The claim is customers, look again
There is lots of interchangeability of terminology between customer, consumer, and user that muddies the water and is incorrect. Technically a customer is defined as a person or entity that contracts or transacts for a service or good while a consumer is a person or entity that consumes economic goods - including those that are free.
In everyday usage customer generally does not mean only paid. Most people do not employ the strict definition of the word "customer." To them customer includes everyone that uses a free product. Even if a person makes an inquiry they are considered a customer, whether they ultimately buy something or not. The difference is that a paying customer transaction is subject to many rules and regulations whereas most non-paying customer transactions are not. That said, any type of customer transaction - either paid or unpaid - can be subject to statutes and regulations, such as GDPR.
I do not think that ESET says exactly matters as it more than likely has been reviewed and authorized by their legal team. They can say "The entire Universe uses ESET." and they would get away with that statement, at least in the US where such statements are permitted as "puffery." Per US law it is the responsibility of the consumer to identify when anyone makes a statement that obviously cannot be accurate or true.
I am not aware of any free versions of Eset…
What product you are referring to?
ESET Online Scanner:
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Freeware version of ESET Mobile App:
