Microsoft have released on their blog that the National Cyber Security Alliance recently hosted a discussion about the role of the individual in computer security. Representatives from Microsoft and other companies agreed that businesses are responsible for providing security tools in addition to education and they discussed the steps that individuals should take to secure their own computers.

Andrew Cushman, senior director of Trustworthy Computing at Microsoft stressed that people should use updated web browsers when they surf the Internet.

Here are four steps you can take right now to increase your security:

1. Keep your firewall turned on.

2. Keep all your software and your operating system up-to-date.

3. Keep your antivirus software up to date.

4. Keep your antispyware technology up to date.