Antivirus Usage Statistics [2024]

In the early 90s, the internet was loaded with viruses. You practically couldn’t access it without downloading a virus or two along the way. Luckily, that has all changed thanks to the incredible work done by antivirus solutions.

To get a perspective about today’s antivirus software industry, read this Antivirus Usage Statistics article and find some compelling stats.

Antivirus Usage Statistics

The majority of people in the UK use an antivirus solution, which is good news. But there is still a long way to go. For example, it has been found that around 63% of people use strong passwords to protect themselves online, while 40% of people use a firewall. In addition, only 20% of people said that they used a VPN to hide their location while accessing the internet.

This number is lower than the global average of 51%. Out of the UK organizations that faced such a situation, around 13% paid the ransom demanded. The number of ransomware attacks has been troublingly increasing around the world. In the UK alone, ransomware attacks more than doubled between 2020 and 2021.

Since most people use their computers to browse the web, it’s not surprising that web browsing protection tops the list. Furthermore, users have been found to be in fear of phishing emails and websites. Other important features of antivirus solutions are VPNs for secure browsing, automatic virus definition updates, and heuristic analysis.

The people who paid for antivirus solutions usually did it to access bundled services such as a VPN, password manager, and secure browser. These services are typically offered in a paid tier by antivirus service providers. A lot of people question the need to pay for an antivirus solution since there are so many good solutions that come for free. That said, the additional services mentioned above justify paying for an antivirus.

This statistic shows that not all antivirus solutions are perfect. Despite best efforts, some viruses break through the protection. A significant reason for that is that malware is constantly updated to be able to fight the latest protections. That is why it is crucial to update your antivirus solution regularly.

Antivirus Usage Growth Trends

The cybersecurity market has already matured and has seen a period of rapid growth. In 2021, it is expected to reach $42 billion. Despite that, profits have plateaued for many companies. For example, the profits of large antivirus solution providers such as McAfee and Norton haven’t increased in recent years. That is mainly due to the introduction of free solutions by companies like Microsoft.

This data shows that more and more people are interested in downloading and using antivirus software. It may also be an indicator of growing awareness about antiviruses and their benefits.

Demographics of Antivirus Users

The older the user, the more likely they use antivirus software. Contrarily, the younger the user, the less likely they use an antivirus. That may be mainly due to greater caution amongst older users about IT services and solutions. Approximately 85% of people surveyed who were 60 or older said that they used an antivirus.

These regions have the highest incidences of malware infections. For example, China recorded that approximately 47% of all computers in the country were infected with malware. In contrast, the Scandinavian countries were found to be the safest from malware. Namely, only 21% of computers in Denmark were infected with malware.

Reasons for Antivirus Usage

The majority of antivirus users were found to use it only for personal use. Around 9% said they used antivirus software solely for business use, while roughly 32% said they used it for personal and business reasons. The low percentage of only business users may imply that once people start using antivirus software for business, they start using it for personal use as well.

Antivirus Usage by Device

The number of mobile devices with antiviruses has been growing exponentially. In 2013, only around 325 million such devices had an antivirus. The growing amount of mobile malware has sparked growing awareness amongst smartphone users as well.

This number is not as high as it should be. Computers that do not have an antivirus are 5.5 times more likely to be infected with malware. However, this number far exceeds the percentage of smartphone users that have installed an antivirus solution. That may primarily be because smartphones are relatively new, and awareness is still growing.

Top Antivirus Service Providers

 Symantec has a market share of 13.1%, which is the largest in the world. Coming in second is AVAST Software, with a market share of 12.7%. Other top providers include ESET, Webroot, and Malwarebytes.

Wrap Up

Having antivirus software installed on your computer and mobile device is essential in today’s world. In case you do not want to pay for an antivirus subscription, then consider getting free software from a leading provider (there are a lot of good ones out there).

It is also crucial to keep updating your antivirus software, even if you already have one.

We hope you enjoyed these antivirus usage statistics and learned a little more about antivirus solutions.