Russia’s antivirus market in 2023 faced a sharp pullback as PC security sales dropped and global players reevaluated their presence
Between January and May 2023, sales of consumer antivirus and network security software for personal computers in Russia totaled about 195 thousand licenses, down 61% from the prior year. Monetary figures mirrored this trend, totaling roughly 268 million rubles, also down by 61%. These numbers were reported by Kommersant based on analysis from market researchers.
Within the first half, Kaspersky Lab managed to widen its market share by 14 percentage points to 94%, even though its license sales declined by 54% year over year. Meanwhile, Dr.Web saw declines of about 14% in units and 25% in revenue. Avast experienced steeper declines, with unit sales down 92% and revenue down 83%. ESET, the Slovak competitor, saw nearly complete losses in both units and money. European players largely exited the Russian market after new regulatory measures began affecting operations. In contrast, SoftWin, a Romanian distributor, posted a 1.5x increase in both unit sales and revenue during the period.
Industry insiders note that part of the market slowdown stems from major changes in Windows distribution within Russia. Fewer laptops and desktops came pre-installed with Windows, and hardware manufacturers began bundling antivirus software themselves. Additionally, many users opted for pirated Windows installations on new devices, reducing demand for paid antivirus products.
Experts interviewed in the industry commentary suggest that as users shifted toward pirated operating systems and free software, official antivirus demand weakened. A leading executive from Garda Technologies pointed out that once legitimate software adoption declines, the market for paid security solutions follows suit. The overall climate for cybersecurity tooling became more cautious as regulatory and market pressures evolved under the current conditions.
Earlier research highlighted cybersecurity threats and the ongoing importance of malware protection across platforms, including macOS, where analysts identified threats targeting account credentials and messaging apps. The landscape remains one of rapid change as organizations and individuals reassess the balance between cost, protection, and usability in a shifting regulatory environment. These dynamics underscore the need for informed risk assessment, clear protection strategies, and continued monitoring of vendor movements and regional policy developments. (Attribution: market analysis and industry reporting on regional antivirus sales, with updates from security researchers and analysts.)