According to a survey conducted by Security.org out of almost 1,000 US citizens surveyed, 46 per cent reported using third-party antivirus on their computers.

More than 49 per cent used it on their PCs, 18 per cent on their tablets, and 17 per cent on their phones.

Among those who solely depend on their operating system's built-in security (such as Microsoft's Windows Defender, Apple's XProtect, and Android's Google Play), 12 per cent plan to switch to third-party software within the next six months.

Of those exploring options beyond the OS, 54 per cent pay for security software, 43 per cent opt for the free stripped-down version, and alarmingly, three per cent are unsure whether they pay and need to ask that nice Russian man who installed it for them.

Among paying users, Norton, McAfee, and Malwarebytes are the most popular brands, while free users prefer McAfee, Avast, and Malwarebytes in that order.

The primary reason for purchasing, cited by 84 per cent of respondents, is fear of malware. Privacy concerns follow at 54 per cent, and worries related to online shopping stand at 48 per cent.

Fear of losing cryptocurrency stored in wallets has doubled since last year's survey, reaching eight per cent."