Antivirus Statistics – Trends, Facts and Best Antivirus Software? 2024

<span id="KeyAntivirusStatisticsEditorsChoice”>Key Antivirus Statistics (Editor’s Choice)

• Approximately 50 million individuals in the United States utilize premium antivirus software.
• Data breach identification averages around 207 days, highlighting the urgency for robust security measures.
• Alarmingly, 47% of mobile antivirus applications fail to detect significant threats.
• Half of Windows 7 users, or 50%, operate without any antivirus protection.
• The global mobile antivirus software market is valued at roughly .4 billion.
• Among users of free antivirus versions, 9% have experienced malware infections.
• Notably, 49% of the population still does not employ any antivirus software.
• One in five users has encountered a virus attack on their devices.
• Globally, there are approximately 900 million antivirus software users.
• According to antivirus statistics, 59% of consumers avoid businesses that have suffered cyber attacks.

<span id="Whatisantivirus”>What is antivirus?

Antivirus software is a vital component of cybersecurity, designed to thwart various viruses from infiltrating electronic devices. Viruses can wreak havoc by erasing data, causing leaks, slowing down systems, and diminishing CPU performance. The financial implications can be severe, making antivirus software essential for safeguarding against these threats.

<span id="AdvantagesofAntivirus”>Advantages of Antivirus

The benefits of antivirus software are numerous, including:

• Protection against the online leakage of passwords.
• Many antivirus solutions are budget-friendly, requiring only a nominal installation fee.
• Some software includes parental control features to protect children from online scams.
• Detection of malicious websites, preventing user access to harmful sites.
• Cleaning computer cache, which enhances system performance.
• Protection against viruses from external devices.
• Blocking of malicious advertisements and spam.

<span id="DisadvantagesofAntivirus”>Disadvantages of Antivirus

Despite their advantages, antivirus software does have some drawbacks:

• Recurring subscription fees can be a financial burden.
• Frequent updates may disrupt system operation and require restarts.
• False positive virus reports can lead to unnecessary alarm.
• Some antivirus solutions consume significant storage space.
• Users must be wary of counterfeit antivirus software sold on seemingly legitimate sites.
• Improper updates can result in system crashes.

<span id="Top5Antivirus_Software”>Top 5 Antivirus Software

A variety of companies offer antivirus software globally. Here are the top contenders as rated by US News:

1. Bitdefender

Bitdefender stands out as the premier antivirus software globally, boasting a 4.2-star rating and a suite of advanced features that outshine competitors.

2. Norton

Norton follows closely in second place with a 4.1-star rating, offering similar features to Bitdefender and a money-back guarantee for virus removal.

3. Kaspersky

Securing the third position, Kaspersky’s top-tier paid versions include VPN and ad-blocking capabilities at competitive prices.

4. ESET Antivirus

ESET is recognized for its cost-effectiveness, achieving an overall rating of 3.9.

5. Webroot

Webroot, with a 2.8-star rating, is noted for its efficient performance without hindering application functionality.

