In this ESET Antivirus review, we’ll explore everything from the product’s features to its usability and pricing. When it comes to the quality of computer security, choosing the right antivirus software is essential for safeguarding your devices.
We’ll explore how ESET offers comprehensive protection against online threats while maintaining excellent performance and usability. Read more in this complete guide, including an ESET NOD32 Antivirus review, to decide if it’s the right cybersecurity solution for you.
How Does the ESET Antivirus Work?
How the ESET antivirus works is pretty straightforward. It constantly scans for malicious software on your computer or device and flags any threat found. If it finds a virus, ESET can quarantine the file—meaning it can be isolated from the rest of your system—or delete it outright to protect your data and keep you safe.
Moreover, ESET continues to check incoming and outgoing communication (websites, emails) to ensure that no malicious code will penetrate their defenses or damage any of your information.
ESET also has proactive protection features, which allow users to track suspicious activity through built-in features such as advanced heuristics that detect known attacks before they can do any damage.
Then, once an attack is detected, either from incoming files or processes running in the background on your system — their security measures actively block threats before they can spread throughout the network or cause harm to other devices connected to yours.
ESET Pros and Cons Summarized
When weighing potential antivirus solutions, it’s important to consider the benefits as well as the weaker points.
Pros
- Very good protection for Windows and Android and basic security for Mac
- Minimal system performance impact
- Features include webcam protection, a secure browser, and AES-256 encryption
- Advanced diagnostic tools provide a comprehensive overview and security reports
Cons
- Parental controls could be improved
How Much is ESET Antivirus? ESET Pricing
ESET pricing is divided into two groups – home and business. Home users have the option of purchasing different packages such as Smart Security Premium, Mobile Security for Android, and Parental Control. Businesses can select from Internet Security and Cyber Security Pro.
ESET Home Packages
If you are using ESET for personal or family use, the pricing for ESET packages is as follows:
- ESET for Home Security: Tailored specifically to provide the best security for Windows, macOS, and Android devices. It has sophisticated features like anti-spam and anti-phishing defenses, personal firewall protection, secure online banking abilities, and secure data encryption. Pricing plans include Premium Security, Advanced Security, and Essential Security packages.
- ESET Cybersecurity: This computer antivirus offers proactive protection against a range of malicious threats. It provides secure online banking, secure data encryption, and webcam protection for your Mac. ESET Cybersecurity comes in a higher-tier option, which is called ESET Cybersecurity Pro. The main difference between its basic home version and this one is that it is made specifically for macOS systems.
- ESET Mobile Security for Android: This includes anti-spam and anti-phishing defense, a sophisticated firewall to protect against network attacks, and several additional security layers to further safeguard you against all sorts of malware.
- ESET Parental Control allows parents to monitor their children’s internet activity by blocking certain websites or applications they deem unsuitable for viewing or use by the child. Such restrictions can be adjusted through a parent’s mobile device and set up according to their preference.
ESET’s Premium Security Explained
ESET’s Premium Security is one of the packages for a personal device that needs extra protection. Here are some of its key features in more detail.
- Protection Against Never-Before-Seen Threats: ESET Premium Security includes an advanced threat defense system that can detect and protect against evolving, invisible threats like malware and ransomware. To keep your device secure whenever you connect to the internet, artificial intelligence is used to provide multi-layered protection against future threats.
- Password Management: The Password Manager feature securely stores and encrypts website passwords, allowing faster login times without compromising security. It also includes a form completion feature that conveniently populates fields with usernames/passwords and a password generator for strong and safe passwords whenever needed.
- Sensitive Data Encryption: ESET Secure Data helps create encrypted directories on removable drives such as USB sticks or CDs. All data within these encrypted folders are secured by AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) technology using 256-bit key encryption levels to prevent unauthorized access and manipulation of the stored data.
- Network & Smart Device Protection: ESET Premium Security scans both online networks (such as Wi-Fi routers) and connected smart devices (like webcams). By adding extra layers of protection from malicious attacks to your home network, this package will help make sure your data is safe regardless of how it’s shared. It also allows you to encrypt removable media for added security.
ESET Business Solutions
ESET also has tailored plans developed by business professionals to provide optimal protection from cyber threats in larger organizations or enterprises. These include Protect Entry, Protect Advanced, Protect Complete, and Protect Elite levels which all have different features based on individual needs such as remote management of security solutions or multiple layers of endpoint protection.
