When you see a malicious email or link, you may already have your next steps in mind, like deleting it right away, reporting it as spam and even blocking the sender. However, CNET’s latest survey found that some US adults don’t take any action at all. 

It’s easy to comfortably assume that antivirus software and other cybersecurity tools will protect you from malware, but scammers are still finding workarounds to steal our data. In fact, even though many devices have built-in antivirus protection, over half (54%) of US adults with personal laptops have encountered potential malware within the past year. 

Your first step when you notice a possible malware attempt is the most important. Clicking a link out of curiosity can lead to a virus, identity theft or even fraud. However, ignoring it isn’t the best course of action either. 

We can help you navigate these instances. Here are CNET’s latest survey findings and information for how far CNET’s experts say antivirus software can really protect you from phishing headaches and hassles.

Laptop owners have encountered phishing emails the most

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

Windows 11 includes Microsoft Defender antivirus protection. Mac users have XProtect to check for malware, while the Malware Removal tool catches anything XProtect may have missed. And the Gatekeeper feature stops you from opening apps and software that aren’t trusted. But viruses, phishing and malware attempts are still lurking, as CNET’s study shows.

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

Cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence to make scams more believable — even through impersonation. And they’re coming up with new tactics much faster than in the 1990s, when we all took our desktops to the Geek Squad for help after a scammer’s successful malware attack. 

But here’s the most important distinction to know: Antivirus software may not be able to help identify phishing and malware attempts that are constantly evolving. It can help prevent malicious software from attacking your device and personal data, so long as that malware is 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 took action after seeing potential malware

CNET found that 88% of US adults who own laptops took action after coming across potential malware over the past year. That’s encouraging news for Long and Tomaschek. 

«You don’t really want to mess around with malware, especially the way a lot of modern malware is designed to get your data instead of crashing your computer or something like that,» Long says. 

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

Over half (60%) of US adults either manually deleted the file or closed a website or pop-up, and 35% immediately ran an antivirus or anti-malware scan. However, Long says some of these actions are effective and helpful, while others aren’t. 

If there’s a malicious pop-up, and you close it without clicking a link, you may not have to worry about malware or a virus, Long says. If you download a malicious file, you might be able to delete it before it does any harm. But if you download an executable file, like a software application that infects your device when it’s run, you could actually be installing malware on your computer along with what you think is just an application. 

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

But other actions aren’t, like installing a VPN, which 8% of US laptop owners do, according to CNET. 

Long says that a VPN is a privacy tool, and it has very few security benefits. If you’re using a VPN on a public Wi-Fi network that’s under attack, a VPN can mitigate the risk of the attack reaching your device. But for the most part, VPNs are just another part of your cybersecurity toolkit, but for privacy, not online security, says Tomaschek.

The best course of action if you believe your computer is infected with malware is to perform a factory reset to wipe your hard drive clean, leaving nothing behind from the current state. You’ll also need to make sure you don’t restore from a backup where you had that malware infecting your machine, Long says. Keep in mind that it won’t erase any information that attackers may have retrieved. 

There are other measures you can take to try resolving a potential malware infection without a factory reset. Long recommends disconnecting your device from the internet to prevent it from infecting other devices on your network. Then, try using advanced malware scanners, like Microsoft Defender’s offline scanner, to try to find and resolve any threats. But be careful — infected files could harm other devices if you transfer them.

There’s not a one-size-fits-all solution to dealing with malware, but if you think your device is infected with malware, factory resetting it completely can be a good option, although it’s important to note that even a full factory reset may not be able to remove some malicious software, such as malware that’s embedded in difficult-to-reach locations, such as a rootkit.

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

However, the signs of malware or phishing aren’t always clear, so it’s best to use a malware scanner, like Malwarebytes, to see if malicious software was installed on your device. If so, your antivirus program can give you steps to remove it. Afterward, Long advises downloading another malware scanner to double-check and try to make sure the malware is completely removed.

On the other hand, 12% of laptop owners don’t take any action at all, which is concerning.
  
«People may not take action because they may believe it’s a false positive, but you should still verify that it’s not malware, and if it is, you should definitely take action,» Long says. A malware scanner is still a good first step for scanning your computer’s memory, files and programs for viruses.

If you suspect that you’re a victim of a scam, report it on the Federal Trade Commission’s website.

‘Cybersecurity now is a multitool approach’

Antivirus software won’t protect you from a data breach, your data being on the dark web or identity theft. 

«Cybersecurity now is a multitool approach,» Long says. «There are a number of different apps that people will want to have in addition to antivirus protection to make sure that they are staying secure and private.» 

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

It’s also important to learn how to identify phishing and malware attempts on both your phone and 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 internet safety practices, like using strong passwords and downloading software or apps only from verified sources, like Apple’s App Store or an official company website. 

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

Methodology 

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 2,539 adults, of whom 1,989 own a personal laptop. Fieldwork was undertaken March 18-20, 2026. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18-plus). 

On an island in the middle of a distant ocean, I’ve been collecting people to live together. I experiment on them. I watch them react to foods I feed them and strange outfits I put on them. They call me Divine One.

I call this island Togetherness. This is totally fine, right? Everything is fine.