<span id="GeneralAntivirusStatistics”>General Antivirus Statistics

• Half of survey respondents consider antivirus software extremely useful.
• Conversely, 49% of individuals do not utilize antivirus software.
• 27% of antivirus users find these applications somewhat ineffective.
• Approximately 49% of Americans protect their mobile phones with antivirus software.
• About 30 million users rely on free antivirus solutions.
• Paid antivirus users face a 17% risk of virus infection.
• On average, antivirus software costs between to annually.
• The antivirus market is projected to reach .54 billion by 2025.
• Historically, the first antivirus program, Self-reproduction software, marked the beginning of this industry.
• Detecting a data breach typically takes an average of 207 days.
• Recent data indicates global spending on cloud-based antivirus has reached billion.
• Approximately 1.3 billion mobile phones worldwide have antivirus protection.
• Each year, the average cost of antivirus software hovers around .
• In 2023, 55% of desktop software globally was reported as outdated.
• The mobile antivirus security market is expected to surge to .18 billion by 2024.
• Data shows that office applications are the primary entry point for viruses, accounting for 47.15%.
• Browsers and Android devices pose risks of 23.47% and 20.68%, respectively.
• Java, Adobe Flash Player, and PDFs present lower risks, at 5.46%, 2.47%, and 0.78%.
• Only 5% of corporate folders have robust security measures in place.
• Human error is responsible for 90% of cybersecurity incidents.
• Approximately 52% of cyber-attacks target the USA.
• Half of mobile antivirus applications do not effectively serve their purpose.
• Globally, 80% of laptops have antivirus protection.
• 59% of consumers avoid businesses that have been victims of cyber threats.
• One in two companies has had employees install malicious applications.
• 70% of consumers believe businesses are not adequately securing their systems.
• 91% of users rely on antivirus software for comprehensive security.
• 61% use it for secure online shopping.
• Approximately 40% of non-users plan to install antivirus on their mobile devices within six months.
• In November 2021, 77% of adults were actively using antivirus software.
• Nearly half of mobile antivirus applications fail to detect critical threats.
• Male users comprise around 60% of antivirus software users, while female users account for 45%.
• 4% of paid antivirus software users reported malware infections, compared to 8.9% of free version users.
• 68% of entrepreneurs perceive an increase in cyber threats.
• Approximately 77% of Americans utilize antivirus software across various devices.
• 5% of antivirus software users switch service providers annually.
• Globally, there are 900 million antivirus users.
• One in five users has faced a virus attack on their devices.
• Several antivirus programs boast daily detection capabilities exceeding 400,000 viruses worldwide.
• McAfee, ZoneAlarm, and Kaspersky exhibit the highest detection rates.
• The antivirus market is anticipated to decline to .5 billion by 2024 from 0 million in 2018.
• By 2021, the global antivirus software market reached a value of billion.
• In 2021, antivirus software generated revenue of 0 billion.
• The infamous ‘ILOVEYOU’ virus caused approximately billion in damages.
• The antivirus market is projected to grow to .54 billion by 2025.
• Cybercriminals target systems with alarming frequency, occurring 2,200 times daily.
• In the USA, only 50% of mobile phones are secured by antivirus software.
• Statistics from Avast reveal that globally, 55% of software remains outdated.
• By 2024, the mobile antivirus market is expected to reach .18 billion.
• About 50% of Android antivirus programs do not perform as intended.
• Antivirus software statistics indicate a detection rate of only 25% for malware attacks.
• Studies consistently show the USA ranks highest for virus and malware attacks.
• Pakistan reports the highest number of mobile phone attacks, while Sweden enjoys a low rate.
• Japan and the Netherlands also report low levels of virus attacks, standing at 21.8% and 22.4%, respectively.
• In the USA, 77% of antivirus users are Windows users, while 58% use Mac systems.
• The chart illustrates the distribution of users between free and paid versions of popular antivirus software.
• Norton commands 31% of paid users and only 7% of free users, while McAfee holds 23% of paid users and 14% of free users.
• Webroot and Malwarebytes account for 9% and 7% of paid users, with 0.2% and 16% of free users, respectively.
• Bitdefender and Kaspersky share the same percentage of paid users at 5%, differing in free version users by 2% and 1%, respectively.
• Microsoft antivirus, ESET, and Trend Micro each have around 3% and 2% of paid users, with Microsoft leading in free users at 37%.
• Sophos home antivirus software surprisingly has no paid users but has 0.2% free users.
• Overall, around 11% of users utilize antivirus software with a subscription fee, while approximately 22% have free versions installed.

<span id="AntivirusStatisticsby_Demographics”>Antivirus Statistics by Demographics

(Source: security.org)
In 2023, it is noteworthy that over half of users across all age groups have antivirus software installed on their devices. Furthermore, 83% of Americans utilize it on their PCs, 24% on mobile devices, and 17% on tablets.

<span id="AntivirusStatisticsbyReasonstoUseSoftware”>Antivirus Statistics by Reasons to Use Software

(Source: security.org)
Reports from 2023 indicate that the majority of users employ antivirus software primarily for general security against malware and viruses (88%), followed by privacy concerns (59%), and enhanced security during online shopping (51%).