The cost of ESET’s business packages typically depends upon the scale of the organization and the type of service that needs to be provided.
Is it hard to cancel? Canceling an ESET plan is simple enough – visit your account page and follow the instructions to uninstall your subscription. Once you’ve done this, you won’t have to pay again for the rest of your license period (usually 1 year).
Is ESET Antivirus Free?
ESET NOD32 Antivirus isn’t free, but it offers a 30-day trial period, after which you need to purchase a subscription for ongoing protection. This trial period gives you ample time to see if this antivirus meets your security needs and decide if it’s worth investing in the full version.
Subscribing comes with a range of benefits, such as round-the-clock virus scanning capabilities to detect unknown threats in real-time. Users can also get access to exclusive malware signatures and anti-phishing features, network attack protection technology, and more.
What Does ESET Antivirus Do?
ESET arguably has one of the most feature-rich antivirus suites available. This antivirus solution protects against malicious software and cyber threats through a combination of artificial intelligence and sophisticated heuristics.
Dual Protection System
ESET’s Dual Protection System combines antivirus and antispyware engines for comprehensive protection.
This dual-layered approach enhances detection rates and response times, with cloud-powered scanning for real-time threat identification, offering users a worry-free experience with maximum security.
The difference between antivirus and antispyware software is that antiviruses mostly protect against known viruses, Trojans, malware, and other malicious software or code.
Antispyware protects the user’s computer from secretly gathering personal information. Antivirus also includes prevention from ransomware attacks. It can detect, stop, and remove existing threats from a machine while antispyware may only be able to prevent spyware.
ESET’s Dual Protection System is a feature that combines its award-winning antivirus and antispyware engine into a single solution for comprehensive protection against viruses, rootkits, Trojans, ransomware, malware, and more. This dual layer of security helps to ensure complete coverage as antivirus and antispyware software look for different types of threats.
With both thorough antivirus scanning engines in place, it ensures better detection rates and faster response times when responding to new threats or security vulnerabilities.
If you have virus and malware protection, your system is fully defended when it comes to malicious software accessing your device; antispyware makes sure any programs that experts broadly classify as spyware, such as keyloggers and data miners stay out.
ESET Dual Protection System’s supercharged engine checks for new threats in real-time from an expanded database of malicious files. By using predictive analytics to identify unknown threats, including ransomware variants, it allows for in-depth scans that detect even the newest forms of malware with unmatched accuracy.
The cloud-powered scanning feature also accelerates the process of picking up on changing cyber threats faster than other antiviruses can keep up, making it stand out from conventional systems, which rely only on local databases and come with associated performance costs.
The ESET Dual Protection System offers complete safety thanks to its signature detection coupled with cloud lookup services, allowing users to enjoy a worry-free experience with their devices while providing maximum security against any existing or emerging threat.
Anti-Phishing
While Google blocks over 100 million phishing emails daily, there are still so many that can bypass their system. That’s why there are separate tools dedicated to preventing these attacks. ESET Anti-Phishing blocks access to phishing sites before they can get their hands on your confidential data.
When an attempt is launched, the ESET client will identify it and block it immediately, alerting you of a potential attack. It will run through its vast database and detect any attempts to redirect you to known phishing sites, preventing them from hacking your credentials.
If a new URL has not been previously identified by ESET’s anti-phishing technology but is deemed suspicious by one of its algorithms either based on signatures or machine learning techniques, then further investigation may take place before dispersing of warnings when entering such pages occurs.
This feature allows for enhanced protection against online attacks that steal important information like financial credentials, which are especially vulnerable during safe internet browsing activities. Like shopping online or banking transactions from potentially fraudulent websites, which could lead to major financial losses for you in the long run.
It is also able to identify phishing domains that have been created recently with similar names to familiar websites and issue warnings when accessing such unsafe domains.
The vast database of suspicious sites is regularly updated, making sure the latest threats will always be quickly noticed and blocked instantly.
ESET’s Firewall
ESET’s Firewall feature controls network traffic and prevents malicious software from entering or leaving computers and networks. It provides a secure connection to the internet and can be configured by creating different filter rules that allow or deny specific connections.
The firewall also allows users to create custom rules based on IP address, ports, protocol type, and applications, giving businesses total control over their data security systems.
