ESET - Any Good?

[Tony Cole]

Hi Everyone

With all the lovely issues concerning Windows 10 and security software, I've been trying ESET Smart Security and just wanted to know does it offer much protection, and is the software any good?

Tony

 

[hjlbx]

Hi Everyone

With all the lovely issues concerning Windows 10 and security software, I've been trying ESET Smart Security and just wanted to know does it offer much protection, and is the software any good?

Tony

Hello @Tony Cole

Yes. ESET is good, but you will find that ESET HIPS can be a handful - just like any other classical HIPS - depending upon the settings.

The ESET support forum is rife with user queries, complaints and frustrations regarding the ESS HIPS module.

Some of it is because users don't know how HIPS works - and think ESS HIPS is not working correctly\buggy. Other issues are definite bugs...

Some issues are independent of Windows version while others are version-specific.

On the whole, ESS is a very good product... not quite Kaspersky-grade, but nonetheless worthy of consideration.

There is a learning curve... it shouldn't be too bad for you since ESS is similar to Kaspersky in many respects and you are an avid Kaspersky user.

Just to let you know...

For the time being I would expect that both W10 and any security soft will be "buggy." It will take time to get it all sorted out...

 

[Piteko21]

hi Tony,
Eset is a lesser known company compared to kaspersky but it is also a good product.
After nearly a year using ESET can only recommend it.
many tests place it always very close to kaspersky and Bitdefender, soo it's a very good product for most of the home users.
it's realy light and work well, no complains.
I fully endorse its use.

ESET is fully W10 compatible

 

[MalwareT]

Eset is very good,i used it years ago (v4) and i loved it. The only thing that irritated me was splash screen,so i disabled it.

 

[LabZero]

I love Eset, but the thing that annoys me is the scanning time of downloaded files.

 

[Atlas147]

I am using ESET now, really good stuff. Especially love that the boot time is totally not affected by it and also the real time protection scanning does not affect my system performance one bit!

Also the threats are caught immediately unlike some other AVs that take time to catch threats when they are dropped onto the system.

One thing I really like about it is that they update signatures relatively fast compared to the other companies out there. They are strongly based on signatures with some HIPS modules.

 

[nissimezra]

great web filter one of the best. great signature.
weakness unknown malware will go through.

 

[Exterminator]

I have been using ESET since version 2 and ESS since it's original release and have never been infected.It is a great product and runs great on Windows 10.In fact it was the only product I could find that ran without any bugs when Windows 8 was released.
I would have to also give the edge to Kaspersky (2016 is much better and so is the boot time) but IMO you cannot go wrong with ESET.
@Tony Cole if you are using a ESS trial and like it send me a PM

 

[Tony Cole]

Thank you hjlbx for that great explanation, I currently have HIPs set at smart mode, I was going to use learning mode for a few hours, which I did, but I turned it on and it was alert after alert, so had to change it back.

 

[hjlbx]

Thank you hjlbx for that great explanation, I currently have HIPs set at smart mode, I was going to use learning mode for a few hours, which I did, but I turned it on and it was alert after alert, so had to change it back.

You turned on Interactive Mode... not Learning Mode. Learning Mode should allow all activity without alerts until you switch it back - since its purpose is to create Allow rules based upon user behavior. The user "trains" ESS by using the system and ESS creates the rules - so that the user doesn't have to create all those rules manually. It is for greatly improved\optimized user experience (fat chance, we're talking security soft here...).

If Learning Mode is generating tons of alerts on W10 then it is very likely a bug...

 

[Tony Cole]

Ah, so how long should I leave it on training mode - should I also do this with the firewall, or leave that setting to automatic?

 

[hjlbx]

Ah, so how long should I leave it on training mode - should I also do this with the firewall, or leave that setting to automatic?

Generally, at least a week.

Don't test malwares while in training mode. Only use the softs that you will use consistently over time. When in training mode it is best not to do a whole lot of new soft evaluation...

For maximum convenience now, use both...

You gotta watch with Training Mode... since it will create Allow rules for everything - which may not necessarily be a good thing even for safe applications since it can place a burden on system resources.

Generic allow rules are better in my experience... so, in that case, Smart and Automatic are best on fairly "static" systems where the user isn't constantly changing softs.

Remember, you can always delete rules and revert to defaults... so it won't sack your system if you play with it in order to explore the full ESS functionality.

Other ESS users will no doubt have different views... so put it out there as MT is the place to get ESS questions answered.

 

[Paul.R]

Hi!

I will quote from one of my posts:

"These Av-tests company are so funny....only mess with some users minds.

For me are only 4 antivirus that count: Avast,ESET,Kaspersky,Dr. Web.

WHY? For thier to ability process large amounts of data, for thier ability to track malware and develop quick response for it, for thier ability to remove malware, for thier experience in these industry. I trust these companies, i use thier products.
More and more companies trend to provide sophisticated fake service giving a false sense of security and take first place in av-funny tests."

topic: http://malwaretips.com/threads/av-t...ts-in-recent-windows-tests.45584/#post-381840

Now u know why ESET is good....

 

[darko999]

ESET = Solid protection, great software.

 

[OneDay]

ESET would be a very good choice, Tony.
Very light on system resources, although version 8 is a little bit heavier than version 7.
Great signatures, very small size, but, as mentioned above, not quite good on zero-day malware, though HIPS and anti-exploit protection would help at that. I've found it however a bit harsh on PUPs.
Anti-phising protection is probably the best available, so sure bet here.
Strongest point its firewall and IDS system which are top-notch.
Support is very good with timely responses from their team.
You could also follow Umbra's advice on how to set it up and you'll be (hopefully) safe!

 

[FleischmannTV]

I will quote from one of my posts:

For me are only 4 antivirus that count: Avast,ESET,Kaspersky,Dr. Web.

WHY? For thier to ability process large amounts of data, for thier ability to track malware and develop quick response for it, for thier ability to remove malware, for thier experience in these industry.

That reads quite similar to what EP_X0FF has written on kernelmode.info, but you've left Microsoft and Symantec out of the equation, he mentioned those as well.

 

[nsm0220]

No, because of its zero day protection doesn't work, unless you fool around with some settings.

 

[jamescv7]

Protection capabilities are already wise, especially the analysis method to detect threats engaged already with sandbox techniques that runs invisible to your background. Other from its concern, HIPS should check a little while on how it performs since you will be the one provide the custom rules.

 

[Deleted member 178]

If you cant tighten the HIPS properly, ESET is average. But it was my favorite UI back to v6/7

 

[nsm0220]

If you cant tighten the HIPS properly, ESET is average. But it was my favorite UI back to v6/7

Users are set it and forget type and gdata made its BB have autopilot.