Most popular antivirus software companies from 1997 to 2019. Percentage share of devices with a running software by specific vendor, worldwide, desktop & laptops, end user segment.
Usage Share of Most Popular Antivirus Brands (1997–2019)
Late 1990s to Early 2000s
The antivirus market was dominated by a few key players: Norton (Symantec), McAfee, Trend Micro, and AVG.
Norton Antivirus was often the market leader, widely trusted by consumers and enterprises.
McAfee also held a strong position, especially in enterprise solutions.
Smaller brands like F-Secure and Kaspersky started gaining recognition globally.
Mid 2000s to Early 2010s
Growth of internet usage and malware threats boosted antivirus software demand globally.
Kaspersky Lab (Russian-based) rose significantly in market share, becoming a top global player with strong detection rates.
Free antivirus solutions like Avast and AVG gained popularity, increasing their market share by offering free versions to consumers.
Symantec’s Norton maintained a leading position but faced competition from new entrants.
Enterprise security solutions became more prominent, with brands like Trend Micro expanding their footprint.
Late 2010s (2015–2019)
The antivirus market became more diversified and competitive.
Avast and AVG (which merged in 2016) dominated free antivirus usage with hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
Kaspersky remained a top choice for advanced threat detection, particularly in Europe and Asia.
NortonLifeLock (formerly Symantec) continued to hold significant market share in paid antivirus.
Bitdefender and ESET also grew their presence globally.
Increasing use of built-in antivirus solutions like Windows Defender (Microsoft) reduced reliance on third-party paid antivirus in some markets.
Approximate Market Share Trends (General Overview)
Brand Peak Market Share (Approx.) Notes
Norton (Symantec) ~30% (early 2000s) Market leader in paid antivirus
McAfee ~20% (early 2000s) Strong in enterprise and consumer
Kaspersky ~15–20% (2010s) Leading in Europe and Asia
Avast ~15–20% (late 2010s) Popular free antivirus, merged with AVG
AVG ~10–15% (late 2010s) Free antivirus, merged with Avast
Bitdefender ~5–10% (late 2010s) Growing global presence
Trend Micro ~5–10% (2000s) Enterprise focus
Windows Defender Rapid growth after 2015 Integrated into Windows, free to users
Summary of Market Evolution
Early dominance by a few major paid antivirus brands shifted towards a more competitive landscape.
Free antivirus solutions like Avast and AVG changed the market dynamics significantly.
Built-in OS-level protection (Windows Defender) reshaped antivirus usage patterns from 2015 onward.
Kaspersky and Bitdefender gained strong reputations for advanced threat detection.
Source: Data Is Beautiful
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