Global security company Kaspersky announced its participation in today's first ever Identity Management Day, an annual awareness event that will continue to take place on the second Tuesday in April each year. As an event champion, Kaspersky is educating consumers about how they can protect themselves online.

Founded by the Identity Defined Security Alliance (IDSA), the mission of Identity Management Day is to educate business leaders and IT decision makers on the importance of identity management, as well as to provide guidance for consumers, to ensure that their online identities are protected through security awareness, best practices, and readily-available technologies.

According to Kaspersky's Consumer IT Security Risks Report 2021, 14% of Americans have had their personal data leaked or shared inappropriately by a third party, and 57% have become worried that their online activities are being constantly tracked by the websites or services they visit.

Still, more than two thirds of users say that the apps and digital services they use make their lives substantially easier. Experts say people should be able to keep using such services while taking steps to secure their online accounts.

"There's some pretty straightforward stuff you can do," said Kurt Baumgartner, principal security researcher at Kaspersky. "Always keep the software on your laptop or phone updated and use antimalware software. Be aware that there are phishing scams out there where people are trying to convince you to give up your credentials. Use unique passwords across accounts, try out a password manager, and use phrases that are longer and more complex than a single word.

"Make sure you use two-factor authentication where it's available, especially with your bank and credit card accounts. We see frequent activity from financially motivated cybercriminal groups who will take a single compromised password and spray it across numerous accounts to see if you've used it in multiple places. They go after credit cards, bank accounts and can cause all sorts of problems for you by stealing your information," Baumgartner added.

"Raising awareness around identity management is especially critical after a barrage of identity-based breaches made headlines in the past year," said Julie Smith, Executive Director of the IDSA. "In fact, research by the IDSA reveals that 79% of organizations have experienced an identity-related security breach in the last two years, and 99% believe their identity-related breaches were preventable."

"Compounding this, the ongoing pandemic has accelerated digital transformation initiatives that support changes in how we work and how we live day-to-day, putting organizations at greater risk. Our hope is that Identity Management Day will result in higher prioritization of identity security and, as a result, fewer data breaches in 2021 and beyond. We are grateful for all of the support from IDSA and NCSA member companies and the broader industry to further this mission."

Read more about the state of consumer security this Identity Management Day here.

Learn more about how to protect your online data here.