Affiliate Marketer’s Guide to Antivirus Vertical in 2024

Antivirus is one of the “evergreen” niches in affiliate marketing. Today, online security has become a paramount concern for users. As an affiliate marketer, tapping into the Antivirus vertical presents a lucrative opportunity to promote essential products and services while earning attractive commissions. 

This comprehensive Antivirus vertical guide will equip you with valuable insights, strategies, and tips to navigate the evolving Antivirus market.

Antivirus Vertical in Affiliate Marketing

Antivirus vertical is a niche that focuses on antivirus software and related products. This vertical can be lucrative because there is a constant demand for Antivirus software due to the increasing number of online threats and the need for digital security.

The benefit of the Antivirus vertical is that its offers remain popular throughout the year, making them unaffected by seasonal fluctuations. What is more, this vertical encompasses a wide range of devices, including mobile and desktop, catering to different operating systems.

Let’s talk about how to run Antivirus campaigns in this Antivirus affiliate marketing guide for beginners.

Why Do Users Need Antiviruses in 2024?

Antiviruses have been and continue to be essential for users all over the world. Their demand is due to the presence of a large number of viruses that can lead to data leakage and a number of other problems.

According to StationX, there are around 1.2 billion malicious programs and potentially unwanted applications (PUA) in existence.

Malware can enter your system through a variety of channels. It can pick up a file you download from the Internet, infiltrate from an infected USB drive, or exploit vulnerabilities in websites that lack proper security measures.

Once inside, it can cause a number of problems, from annoying pop-ups and performance degradation to more serious issues such as data theft and system crashes.

The need for antivirus software depends a lot on the online habits of users. If someone frequently downloads content from unofficial sources or visits unregulated websites, antivirus software can provide an extra layer of security.

However, for the average user who visits known, safe websites and downloads files, the need for antivirus software decreases.

Modern operating systems are equipped with their own security measures that often replicate the functionality of antivirus software.

Keeping your system up to date with the latest security patches is critical. For those using devices that are more than five years old and may not support the latest updates, antivirus software can serve as a vital safety net.

Types of Antivirus Offers

Depending on the functions performed, Antivirus offers can be divided into several groups:

• Protection: Antivirus software offers defense against harmful websites, files, phishing attempts, and safeguards your personal data when accessing the internet, emails, and using public Wi-Fi;
  
  
• Security guidance: It serves as a security advisor, alerting you to potentially suspicious programs or apps that may consume excessive resources;
  
  
• VPN and browser protection: The antivirus software assists in accessing websites that are restricted in your region and shields your browsers from unwanted advertisements;
  
  
• Parental control: Antiviruses include features that allow you to block inappropriate content from being viewed by children and protect them from aggressive websites.

How to Choose and Promote Antivirus Offers

Before selecting an offer and target country, let’s examine the global trends within the Antivirus affiliate industry. Start with considering the statistics regarding countries that are frequently targeted by virus attacks.

All countries around the world can be categorized into high-risk and low-risk areas regarding malware infection. This information can serve as a foundation for choosing an offer or determining the placement of banners/landing pages.

The top five countries where cybercriminals are more likely to successfully implement viruses are Afghanistan, Myanmar, Namibia, Libya, and Honduras.

Pakistan, Algeria, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Ecuador are the countries most susceptible to viruses. These countries are suitable for running antivirus campaigns. On the other hand, Singapore, the United States, Malaysia, France, and Canada are considered the most protected countries against malware. The reason for this is that people in these countries are particularly cautious about cybersecurity and actively use antivirus software.

What Tier to choose for ads campaign: 1, 2 or 3? Read our article to find useful insights.

Then, you need to understand what ad format works best for promoting Antivirus offers.

Well, it’s no surprise that push ads are the optimal choice. Push ads are particularly effective for advertising Antivirus software and other downloads related to computer safety. Furthermore, when it comes to promoting Antivirus software, VPNs, and similar computer protection services, desktop devices are the preferred target.