This has been my existence with Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream, Nintendo’s oddest Switch game in quite a while. A sequel to a Nintendo 3DS game I never played, it’s a life simulator — sort of like Animal Crossing, if Animal Crossing were absolutely unhinged and populated with people you created yourself.

It’s also a place where Miis — Nintendo’s game avatars that have been around since the Wii — are in the spotlight. You make them, have them meet each other, watch them do weird stuff and just… keep going. They offer an astonishing amount of customization and even come with their own creepy generated voices, which you can tune to be as annoying as you’d like.

I found comfort and joy just a few weeks ago with Pokémon Pokopia. This time around, it’s more about laughs and chaos. Don’t expect much agency in Tomodachi Life. You’re not personally «on» the island controlling a character like you are in Pokopia or Animal Crossing. Instead, you’re the creator — building a world and introducing both helpful and chaotic elements.

It reminded me of something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Then, as I was watching a TV show with my kid he’d never seen before, it hit: It’s The Good Place.

Which is why I created Miis based on all the Good Place characters. I made Chidi and Eleanor fall in love and get married. And Tahani and Jason live next to each other.

For the other island residents, I made Miis named after all the prescription drug ads I saw on Hulu while watching The Good Place. Dupixent, Breztri, Nurtec, Tremfya…they’re all here and doing great, mostly.

«Ant farm» was the thought I had as my island slowly grew — more residents arriving, new facilities emerging, introduced by the game via news headlines: a clothing store, a home goods store, a food shop, a news station. As you go, new features start to unfold. Surprises. Sometimes island residents fall asleep and have dreams you can watch, and objects manifest from them: a toy robot, a makeup kit. Sometimes a Mii interrogates me about my childhood obsessions.

As you go — feeding Miis things that make them happy, helping pick them up when they fall or playing games with them (red light/green light, guessing games) — you earn money, and they level up. Weird custom sayings or gestures can be layered on. You can give them gifts or send them on little vacations (just to take selfies that I save to my Switch). You can suggest topics for them to talk about — phrases inserted into chats like Mad Libs, such as «Weird Al» or «smooth grandma.» At one point, Jardiance and Lybalvi became obsessed with talking about Sam Darnold. Or was it Kisunla and Neffy?

I felt myself becoming a bit drunk on my power. A bored god. All these Miis multiplying as I added more — calling me Divine One (my choice), doing their little weird things. The bizarre daily rituals made my kid and me laugh, but it’s also a game that sort of taps out after a half-hour session. You do what you can, buy stuff, solve resident problems, then watch for a bit, log off and come back later.

How far does this go? I don’t know. I’ve played about 10 hours and built homes for a dozen-plus residents. I can go further. You expand and customize the island through purchases — or even by painting or designing your own items. You can only build as much land as the game allows within a fenced-in boundary around the surrounding ocean, but that boundary keeps expanding as you add more residents. Each day, or every other day, brings new discoveries. Also, I’m a terrible island designer.

It’s hard to recommend Tomodachi Life. If you want a weird Mii habitat to take care of — or just some strange Nintendo in your life — dive in. But Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Pokémon Pokopia are better, more engaging games. The passive nature of Tomodachi also feels like it might be better suited for a phone or tablet. And at $60, it feels excessive.

But am I happy to see Nintendo being this unflinchingly weird less than a year after the Switch 2’s launch? Yes. And I love that this game allows for nonbinary characters and gender-flexible relationships, a rarity for Nintendo. 

And yet, Nintendo has made a strange move by preventing you from sharing screenshots — moments that would almost certainly be meme-worthy — to its phone app so you can show them off. Maybe that’s to keep your Tomodachi fantasies more private and safe. Or maybe it’s to protect Nintendo from players creating awkward or awful moments it would rather not see publicized. Just be prepared to keep your Tomodachi experiences to yourself, unless you resort to photographing your Switch screen, which I’m sure plenty of people will do. This game feels like a meme factory.

At least it’s playable on both Switch and Switch 2, unlike recent Switch 2 exclusives such as Pokémon Pokopia. But I’m still not sure what to do with my residents on Togetherness Island. Do I love them? Sort of. Will I care for them? Probably not.

CNET just launched People’s Picks, a series of surveys where actual real-life humans like you vote for the products and services they use and can’t live without. This month, we want you to weigh in on your favorite headphones and earbuds. We’ll pick a winner based on which ones you love the most.

Why we want to hear from you

Our writers and editors test hundreds of products each year, but your real-world experience with these devices is something we can’t replicate in our labs. You’ve used these headphones at the gym, on your commute to work and on long flights, and that perspective is invaluable. Your voice helps others know about the headphones or earbuds you love, too.

«I review a lot of headphones and earbuds for CNET, and there are plenty of great models from the top brands in this survey that I rate highly. I’m always curious about what models people ultimately choose and why, so I’m excited to get your feedback and learn the results of this survey,» says David Carnoy, CNET’s executive editor and headphones expert.

With our survey, we’ll collect answers from real-world users like you. The headphones and earbuds chosen through our 3-minute survey will be featured in our People’s Picks roundup of the top picks based on your recommendation.

Make your voice heard

Whether you swear by a pair of $25 earbuds or love a pair of high-end headphones, your pick counts. The survey takes just a few minutes to complete, and after we gather enough information, we’ll tally the results and publish the winners.

Not sure what to pick? Check out our list of the best headphones to revisit your favorites before voting.