The most important aspect of ESET’s Firewall is its ability to inspect content deeply and match it against a detection database for smart identification of malware threats. This helps protect devices from known threats and those with unknown sources, such as zero-day vulnerabilities or new variants of already existing ones.
Furthermore, this technology reduces the risk of undetected data exfiltration and automatically blocks suspicious traffic to keep teams safe from cybercrimes.
Compared with other antivirus solutions on the market today—which may offer basic firewall protection—ESET stands out due to its deep packet inspection capabilities powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
With AI-enabled network filtering systems, not only are individual packets inspected, but entire streams are considered in order to detect malicious behavior, which means it stands up against advanced, evasive, and polymorphic threats.
ESET’s Firewall feature provides advanced security measures such as deep packet inspection to defend against malicious network traffic, helping protect businesses from data theft and unexpected cyber threats.
Ransomware Shield
ESET Antivirus comes with a Ransomware Shield feature designed specifically to protect users from malicious ransomware attacks.
It safeguards against file encryption attempts and blocks any attempts by ransomware programs to lock out files or alter system settings without user consent. The shield also blocks “denial of service” network traffic that could be used as part of an attack.
To activate this protection, users should first install ESET Antivirus, which is available from the official website or via popular online retailers.
Once installed, navigate to Settings, Advanced Setup, Computer Protection, and Ransomware Shield, and then enable it by checking the box to make sure all data is secure at all times.
You should also consider enabling ESET’s personal firewall settings, which can help detect suspicious network activity from remote sources, such as botnets or hackers trying to gain access to your computer or networks you’re connected with over the internet.
It’s worth noting that ransomware attacks increased by 200% between 2019 and 2022 in the United States alone. This only shows the persistent and escalating nature of this cyber threat. ESET’s Ransomware Shield is one of the best solutions out there, offering a robust level of protection without being too intrusive or slowing down the system.
Banking and Payment Protection
Aside from the phishing detection and protection of the ESET system, they also have enhanced features to safeguard users from any dangerous transactions. The Banking and Payment Protection feature of ESET provides an extra layer of security while using online banking with your computer.
This feature allows secure access to banks and other financial institutions so that users can rest assured their information is safe and not vulnerable to hackers or real-world dangers. From the main program window of an ESET product, users can open up the secure browser to access banking sites.
While connected through this secure connection, information is encrypted by the software to protect against any interference from any potential hackers or malicious attempts.
The Banking and Payment Protection also supports Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) settings, allowing you to connect with a remote device securely and safely. Furthermore, this feature is only compatible with Firefox and Microsoft Edge web browsers if the device has an ARM processor.
However, newer versions of web browsers may not be supported immediately, so it’s worth checking beforehand for compatibility.
Other antiviruses may lack the same safety features that ESET has to offer. This Banking and payment Protection allows users the convenience of secure banking and other financial transactions online without worrying about their information being compromised or being placed at risk of attack.
ESET Banking and Payment protection ensures any user’s credentials for any banking website or payment institution are kept safe and secure.
Advanced Machine Learning
AI and machine learning are key tools in the fight against threats by analyzing patterns from known threats to detect new ones. ESET Antivirus applies advanced machine-learning algorithms for proactive protection.
The technology provides a multi-layer system of detection where most of the decisions made are based on detailed analysis of data instead of simply recognizing an executable file name or hash value.
This has enabled ESET Antivirus to provide improved real-time protection capabilities even against newly discovered malware and exploits that may not yet have been classified with malware signatures.
Globally, there will be approximately 5.18 billion internet users in 2023. Traditional cyberattack solutions need to be enhanced. Antivirus ESET uses AI to classify files and categorize them as malicious or safe, as well as determine whether they could be potential zero-day attacks – undetectable using signature scanning alone.
Additionally, its advanced heuristics can identify malicious behavior beyond statically obvious traits present in malware variants that avoid traditional scanners in order to remain undetected until execution starts.
It also employs whitelisting techniques, which will only allow files known as trusted, thereby blocking any unknown applications from running – this is especially useful against targeted malware attacks that usually come disguised through rogue applications or software updates.
It can be customized to detect threats according to user-defined levels of suspicion to better protect our networks, connected devices, and information. This level of customization makes it an ideal choice for individuals concerned about protecting their data from cyberattacks.
