ESET Home Security Premium review: Simple protection with a complex heart

Best Prices Today: ESET Security Premium

When we final reviewed ESET Home Security Premium, it had a unique identify. Officially it did, anyway. Despite the replace, the antivirus suite previously often called ESET Smart Security Premium continues to be referred to as the exact same within the app—and has saved its fundamentals, too.

Those core qualities begin with good menace safety and an easy-to-use password supervisor. They embrace sufficient superior settings to doubtlessly fulfill energy customers, too. In truth, in case you like your apps to have much less handholding and extra digging round, ESET might be excellent for you…as long as you’ll be able to forgive some options for not residing as much as their hype.

Further studying: See our roundup of the best antivirus software for Windows to find out about competing merchandise.

What does ESET Home Security Premium embrace? 

As with different safety suites, ESET Home Security Premium’s antivirus and firewall function the important thing fundamentals of the app. Together, they protect your PC from malware (together with ransomware), suspicious web sites and downloads, and potential community assaults. The software program can also scan for weak networks, thwart unauthorized use of your webcam, and block harmful e mail attachments. Parental controls and a password supervisor can be found, too.

However, not like equally priced rivals, Home Security Premium is extra sparse with its ancillary protections. You get safeguards for shopping classes (like for banking) and an information encryption instrument, in addition to an anti-theft characteristic to assist find misplaced or stolen gadgets. No identification protections (like darkish net scanning) include the Home Security Premium plan — you could improve to Ultimate to get these.

Instead ESET’s mid-tier plan leans extra closely towards PC utilities. These deal with Windows efficiency — they monitor system adjustments, present data on lively Windows processes and community connections, assist troubleshoot Windows points, and examine what gadgets are linked to your community.

ESET

ESET

ESET

How a lot does ESET Home Security Premium price? 

When you purchase a subscription straight by ESET, you’ll be able to cowl the precise variety of gadgets you need (as much as 10). The value begins at $60 for only one machine, then will increase in $5 increments. Covered gadgets should run Windows, macOS, or Android — iOS will not be supported.

Licenses bought by ESET include a 30-day money-back guarantee and are routinely enrolled in auto-renewal. You can stack collectively the corporate’s 30-day free trial with the return coverage. 

3-device plan 

5-device plan 

10-device plan 

• $105 for the primary yr 

ESET’s costs are the subscriptions’ record price, however the firm additionally caveats them as for “the first term only.” In different phrases, don’t count on to get a charge lock on what you pay. Customers will obtain data for the following yr’s subscription price solely 30 days earlier than renewal; any value will increase are communicated then.

For a reduction, ESET affords 15 % off when signing up for a two-year time period, and 20 % off when signing up for a three-year time period. 

Further studying: How to get antivirus for cheap

Key options of ESET Home Security Premium

Installation and consumer interface 

After set up, ESET Home Security Premium drops you into the Overview tab, which is the software program’s dashboard. For its look, the default is a darkish theme, however you’ll be able to click on an icon on the prime proper of the window to change to a lightweight theme or match your system settings.

In darkish mode, the interface is usually grey with black tiles and inexperienced standing bar (if all’s effectively in your PC). A set of seven tabs on the left allow you to bounce to the dashboard, begin a scan, replace ESET Home Security Premium, use the app’s instruments, dive into settings, get assist, or go to the net portal for extra settings and options. The app may be resized to suit your window (or any dimension you need) — a rarity amongst antivirus software program.

On a floor stage, these classes really feel logical, however some group choices can really feel unintuitive. For instance, parental controls are tucked inside Setup > Internet safety — and so they’re off by default. The overview tab additionally surprisingly lacks a tile that might allow you to begin a scan. If you’re used to a extra simple format, ESET’s app received’t really feel pure to make use of till you’ve absolutely clicked round and familiarized your self.

Tabs differ of their characteristic density. Computer Scan has simply three choices: scanning the native disks in your PC, beginning a complicated scan (which features a customized choice), or dragging and dropping information to examine them out. Scan-related notifications seem on this window as effectively.

