ESET Security Solutions: In-Depth Review and Analysis

Protect your devices with ESET Security Solutions, offering antivirus, anti-phishing, ransomware protection, and more for home users.

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ESET Security Solutions provides home customers with a range of alternatives, beginning with ESET NOD32 Antivirus. This entry-level package protects Windows, Mac and Linux with antivirus, anti-phishing and anti-ransomware software. One gadget costs $39.99 a year, or $179.97 for five devices spread over three years.

Upgrading to ESET Home Security Essential adds extra features like a spam filter, parental controls, webcam protection, a secure browser for online transactions, and an anti-theft tool for Windows. It also includes a firewall, traffic monitoring, Android support, and a vulnerability scanner. Prices begin at $49.99 per year for one device and go up to $227.98 ($284.97 on renewal) for 10 devices over three years.

ESET Home Security Premium builds on this with a password manager, file encryption and LiveGuard, which detects new threats. It starts at $59.99 per year for one device and reaches $251.98 ($314.97 on renewal) for 10 devices over three years.

At the top tier, ESET Home Security Ultimate includes enhanced browser and privacy protection along with unlimited VPN. Pricing starts at $179.99 per year for five devices, going up to $614.97 for 10 devices over three years.

Easy Installation and Minimal System Impact with ESET NOD32 Antivirus

Installing ESET NOD32 Antivirus is simple. After installation, it automatically starts a full system scan.

It takes up around 100MB of hard drive space, which is quite small, and runs three background processes. You can still use your system normally while it’s running.

According to AV-Comparatives’ November 2024 Performance Test, ESET performed well, ranking fifth out of 17 for having minimal impact on system performance.

Simple Interface

ESET NOD32 has a clean and easy-to-use dashboard that shows your security status and lets you start a full system scan with one click. You can also drag and drop files to scan them individually and export scan logs as XML or TXT files.

Fast and Effective Scans

ESET offers three scan types: Full System, Removable Devices and Custom scans. There’s no Quick Scan by default, but you can create custom scan profiles for faster checks.

The antivirus scanned an 80GB test system in under 10 minutes on the first run and just 6 minutes on the second, making it one of the faster options available.

For advanced users, the Advanced Settings menu lets you customize scans for boot sectors, network drives, and email protocols.

Strong Security Performance

ESET ranks fifth out of 16 in AV-Comparatives’ Real-World Protection Test (July-October 2024) with a 99.2% protection rating. It also received top scores in protection, performance and usability from AV-Test.

Web Protection & Anti-Phishing

ESET includes built-in protection for all browsers, blocking malicious websites and phishing attempts without needing extra extensions.

It scored 87% in AV-Comparatives’ 2024 Anti-Phishing Test, beating NordVPN Threat Protection Pro (85%) but behind Kaspersky (93%), McAfee (92%), and Avast (91%).

Device Control

ESET lets you control USB drives, printers, Bluetooth devices and more. You can set rules to make devices read-only, show warnings or block them entirely.

Extra Tools

Unlike some antivirus programs, ESET doesn’t include extras like a password manager or file shredder. However, it offers:

ESET LiveGrid to monitor running processes.
ESET SysInspector for detailed system reports.
System Cleaner, which warns about changes to Windows settings.

ESET NOD32 is fast, lightweight, and effective making it a great choice for strong antivirus protection without slowing down your system.

ESET Home Security Essential: Extra Protection for Your Devices

ESET Home Security Essential, previously known as ESET Internet Security, builds on NOD32 Antivirus by adding several new features including a firewall, spam filter, parental controls, webcam protection, network monitoring and Android app support.

Firewall

The firewall starts in automatic mode, blocking uninitiated traffic from the web but allowing all outgoing traffic. In Interactive Mode, it will ask for permission when an app tries to access the internet. The Learning Mode can automatically create rules but should only be used during the initial setup.

Spam Filter

The spam filter works with Microsoft Outlook, letting you scan incoming and outgoing emails. You can set actions like deleting, moving to the spam folder, or adding custom text to the subject line.

Other Features

Webcam Protection: Lets you control which apps can access your webcam.
Banking Protection: Opens your browser in a secure mode to protect against keyloggers.
Parental Controls: Basic features like content filtering and activity logging.
Anti-Theft: Track your device, capture webcam images, or send a message to the person who finds it.
Network Inspector: Lists devices on your network and scans for vulnerabilities like open ports or weak router passwords.

Android App

ESET Home Security Essential also has Android support, offering features like anti-theft, banking protection, and a network monitor. The Mobile Security and Antivirus app includes an app locker and security audit.

In AV-Test’s January 2025 Android Test, ESET received perfect scores for protection, performance, and usability.

ESET Home Security Premium: Advanced Protection & Extra Features

ESET Home Security Premium, formerly ESET Smart Security Premium, includes everything from Home Security Essential and adds LiveGuard, a password manager, and a file encryption system for extra security.

LiveGuard

LiveGuard is a cloud-based security feature that detects new and unknown threats. If enabled, any unrecognized file you open is automatically sent to ESET’s cloud for a deeper security check.

Password Manager

ESET’s Password Manager isn’t as advanced as Dashlane or LastPass, but it covers the basics well. It supports Android, iOS, Mac, and browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. You can:

Import passwords from other managers like 1Password, BitWarden, and LastPass.
Generate and store secure passwords.
Auto-fill web forms with saved credentials and personal details.
Check for weak or reused passwords.

Secure Data (File Encryption)

The Secure Data feature lets you create an encrypted vault on your hard drive, USB, or other storage devices. It acts like a virtual folder where you can securely store and access sensitive files using a password.

ESET Home Security Ultimate: Maximum Protection & Privacy

ESET Home Security Ultimate is the most advanced security package, adding enhanced browser and privacy protection, unlimited VPN, and identity protection with dark web scanning, credit monitoring, and $1 million identity theft insurance.

⚠️ Availability Note: Due to legal and sales restrictions, this tier may not be available in some countries. Check ESET’s website for details.

Advanced Browser & Privacy Protection

This tier enhances identity security with:

Dark web scanning for leaked personal data.
Credit report monitoring & identity alerts.
SSN tracking & social media identity monitoring.
Lost wallet assistance & identity recovery with $1 million insurance.

Unlimited VPN

ESET’s no-logs VPN provides privacy and security on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. It includes:

Servers in 60+ locations to bypass geo-restrictions.
Kill switch to cut internet when VPN disconnects.
DNS leak & MAC spoofing protection.
Customizable settings (choose proxies, protocols like WireGuard, IKEv2, TCP, and more).