Script-Based Attack Protection
With ESET Antivirus, users gain protection from attacks such as malicious scripts, code injections, and executables. This type of attack is when malicious code is embedded in a webpage or downloaded via email or instant messaging. Script-Based Attack Protection analyses every script executed on the system to detect potential dangers before they can do any harm.
Script engines are monitored for dangerous activities, running scripts first in an isolated environment to analyze behavior before allowing them to run on the user’s system. Scripts can be blocked if it is detected that contains something malicious, such as the dropping of malware payloads or establishing a connection with suspicious remote hosts.
To ensure maximum security levels, users can also set rules for allowed scripts in order to further limit their exposure to threats stemming from the execution of untrusted scripts and documents.
This feature offers powerful protection against malware attacks that originate from webpages and files sent over networks or emails – two major routes by which malicious programs infect systems these days.
In terms of usability, most users find the script-based attack feature easy to manage and configure, allowing a user full control over which scripts are allowed or blocked. There have been reports of people finding the scanning process slightly slow compared to other NOD antivirus programs but such cases are outliers and rarely reported due to their minority representation in the overall population base.
ESET’s Ease of Use
ESET antivirus software excels in ease of use with an intuitive interface, clear presentation of features, advanced data protection, and user-friendly setup options, making it a highly recommended choice for both individuals and businesses.
When it comes to ease of use, ESET antivirus software offers a sleek user interface that is intuitive and simple. There are no complex settings or menus to navigate, meaning even the most novice computer users can feel comfortable using the product immediately.
All of the features found in ESET’s antivirus exams are presented clearly within the primary dashboard, allowing for quick monitoring and adjustment when necessary.
ESET’s advanced technologies make sure your data stays safe from third-party access or malware infiltration while providing you with excellent service.
It provides important notifications about license status and keeps real-time monitoring in order to ensure all protected devices remain secure at all times. Additionally, the setup of new systems can be done easily through this app, making life easier for users who want to protect their data quickly and efficiently.
Another useful app offered by ESET is the Secure Authentication App, designed especially for businesses in need of 2FA (two-factor authentication) services.
This allows easy installation and deployment of these authentication services without needing excessive technical knowledge or aid from other organizations or people – something business owners will find immensely useful.
Additionally, the app also offers efficient management, which aids users in taking their security to a whole new level without hassle.
All in all, ESET is a great antivirus solution that features an intuitive user interface and comprehensive applications on offer, making it easy for anyone to set up and manage. With its robust protection features and reliable performance seen in independent lab tests, this software is highly recommended for both home and business use.
How Effective is ESET When Compared to Rivals?
Here’s a quick comparison table with ESET compared to some of their top competitors:
| Antivirus | Test Ratings | Starting Price | Devices/Subscription | Free Offerings | Money-Back Guarantee |
| ESET | Protection: 5.5/6 Performance: 5.5/6 Usability: 6/6 |
$49.99/Year | 1 | 30-Days | 30-Days |
| TotalAV | Protection: 5.5/6 Performance: 6/6 Usability: 6/6 |
$9.95/Month | 3 | Free Version | – 30-Days, Annual Purchases – 14-Days, Monthly purchases |
| Surfshark | Protection: 4.5/6 Performance: 4.5/6 Usability: 6/6 |
$3.35/Month | Unlimited | Free Version | 30-Days |
| CyberGhost | AV Not Tested | $3.19/Month | 7 | Free Version | 45-Days |
| Norton | Protection: 6/6 Performance: 6/6 Usability: 6/6 |
$19.99 on 1st Year | 1 | 7-Days | 60-Days |
| Nord | AV Not Tested | $3.19/Month | 5 | 30-Days | 30-Days |
ESET is a reliable antivirus option with impressive test ratings, scoring well in protection, performance, and usability.
It’s a solid choice for users seeking comprehensive digital security. AV-Test.org gave a 5.5/6 on both Protection and Performance while ace-ing its score in Usability. This shows how efficient ESET is in its ability to protect PCs without significantly degrading system performance.
However, it’s worth noting that each antivirus software has its own strengths. For instance, TotalAV offers strong protection and is user-friendly, while Surfshark excels in usability. If you want to learn more about different protection options, check out our comprehensive review of the best antivirus software in the market.
