Scammers want our data, yet CNET found that many of us aren’t protecting our devices

Fraudsters will never miss an opportunity to use malware to steal your data. While we use the Internet for almost everything from banking to social media, they are getting creative Thousands of new viruses daily To target activities you participate in frequently.

We may have become too comfortable online, checking for the usual red flags like suspicious links and misspellings. And we trusted Antivirus software To protect us from those fraudulent attempts to install malware that can collect our personal information in seconds. CNET’s latest findings show that despite advances in antivirus software and other Cybersecurity toolsHowever, scammers still find ways to bypass our trusted antivirus software.

More than half (54%) of US adults who own personal laptop computers have encountered potential malware on these devices in the past year. It may surprise you to know what threat malware poses and what laptop owners do when they encounter potential malware.

What you do when you encounter a malicious link, email, or app download is what matters most. Ignoring the pop-up or clicking a link out of curiosity can result in an error Virus, Identity theft And even fraud.

We can help you navigate these situations. Here are the latest CNET survey results, and how well CNET experts say antivirus software can do truly Protect you from headaches and phishing troubles.

Laptop owners have encountered phishing emails the most

My mom just got a new laptop and told me it didn’t need virus protection. She’s not entirely wrong. CNET antivirus experts Mo Long and Attila Tomaszek say you don’t necessarily need another antivirus program if your device already has built-in antivirus protection — as most computers do today.

Includes Windows 11 Microsoft Defender Virus protection. Mac users have XProtect Checks for malware, while the Malware Removal Tool detects anything XProtect may have missed. Gatekeeper prevents you from opening untrusted apps and programs. But viruses, phishing attempts, and malware still lurk, a CNET study shows.

CNET found that over the past year, American adults who own a laptop have encountered or interacted with one Phishing emails Most often (37%), followed by urgent pop-ups (24%), unusual payment requests (17%), and brand spoofing (17%).

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Cyber ​​criminals use it artificial intelligence To make scams more believable – even through them representation. And they’re coming up with new tactics much faster than in the 1990s, when we all went to our desktops to the Geek Squad for help after a successful malware attack by a scammer.

But here’s the most important difference to know: Antivirus software may not be able to help identify constantly evolving phishing attempts and malware. It can help prevent malware from attacking your device and personal data, as long as that malware is present in its database of known threats. But you’ll need to use your best judgment to avoid clicking those suspicious links first.

88% of US adults have taken action after seeing potential malware

CNET found that 88% of US adults who own laptops took action after discovering potential malware within the past year. This is encouraging news for Long and Tomaschek.

“You don’t really want to mess with malware, especially the way a lot of modern malware is designed to get your data rather than crash your computer or something,” Long says.

Here’s a closer look at how laptop owners can take action.

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More than half of US adults (60%) have either manually deleted a file or closed a website or pop-up, and 35% of them immediately ran an anti-virus or anti-malware scan. However, Long says that some of these measures are effective and beneficial, while others are not.

If there’s a malicious pop-up, and you close it without clicking a link, you may not have to worry about malware or viruses, Long says. If you download a malicious file, you may be able to delete it before it causes any damage. But if you download an executable file, such as a software application that infects your device when it runs, you could actually be installing malware on your computer in addition to what you thought was just an application.

Some actions are definitely worth taking, such as running an anti-virus or anti-malware scan immediately after encountering malware (35%), Long says.

But other actions are not, such as installing a file VPNwhich 8% of US laptop owners do, according to CNET.

Long says that a VPN is a privacy tool, and has very few security benefits. If you use VPN on public Wi-Fi is under attack, a VPN can reduce the risk of an attack reaching your device. But most of the time, VPNs are just another part of your cybersecurity toolkit, but for privacy, not online security, Tomaszyk says.