Meanwhile, Tools and Setup are extra dense. Features seem as textual content entries sorted into teams, fairly than as tiles. Advanced settings (referred to as Advanced setup) are a maze of toggle switches, too. Power customers will benefit from the management, however customers who need a easy expertise will probably get misplaced among the many choices — even with the useful tooltip explanations. The vibe is that of a house wired for its personal server room: You first see simply the put in ethernet wall ports and maybe a chunk of networking tools, however in case you’re prepared to look, a fancy setup lives inside a cramped closet down the corridor.

In addition to the desktop app, ESET Home Security Premium ties into the corporate’s web portal, which you’ll use to handle your account and password supervisor customers. The anti-theft instruments stay right here too, as do the parental management exercise logs to your kids’s gadgets.

Virus, malware, and menace safety 

Real-time safety

ESET Home Security Premium scans repeatedly for real-time threats in your PC and if you’re on-line. It checks information in your native arduous drive and any detachable media for malware and spam, together with e mail downloaded to Windows Mail, Microsoft Outlook, or Mozilla Thunderbird. The software program additionally displays webpages for harmful information and phishing makes an attempt, in addition to suspicious community exercise going to and from the web. 

Unlike related rival plans, ESET Home Security Premium doesn’t allow you to restrict app entry to the web or particular information as further safety. It solely routinely screens for uncommon habits. And as talked about above, the Home Security Premium subscription doesn’t embrace information breach monitoring, both — you could step as much as the Ultimate tier for identification protections.

Scheduled scans

Right after set up, ESET performs an preliminary full-system scan. Its settings additionally embrace a system startup file examine as a part of the default scheduled duties. However, the app primarily depends on real-time scanning as the first methodology of catching threats. You should create your personal scheduled scans to proactively display your system.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

To schedule a scan, you’ll head to Tool > Scheduler, click on on the Add job button, and select On-demand pc scan. When configuring the scan, you’ll schedule its time (as soon as, repeatedly, day by day, weekly, or primarily based on an occasion set off), then its habits (like if it runs when a laptop computer is on battery). 

Next, you’ll choose the scan depth — a wise scan, context menu scan, in-depth scan, or pc scan. Smart scans skip information beforehand marked as clear and never since modified. Context menu scans set off a user-defined scanning profile when checking a file or folder utilizing the Windows context menu. In-depth scans dig into each file in your system, no matter earlier scan outcomes. Computer scans routinely select your PC’s native drives to scan.

The components of your PC that may be scanned (together with hidden areas) change with the default scan choice chosen — and you may decide precisely the place to probe. If you wish to create a scan that solely checks locations just like the working reminiscence, boot sectors/UEFI, WMI database, or system registry, that’s potential. So is checking solely a community location, an area drive or set of folders, or a mix of all areas.

Still not sufficient granularity? You can dig into ESET Home Security Premium’s Advanced Setup — if you wish to tinker with how aggressive the scans are, you’ll be able to.

Manual scans

For handbook scans, you’ll be able to solely select between a pc scan (examines the native drives in your PC), a customized scan (lets you choose scan depth and the areas checked), a detachable media scan, or repeating the final scan. You can even drag and drop folders or information into the window to scan them.

Related, you may also submit information of unknown or doubtful origin by the app to the ESET labs for additional evaluation.

Firewall

ESET replaces Windows’ built-in firewall with its personal defenses, taking on the screening of all of your PC’s inbound and outbound visitors. While less complicated than Windows’ a number of interfaces for settings, you’ll should dive into Home Security Premium’s superior setup to vary the firewall guidelines. 

If that seems like your thought of time (no sarcasm), you may get fairly granular with customized guidelines. But for typical customers of third-party antivirus software program, the ESET defaults needs to be ample.

