risky things then perhaps getting better software would be warranted. But if your doing low risk activates, Windows defender is pretty great.
Also, that's not what VPNs do; you can still download ransomware through a VPN tunnel.
Yeah. I know VPN subscriptions have always been too good to be true. It's not like I do high profile stuff on my PC, but VPN subscriptions means a cracked back door which doesn't sit well with me regardless of who or what already has access to my shit.