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ESET Review

Top10.com Staff

In a Nutshell

With over 30 years of dependable service, it’s not hard to understand why so many people trust ESET to protect their home and business tech. From essential antivirus protection with ransomware defenses and anti-hacking features, to advanced internet security and smart device protection that covers all the bases like password management, home network security, and photo encryption.

pros

  • Various modes and time settings for interruption-less runs
  • 30-day free trial with all features
  • NOD32 antivirus tech

cons

  • Spam filter doesn’t work across platforms
  • Password manager is just OK

Eset Eset Visit Site

Eset at a Glance

  • Features: Full featured protection
  • Ease of Use: Easiest for users
  • Reliability: Above average
  • Value: Average
  • Money-Back Guarantee: Excellent

Best For

  • Gamers
  • Small businesses
  • Strong and reliable virus protection and defense

Why Choose ESET

ESET has a lot going for it aside from a sleek website design and decades of reliability. It’s not the only antivirus software out there, but we believe it’s a solid choice for a few reasons, including:

- Lightweight

ESET runs in the background, barely perceptible to users. This is a major plus no matter who you are or what you’re doing on your computer because, frankly, nobody likes a program that makes everything drag.

- Various modes

More importantly, ESET lets you set your antivirus to work according to the use case you’re currently profiling. So if you’re not doing much on the computer (you know, during meetings, while vegging out...), you can let your antivirus run full-force. But you can also set ESET for gaming mode, streaming mode, or other modes if you want a more low-key version to go to work. This is great for enjoying whatever it is you’re doing without having pop-ups constantly disturbing you.

- Reputation

Alright, we have to mention this because you don’t stick around the antivirus industry for 30+ years without doing something right. In ESET’s case, it’s doing a lot right; just ask the 110+ million users around the globe. Some of its bragging rights include the longest unbroken run of VB100 awards (malware detection), since 2003 and counting, winner of Peter Szo Award for uncovering Operation Windigo, Best Security Product of the Year award from Digital Citizen, and securing major companies across the world including Honda, Deloitte, and Toshiba. There are more, but you get the point.

And we haven’t even begun to speak of the features suite you get with this software...

What ESET Offers

  • Lightweight antivirus
  • Uninterrupted gaming mode
  • NOD32 antivirus protection
  • Ransomware protection
  • Worms protection
  • Spyware protection
  • Minimal power usage
  • Easy settings
  • Real-time protection
  • License transfers to Linux, macOS, PC
  • One license for all devices
  • Watch activity monitor
  • System cleaner
  • Quarantine
  • Sample analysis submission
  • System rescue tool
  • Security reports
  • Log files
  • Malicious website blocking
  • Email scans
  • Phishing and scamming website detection and blocker

ESET is a powerful antivirus that works across devices (under a single license, no less). It delivers on real-time scans, allows you to pause at your discretion, and sends security reports that are actually useful. Let’s take a closer look at some of the features available with ESET antivirus.

Features

ESET is a fully-featured antivirus software. It covers the basics like antimalware, spyware, phishing, and ransomware. But it also has more involved features that people who are looking for an additional layer of protection will appreciate. Things like device control, HIPS (host intrusion prevention system) that protects your device from invasive and possibly harmful apps, and some of the most thorough malware scanning on the market make ESET really stand out (more on that below).

ESET also has gamer mode, which is one of the most popular features for a lot of people (not just World of Warcraft fans). Toggle this preference on or off to optimize your entire user experience, whether it’s for playing the upper levels on the Elder Scrolls or for giving a more professional presentation at the office.

Another excellent feature we enjoyed were the security reports. It’ll show you how ESET antivirus has protected your device in the last 24 hours, scanned sites and objects, where your weak points are, and what you can do to improve.

Aside from excellent malware protection, ESET excels at diagnosis as well. The password manager and parental controls aren’t anything to write home about though. ESET also has internet security and smart security protection. Here’s what those look like:

Internet Security

  • Secure online banking and shopping
  • Hacker blocking
  • Android protection

Smart Home Security

  • Smart device network protection
  • Store and prefill passwords safely
  • Encrypt photos

Ease of Use

One of the benefits of using ESET is its ease of use. We love a software that lets you set and forget, and ESET really delivers on this promise. You can set your preferences in the settings menu and leave everything else to the tech. Another thing we like about ESET’s antivirus is the flexibility. You can easily switch preferences and features on or off depending on what’s going on at the time. So there’s little commitment to a style or mode.

ESET will then scan your computer, checking for the usual suspects, flag suspicious apps, websites, and files, and take care of the issues. ESET has a cleaner that will debug your system as well if something does infiltrate.

Detection Rates and Reliability

ESET’s NOD32 technology has continuously scored highly across multiple independent testing lab tests. And we’re not just talking average. ESET’s scores are top of the charts, scoring highly on all attack prevention, performance, and usability. The antivirus is also known for its reliability, not accidentally flagging valid programs as something dangerous.

How Much Does ESET Cost?


1-year Plan
2-year Plan
3-year Plan
1 device
$39.99
$59.99
$79.99
2 devices
$49.99
$74.99
$99.99
3 devices
$59.99
$89.99
$119.99
4 devices
$69.99
$104.99
$139.99
5 devices
$79.99
$119.99
$159.99

ESET antivirus is priced on the average side of the range. But if you consider the reliability, degree of protection, and number of features you get with the antivirus, you can safely consider this a great value for your money. If you opt for longer contracts (3 years) or more devices, you’ll get a significant discount. Plus, ESET has a 30-day free trial, and it’s the real deal. You don’t have to put in your credit card information, and you gain access to all of the features. Good deal.

Help and Support

ESET antivirus comes with full customer support team access. You can call, email, or even live chat with US-based tech support for all questions and troubleshooting. There are also branches of ESET customer support in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.

+1 (844) 824-3738

+1 (866) 343-ESET (3738)

+1 (619) 876-5400

Monday-Friday

6:00am - 5:00pm Pacific Time [GMT-8]

Eset Eset Visit Site

Bottom Line

ESET antivirus is about as good as they come. If you’re looking for strong and detailed parental controls, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you are in the market for a powerful, reliable, and thorough antivirus software, ESET is a great choice. You’ll get full system scans in real- time, detailed security reports, and even a system cleaner. Cover all of your devices with a single license, and test out the software for free with the 30-day true free trial.

About ESET

ESET is a digital security and technology corporation that services consumers and businesses from all over the world. With 110 million users spanning 202 countries, ESET certainly gets around. From its award-winning antivirus to secure online shopping to the smart home system protection, ESET covers all aspects of digital security. The software has successfully passed the VB100 test for more than 12 consecutive years, touts impressive customer support in a tremendous range of languages, and consistently ranks high for performance, usability, and features from a number of sources.

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