Additional notable options 

Anti-theft 

The anti-theft instrument is designed to find a stolen machine. On PC, the app will take a number of steps if marked as stolen within the ESET net portal — it is going to seize screenshots of the display and take photographs by the webcam, in addition to location data. You can even arrange a “phantom” account, which turns into the one lively account when somebody filches your PC, in addition to evaluate exercise logs.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

In observe, this instrument isn’t as efficient as you’d hope. A webcam may be coated with tape, for starters. The phantom account is ineffective in case your Windows accounts aren’t secured with passwords. While that’s more durable to do these days in Windows 11, it’s not inconceivable. ESET’s app can’t precisely inform when a Windows account isn’t password protected, both—and so that you don’t get the warning you need to. On an area Windows account with arrange with a clean password subject, ESET nonetheless counted the account as secured. (Tapping the enter key to log in will not be safe, for the document.) The app additionally couldn’t at all times seize the IP handle of the take a look at PC — and IP addresses aren’t at all times an correct reflection of somebody’s true location.

Browser extensions

ESET promotes its free Browser Privacy & Security extension for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge as a further method to keep protected on-line — you should use it to get visible badges for good search outcomes, clear up your shopping historical past, and wipe metadata from photos you add.

But on one PC, I couldn’t get the extension to behave correctly in Chrome — a potential battle with an already-installed ad-blocker extension. It couldn’t join with ESET’s servers. The similar extension labored high-quality on the take a look at PC used to evaluate the app inside Edge, nevertheless.

Parental management

ESET Home Security Premium consists of parental controls — each for computer systems and Android telephones. On a PC, you’ll be able to configure Windows accounts individually, in order that your little one logging into their account received’t have the identical full entry to web sites as a mother or father account. The filtering settings alter primarily based on age group (below 12, 12 to 17, and 18+). You can even change what forms of web sites are screened and add exceptions to both a block or permit record.

Some classes don’t make quick sense — the assistance pages on-line don’t give an in depth clarification of what the much less instantly apparent imply. When requested, ESET graciously defined a number of (“Dynamic” means web sites that redirect to different websites or pages, for instance), however clearer documentation could be higher.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

Website blocking works effectively. In truth, you would argue it really works slightly too effectively — once I tried to permit sure web sites inside a forbidden class throughout testing, the app wouldn’t allow them to by. The reverse works, although. You can ban particular websites when the general class is allowed.

Geolocation monitoring by no means fairly labored correctly for the kid account used for testing, both. The Android cellphone’s location typically wouldn’t present correctly, and in a complete separate ESET account, by no means confirmed up in any respect. This characteristic appears greatest fitted to web site filtering and exercise monitoring.

Password supervisor 

ESET Password Manager is simple and efficient — starter password supervisor, in case you haven’t but began utilizing one. Though it doesn’t provide many extras, the fundamentals are coated in a refined interface.

You’ll set up the browser extension on PC or obtain the app for Android, then create a separate account than the one which controls the antivirus app. Be positive to save lots of the restoration key generated throughout setup — in case you neglect your password, it’s the one method to get again into your account.

The extension fills in and captures passwords seamlessly, instantly recognizing login varieties and even password reset fields. You can create entries for accounts, identities, notes, and bank cards, with notes the best choice for easy entries like Wi-Fi passwords. (Account entries require all fields, together with username, be stuffed out.) ESET additionally helps you to retailer and generate two-factor software program tokens for accounts — which isn’t the strongest safety transfer, but when it helps you utilize 2FA, it’s nonetheless the higher alternative than by no means.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

Additional options embrace the flexibility to immediately kill all lively classes from the menu (Secure classes). You can forcibly sign off in all places, with the choice to particularly delete cookies and sign off, delete obtain historical past, delete historical past and shut tabs, and/or delete bookmarks. You can even manually examine your passwords for any caught up in an information leak. And you’ll be able to safe the browser extension on PC with a PIN to safe your password vault however nonetheless get fast entry.