The best course of action if you think your computer is infected with malware is to perform an operation Factory reset Wipes your hard drive clean, leaving nothing behind from the current state. You’ll also want to make sure you’re not restoring from a backup where the malware infected your device, Long says. Keep in mind that it will not erase any information that the attackers may have recovered.

There are other measures you can take to try to resolve a possible malware infection without a factory reset. Long recommends disconnecting your device from the Internet to prevent it from infecting other devices on your network. Next, try using advanced malware scanning software, such as Microsoft Defender’s offline scan, to try to find and resolve any threats. But be careful, infected files may harm other devices if you move them.

There’s no one-size-fits-all solution for dealing with malware, but if you think your device is infected with malware, a full factory reset may be a good option, although it’s important to note that even a full factory reset may not be able to remove some malware, such as malware embedded in hard-to-reach locations, such as rootkits.

If you click on a link in a phishing email or pop-up, it’s best to act immediately to minimize the damage — although that’s not guaranteed. Your device may have malware installed if it’s not working normally, or you’re getting pop-ups or seeing programs you didn’t install.

However, the signs of malware or phishing are not always obvious, so it is best to use a malware scanning tool, e.g MalwareTo find out if malware has been installed on your device. If so, your antivirus software can provide you with steps to remove it. Next, Long recommends downloading another malware scanner to check again and try to make sure the malware is completely removed.

On the other hand, 12% of laptop owners take no action at all, which is alarming.

“People might not take action because they might think it’s a false positive, but you still have to verify that it’s not malware, and if it is, you should definitely take action,” Long says. Malware scanning software is still a good first step to scanning your computer’s memory, files, and programs for viruses.

If you suspect you are the victim of a scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission Website.

“Cybersecurity is now a multi-tool approach.”

Antivirus software will not protect you from a data breach, as your data resides on Dark web Or identity theft.

“Cybersecurity is now a multi-tool approach,” says Long. “There are a number of different apps that people will want to have in addition to virus protection to make sure they stay safe and private.”

Tomaschek recommends educating yourself about different types of scams and viruses to stay aware of the ones on the rise. the Federal Trade Commission It has news about the latest scams and lets you report them.

It is also important to know how to recognize phishing messages and Malware attempts on your phone And the computer. Look for red flags like misspellings, odd email addresses, or links from domains you’ve never seen before. If you’re still unsure, contact the company directly through a different channel. Long also recommends other common online safety practices, such as using strong passwords and only downloading software or apps from verified sources, such as Apple’s App Store or the company’s official website.

It’s also a good idea to make sure your computer has the latest software update, which may include security upgrades. Next, arm yourself with a wide range of tools to improve your online security and privacy. It may seem like a lot, but CNET experts have some recommendations to help narrow your search for the right cybersecurity tools. Here is a list:

The best tools for online security and privacy

Antivirus software	Right Antivirus software It can help detect malware downloaded to your computer. CNET recommends Bitdefender For its budget-friendly plan options, which offer powerful antivirus features, including active scans that use minimal computer resources in the background. It has a comprehensive list of digital security tools.
Identity theft protection	Register for Identity theft protection service It can alert you if your personal data is found on the dark web or in Data breachso you can take the necessary action. CNET recommends aura As the best overall identity theft protection service for its plans, easy-to-use interface and monitoring by all three credit bureaus.
Password manager	Right Password manager It helps you create complex passwords and store them safely from hackers. CNET recommends Betwarden For password management because it has a very good free plan that syncs across multiple devices.
VPN	You will need to VPN To hide your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic when using public Wi-Fi or when you want to enhance your online privacy. ExpressVPN It’s a CNET top pick for its easy-to-use interface and speed, which are essential if you’re using a VPN for streaming. ExpressVPN has servers in all 50 states. However, it is one of the more expensive options.

methodology

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 2,539 adults, of whom 1,989 owned a personal laptop computer. Fieldwork was conducted from March 18 to 20, 2026. The survey was conducted online. Figures have been weighted and represent all US adults (age 18+).