In the Digital 2024 Overview Report conducted by Kepios, it was revealed that 94.9% of the internet users all over the world use social media every month, with 282 million accounts added between July 2023 to July 2024. As there is an increase in digital footprint due to rise in social media accounts, there are also concerns about the privacy and identities of these accounts. Kaspersky’s new study revealed that 6 in 10 of the users believe that the accounts of deceased people are more vulnerable to identity theft as there is no one to monitor those accounts.

58% of the people agree that AI can be used to create online presence of deceased people with 35% saying that they do not find it wrong to create digital memories like images and videos of the deceased using AI. However, 38% disagree, with 67% saying that the loved ones of the deceased can get upset if they see the images and videos of the person on the internet.

When asked how users are planning to manage their digital footprints after their death, 63% agree that they should add it in their will and should request their data and social media to be managed accordingly. Web content analysis expert at Kaspersky, Anna Larkina, says that users often do not think about what would happen to their digital print after they pass away. But the survey says that many respondents are aware of this matter and have plans to manage their digital footprints after their death.

Kaspersky suggests some points by which users can protect their privacy. Users should employ modern security solutions to manage their data and apps. Their browsers and operating systems should always be up-to-date as the updates often add more security to the system. And lastly, users should check the terms and conditions on online Privacy Checker as most apps do not make it clear how they collect and protect users’ data.

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