In 2025, approximately 66 percent of U.S. adults use antivirus software, with 25 percent using it on both business and personal devices and 41 percent using it only on personal devices. This leaves 34 percent of Americans without antivirus protection. About 169 million Americans actively employ antivirus software, but there is a 20 percentage point gap between the 85 percent who believe antivirus is essential and the 66 percent who use it.
Protection levels vary by device type: 63 percent of personal computer owners use real-time antivirus software, 25 percent of smartphone owners do, and only 22 percent of tablet owners utilize antivirus protection. Among personal computer users, 69 percent of Windows users have antivirus software compared to 37 percent of macOS users. Antivirus adoption increases with age, with 73 percent of users aged 60 and older using antivirus on PCs, compared to 51 percent of those aged 18-29.
The antivirus market has shifted toward free solutions, with free antivirus usage rising to 61 percent in 2025 from 52 percent in 2024, while paid subscription usage decreased from 44 percent to 36 percent. Free antivirus tools have improved significantly, but they often lack advanced features necessary for high-risk users.