Just a few small issues preserve this password supervisor from being top-notch. One is definitely fixable — by default, autofill is turned on. Once you load an internet site, your credentials are routinely entered into the shape fields. You don’t even should click on on them for the autofill to occur. This may be a security risk and needs to be turned off within the settings. Any passwords copied to your clipboard can’t be routinely cleared, both. You’ll want to try this manually within Windows. And lastly, ESET’s splash display for the password supervisor seems each single time you open it, which appears like a useless delay for entering into the vault.

PC utilities

ESET Home Security Premium consists of a number of instruments meant that will help you preserve tabs in your PC — and preserve it in tip-top form. 

System Cleaner seems to be for any adjustments to your system settings and look from the defaults. Running Processes and Network Connections let you recognize what apps and processes are lively in your PC, and which have used your web connection. Network Inspector lists the gadgets linked to your router. SysInspector identifies potential points along with your system, together with outdated drivers, damaged registry entries, and {hardware} incompatibilities. Device Control can restrict entry for gadgets connected to your PC, like a detachable drive, CD/DVD drive, or printer. And Secure Data creates encrypted digital drives or encrypted folders on detachable media.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

Of the set, Network Inspector has much less usefulness. I preferred the way it put the found gadgets in a listing kind together with IP handle and final connection time, however some routers do that too, and with full accuracy for what’s linked. Network Inspector doesn’t at all times see each machine, both.

System Cleaner may be useful for seeing what’s modified when troubleshooting, however its recommendations for reversions or mitigations don’t at all times work — and generally appear untrustworthy. (Why is a system look change flagged in purple?)

Meanwhile, Running Processes, Network Connections, and SysInspector can be helpful for troubleshooting functions, or simply normal understanding of what’s occurring behind the scenes along with your PC. Device Control and Secure Data additionally labored as marketed when examined. ESET says Secure Data makes use of 256-bit AES encryption. (Note: I didn’t confirm that the encryption is carried out accurately, so preserve that in thoughts if utilizing this characteristic to retailer delicate information.)

Secured shopping

ESET affords twin options that lock down doubtlessly delicate information transmitted to and out of your net browser. The first is Safe Banking & Browsing, which ESET says depends on a driver to filter keyboard inputs and scramble them so a keylogger can’t seize them with accuracy. The different is Secured Browsing, wherein the ESET antivirus engine screens for any processes which may attempt to intervene with Chrome, Edge, and Firefox’s regular operation.

PCWorld

PCWorld

PCWorld

No visible indicator exists for the protected banking and shopping mode being lively. However, you will notice a skinny, shiny inexperienced border when the safe mode for shopping is on…and when it’s off, too. This seeming bug occurs in case you flip off the Secure all browsers choice, however depart the secured browser settings nonetheless on. I ended up ignoring this characteristic whereas testing, and nonetheless caught with my regular greatest practices for shopping on-line. (That is, verifying a hyperlink is on a safe https connection, navigating on to an internet site, utilizing two-factor authentication the place potential, downloading information from solely respected sources, and never plugging in unknown USB gadgets into my PC.)

Customer assist 

If you need assistance with ESET Home Security Premium, yow will discover hyperlinks to the corporate’s on-line assist pages, information base, and technical assist. The assist pages perform as a fundamental handbook for the applying, whereas the information base is extra of a searchable FAQ. Both sources clarify ideas in concise language. For extra detailed help, the technical assist kind (which you’ll attain after clicking by a number of pages) helps you to get into the nitty gritty. You can even contact buyer assist by live chat or email.

Updates and upkeep 

By default, ESET Home Security Premium checks for updates to virus definitions and the app each 60 minutes. You can change this interval (or disable computerized updates, which we don’t advocate) by going to Tools > Scheduler within the software program. You can even manually examine for updates by clicking on Update tab, after which clicking on the Check for updates button within the bottom-right nook. 