Is ESET a Good Antivirus? A Summary of User Reviews
In recent ESET NOD32 antivirus reviews, customers have highly praised the effectiveness and performance, giving the ESET Antivirus rating of 4.1/5. Here are some of their experiences:
One user’s review of EST NOD32 antivirus reported that their computer team recommended using Windows Defender, but this proved insufficient and resulted in data loss. Switching to ESET provided significant protection against attacks, with the customer appreciating the quality of the product.
Another user has been using ESET for 8 years with high satisfaction, feeling consistently protected. The program has successfully intervened to eliminate problems and prevent potential threats.
A third user was initially installed with ESET by a technician several years ago and has since renewed their subscription. It effectively detects threats such as trojans, and they feel confident using computers without worrying about security issues.
Finally, in one ESET Internet Security review, a customer stated that it offers worry-free virus protection, which is highly effective at catching threats and viruses without slowing down their system or causing any other problems. They would not use any other antivirus software besides ESET.
Overall, these customers have had positive experiences with the effectiveness of ESET virus protection products when it comes to preventing potential threats on their systems, both for personal and business use.
Why You Can Trust Our Analysis of ESET Antivirus
At Techopedia, our goal is to provide truly objective and reliable reviews on the latest tech products. As such, we take great care when testing a product like ESET Antivirus, devoting the necessary time and attention to attain a full understanding of its features and functionality.
We took advantage of the free version to test ESET’s software. We explored other customer experiences to compile an unbiased ESET Antivirus review with detailed feedback from professional hardware testers and everyday users.
We then compared each feature and function to those offered by competitors we’ve reviewed before (e.g., TotalAV and Norton) to determine areas where ESET stands out and others that could use improvement.
We did a full scan and malware detection test on various devices using the free version of ESET Antivirus over several days. We graded things like ease of use, scanning speed, and the range of protection options available.
Finally, we identified performance weak spots compared to those noted by other reviewers and users to ensure that readers received reliable information about the accuracy and efficiency of ESET Antivirus.
By following these steps during our testing process, we are confident that our assessment is thorough and accurate enough for readers to make an informed decision when evaluating how well ESET Antivirus protects their devices from malicious software threats.
A Guide On How to Use ESET Step-by-Step
After purchasing ESET, follow the below steps to set up and start using it. Take note that you need to uninstall any other antivirus programs or firewalls before you install ESET.
Step 1: Select Your Language
After you double-click the installation file, you are required to select a language. Choose your preferred language and click “Continue” to proceed further.
Step 2: Enable Features
Enable all of the features, such as the ESET LiveGrid® feedback system, Potentially unwanted applications, and Customer Experience Improvement Program, by clicking Allow All And Continue or make individual selections accordingly.
Step 3: Connecting To The ESET Home Account
If you need to manage ESET security for multiple devices using one account, you can choose to connect your device with an ESET HOME account by entering your ESET login credentials.
Step 4: Activation Options
Choose activation options according to whether it’s a free trial or purchased product, along with additional details if necessary (license key). It is important to ensure that the right package has been selected; otherwise, click Change Product when needed.
Step 5: Installation Wizard
The installation wizard will detect which program is suitable based on your issued license and pre-select the optimal version for your device. The process can take a few minutes to complete, depending on the device’s specifications.
Step 6: Finishing Setup
After successful installation, click Done to exit the Installation Wizard. All modules will be downloaded, and protection will be initiated simultaneously; some features may only be functional once the download is completed. Finally, If there are any leftovers from previous versions installed (files/folders), you will be asked if they can safely be removed for further optimization of product operation.
The process of installing ESET security products for other platforms such as Mac, Android, or iOS is similar in principle, but each may present slightly different configurations during setup.
Best Antivirus Guides
Going beyond this comprehensive ESET review, our experts have compiled a wide range of antivirus guides in a range of other niches, including:
- The best antivirus software
- The best antivirus for servers
- The best antivirus for Android devices
- The best antivirus for Windows 10
- The best antivirus for Mac
- The best business antivirus
- The best spyware remover
Conclusion – Is ESET Worth it in 2025?
Its many packages for business and individual consumers make ESET an excellent and reliable NOD32 antivirus security solution. With top-notch malware protection, a well-designed user interface, and plenty of features, users can be sure that they are getting the latest threat detection technology as well as comprehensive protection from web threats such as malicious websites and phishing attacks.
For those looking for reliable antivirus protection from a trusted provider with good customer support resources, ESET is certainly worth considering in 2025.
