Antivirus Software Preferences
Nearly half of Americans are using third-party antivirus software and the rest are either using the default protection in their operating system – or none at all. According to a survey by Security.org, 46 percent of almost 1,000 US citizens use third-party antivirus on their computers, with 49 percent on their PCs, 18 percent on their tablets, and 17 percent on their phones.
Reasons for Purchasing
The top reason for purchasing antivirus software, cited by 84 percent of respondents, was fear of malware. Privacy concerns followed at 54 percent, and worries over online shopping at 48 percent. Interestingly, fear of losing cryptocurrency stashes from wallets was at eight percent, doubled since last year’s survey.
Brand Preferences
Among paying users, the most popular brands were Norton, McAfee, and Malwarebytes, while free users preferred McAfee, Avast, and Malwarebytes.
Age Group Comparison
Use of paid third-party security software doubles with the over-65 age group compared to the under-45s. The report suggests that this is due to the older generation being more cautious.
Operating System Preferences
Windows was the OS most likely to have third-party security software at 43 percent of respondents. With Apple, 31 percent of those polled brought in outside defenses. In the “Other” OS camp, 26 percent reported using third-party tools.
While native security systems in operating systems like Apple and Microsoft may work well, having a third-party solution adds an extra layer of defense, which might not be the worst idea in the world.