Performance

For antivirus detection and safety take a look at information, solely one of many main safety analysis organizations consists of ESET in its current evaluations — AV-Comparatives. (AV-Test, which used to incorporate ESET often till 2021, final examined ESET’s antivirus engine in February 2023.) 

In AV-Comparatives’ most present outcomes, ESET performs comparatively effectively, although with extra uneven scores than its rivals. It blocked 98.2 % of the 512 take a look at circumstances in AV-Comparatives real-world safety take a look at for July through October 2023 — the underside of the record. And but, it didn’t flag any false positives. Meanwhile, in AV-Comparatives’ September 2023 malware protection test, it had a 96.1 % offline detection charge, 98.3 % on-line detection charge, and 99.96 on-line safety charge. These outcomes point out extra even safety (opponents like McAfee have notably decrease offline detection charges, for instance), with an total safety charge that hangs comfortably near the highest. 

When evaluated for its capacity to deal with extra subtle threats like malicious scripts and fileless assaults, ESET had one of many higher scores. It caught 13 of 15 take a look at circumstances in AV-Comparatives’ November 2023 Advanced Threat Protection Test. But in these outcomes, the better-performing antivirus engines typically miss what their rivals catch, which suggests room for progress. 

We count on ESET Home Security Premium to have minimal affect on system sources when idle within the background — a minimum of throughout on a regular basis duties. After operating PCMark 10’s Extended benchmark, which simulates net shopping, video chatting, gaming, and picture and doc modifying in free, open-source apps, the scores had been the identical as earlier than putting in the software program.

Home Security Premium had gentle affect throughout our different two benchmarks, UL Procyon’s Office Productivity, and our Handbrake encoding take a look at. Procyon focuses on Microsoft Office use — e.g., Word, Excel, PowerLevel. Handbrake lets us crunch a giant uncompressed video file right into a smaller model. In each benchmarks, ESET hanging out within the background solely lowered scores by about 1 to 2 %.

As for its impact in your PC, ESET Home Security Premium ought to have minimal affect on system sources when idling within the background, particularly throughout on a regular basis duties. After operating PCMark 10’s Extended benchmark, which simulates net shopping, video chatting, gaming, and picture and doc modifying in free, open-source apps, the scores had been the identical as earlier than putting in the software program.

We additionally noticed a lightweight affect throughout our different two benchmarks, UL Procyon’s Office Productivity and our Handbrake encoding take a look at. The Procyon benchmark focuses on Microsoft Office use — e.g., Word, Excel, PowerLevel. Most antivirus software program tends to kick into larger gear when Office apps are lively, since Word and Excel information can unfold malware. Installing ESET precipitated a small decline in Procyon scores, with a 3 % lower. It had a smaller impact on Handbrake, with a tiny dip of slightly below 2 %.

Even with a full system scan operating within the background, ESET didn’t hit our take a look at PC as arduous as rivals have. In PCMark 10, scores drifted down by lower than 3 %. Even in Procyon and Handbrake, the place scores can plummet when antivirus software program runs full blast, the benchmark outcomes dropped by a comparatively modest 12 %. Rivals like Avast, Norton, and McAfee have proven rating degradation of as much as 41 %.

(Curious about how we take a look at? You can get additional particulars in our overview of our review process.)

In the actual world, you’ll be able to count on ESET to play nicer with older or slower computer systems — like our take a look at PC, which is a price range laptop computer. And you’ll see even much less impact in case you schedule full scans for off-hours (like if you’re asleep). Same goes in case you run sensible scans on a PC the place you don’t typically change or add information, since that kind of scan skips over unchanged information marked clear in a earlier go.

Should you purchase ESET Home Premium Security? 

Ideally, an antivirus suite’s options ought to carry out effectively throughout the board. But regardless of ESET Home Security Premium’s inconsistencies, this software program delivers on its fundamentals, in addition to goes simpler on system sources. Power customers specifically can get quite a bit out of this suite — offered they don’t want a well-rounded set of parental controls. Less technical customers could profit from a less complicated app, although.