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'People use smartphones more but invest less in their security': New report claims McAfee and Norton remain the most loved antivirus brands as users ditch lesser-known security products for free tools like Microsoft Defender or Apple Xprotect

A new Cybernews report reveals that only 18% of American smartphone users pay for third-party antivirus software, as most consumers rely exclusively on built-in operating system security features.

Key Points

  • Only 18% of mobile users pay for third-party antivirus software, a 10% decline from the previous year.
  • Approximately 14% of mobile users have no cybersecurity tools installed, while 16% are unaware of their current protections.
  • Native security tools from Apple and Microsoft serve as the primary defense for over 50% of mobile and computer users.
  • McAfee and Norton remain the leading brands in the paid mobile antivirus market.
  • Paid antivirus adoption on desktop computers increased by 2% this year, reaching 41% of users.

Why it Matters

The shift toward relying solely on native mobile security leaves many users vulnerable to evolving threats like ransomware. As mobile devices become the primary computing platform for most Americans, the lack of dedicated protection highlights a significant gap in personal cybersecurity awareness.
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