Though some Internet users have a tendency to overshare, most are not particularly concerned about the possible consequences of their behavior on the Web, according to a new survey from Microsoft.

The survey of 5,000 individuals in the U.S., Germany, Ireland, Spain, and Canada revealed that 56 percent of adults and children do not actively think about how their online activities could impact their own reputation. Moreover, 62 percent do not consider how their online behaviors might affect others in the long-term.

Microsoft released the survey on Tuesday to gear up for Data Privacy Day, which is held annually on Jan. 28 to promote privacy education. Based on the survey results, users may want to be more careful about what they post online, the Redmond, Wash.-based computing giant warned.

"While a lot depends on who has access to the data, every piece of personal information that exists online about you – whether posted by you or by others – has the potential to impact how you are perceived by family and friends, an employer, a mortgage lender and more," Brendon Lynch, chief privacy officer at Microsoft, wrote in a blog post Tuesday.

Fourteen percent of adults surveyed said they have experienced negative consequences as a result of someone else's online behavior. Of those who have experienced unwanted repercussions, 21 percent said they were fired from their job, 16 percent lost out on getting a job or lost their health insurance, 14 percent were not accepted to their college of choice, and 15 percent were turned down for a mortgage. Others said their online activities caused a friend or family member to lose a friendship, be embarrassed, or fall victim to identity theft.

To better manage their online reputations, users should regularly search the Web for their name and email addresses to see what has been posted about them, Lynch recommended. In the survey, 37 percent of adults said they never do this.

Also, users should talk directly with friends or family members believed to be causing a negative impact on their reputation. If necessary, request any inaccurate or unfavorable information be removed or consider blocking further online engagement with the individual.

In addition, users should adjust the privacy settings on their Web browsers, social networking sites, and personal blogs to only allow approved individuals to access their profiles. Also, consider separating personal and professional profiles.

Finally, parents should talk with their children about how their online activities could impact themselves and others, Microsoft said.

For more, see the infographic below, as well as PCMag's guide to staying safe anywhere.