By using push notifications on desktop devices, you can display non-intrusive ads to users while they browse the internet, search for free files, and sometimes download these files with the hope of accessing something they desire at no cost. Simply sending a gentle reminder about online security can potentially generate a new lead.

We’ll talk more about the best creatives in the next section.

Popular GEOs for Antivirus Vertical

According to the Seon report, the countries with the lowest cyber-safety scores are Afghanistan, Myanmar, and Namibia. These countries lack robust legislation concerning cybercrime or may even have no legislation at all, making them particularly vulnerable when it comes to processing sensitive transactions.

When running Antivirus offers, we recommend choosing countries with low levels of security protection as the demand on Antivirus systems is higher.

If you possess ample experience, you can directly venture into Tier 1 countries, such as the USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. Push and in-page push traffic can yield significant profits in these countries. They offer substantial traffic volumes and exhibit remarkable stability, making Antivirus offers highly lucrative.

However, if you lack experience in this vertical or affiliate marketing in general, it is advisable not to be overly ambitious and instead launch a campaign in Tier 2 or even Tier 3 countries. Rest assured, profitability is attainable in these markets as well. Despite facing lesser competition, affiliates have successfully generated revenue in these regions.

Creatives for Antivirus Vertical

A successful campaign relies heavily on creatives and landings. Let’s understand what advertising materials are best to use for the Antivirus vertical.

Creatives

• Shocking message

Many affiliate networks prohibit the use of intentionally deceptive statements like “Your phone is infected”. In such situations, you need to avoid explicitly asserting the existence of a virus or issue but instead hints at its potential presence.

• GEO and statistics

Conduct research on popular phone models within your specific region and add the obtained data into your creatives. Highlight the fact that these particular models are more susceptible to virus attacks within the specified geographical area.

• Discounts and updates

Provide an exclusive deal or offer, which can be time-limited, to enhance the attractiveness of the product.

Landing Pages

While many affiliate networks and programs recommend either direct linking or provide their own landing pages, it is still important to adhere to some basic guidelines. You can use it to modify promo materials provided by affiliate platforms.

Including elements like a quiz or questionnaire can be beneficial for promotion of Antivirus offers. These interactive features allow users to independently realize the need for additional online protection. Conducting a survey related to their browsing habits can also help raise awareness about the importance of antivirus programs and other privacy-protecting services.

Although aggressive landing pages that warn users about existing threats and push them to install antivirus software may be popular in spy tools, most affiliate networks and traffic sources discourage their use. In fact, in some cases, such aggressive promotion can result in permanent bans. It is best to stick to more friendly and informative landing pages.

Certain Antivirus direct advertisers may only permit the use of their own landing pages for promoting their products. However, this is not necessarily a disadvantage. Some of these pages may resemble regular homepages but offer special product discounts.

Let’s have a look at some examples of Antivirus landing pages used by affiliates:

How Much Do You Need to Start an Antivirus Campaign?

The ideal budget to begin with varies based on the offer you decide to promote. If you are running an offer related to Mobile Devices where you earn a commission for app installations rather than purchases, a daily budget of $40-50 should be sufficient.

We suggest starting with a simpler offer, such as CPI commission type. This approach makes it easier to optimize your marketing funnel, allowing you to eventually create campaigns with offers that offer higher commissions.

Top Antivirus CPA Networks and Programs

There is a top Antivirus affiliate networks that you can join to promote offers:

1. CpaRoll
2. Advidi
3. AdCombo
4. Adsterra
5. Rize Ads
6. Affiliate Dragons
7. MyLead

Also, we’ve collected a list of the best Antivirus affiliate programs:

1. Avast
2. Surfshark
3. Norton
4. Iolo System Mechanic
5. 360 Total Security
6. VIPRE Antivirus
7. Eset

Veranika Minina

Veranika Minina is a fan of affiliate marketing. Veranika's articles are carefully crafted to simplify complex concepts, making them accessible to beginners while also offering fresh perspectives about CPA-networks for experienced marketers. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned marketer, Veranika's writings are sure to inspire, educate, and motivate, guiding you towards a profitable affiliate marketing journey.