Battle Renewal Time F-Secure or ESET

Compare list
F-Secure
ESET
Platform(s)
  1. Microsoft Windows
  2. Android
The changes are probably as not as radical as they might first appear. If there is one problem I've always had with F-Secure is its deliberate unwillingness to be forthright (transparent) about product details. The staff are instructed to say nothing or virtually nothing as if they hold the world's nuclear missile launch codes.

It is so dumb. Ridiculous. Now, F-Secure no longer hides that it is using Avira components. There is no problem with Avira signatures, but if integrating those components reduces or eliminates useful product features (such as detailed error messages in scan logs) or negatively impacts protections, then there is a real problem. Avira is not so great at handling exploits. Not that F-Secure has ever shown that its own technology was very good at handling exploits either.

All said, at the end of the day, F-Secure remains one of the better options for the security illiterate and dis-inclined. That is until banking protection blocks one of them doing financial online transactions and they don't know how to handle it. They just turn off banking protection, which is one of the main reasons to use F-Secure.

Native Windows security is the best bang for the buck, but I lament that it is a societal guffaw - Windows native security is far too much a jigsaw puzzle of patchworked features, configurations, and exceptions to those configurations. Then there are all the unexpected behaviors which are expected but Microsoft never tells anyone they are expected. @Andy Ful is the SME on that. His long threads are the proof of my statement.

SpyNetGirl's Github page is proof that Windows native security is intended for enterprise. Not consumers. By extension, Windows is intended and designed for enterprise. Not consumers. This statement of fact is irrefutable. And so it goes in the world of digital security.
 
AVG includes everything you need and is very cheap great protection!


Screenshot 2025-03-11 133041.png
 
This is what Grok found:
Yes, F-Secure version 25.4 is safer than version 19.8. Here's why:


  • Improved DeepGuard: Version 25.4 has an updated DeepGuard with faster cloud-based threat detection (as quick as 60 seconds) compared to 19.8, which uses an older, less advanced version.
  • New Features in 25.4: Includes enhanced banking protection with customizable website lists, conflict detection for competing software, and SHA256 hash visibility for quarantined files, none of which are in 19.8.
  • Better Malware Protection: Version 25.4 detects 97% of malware samples and includes "Browser Safety" for improved malicious URL blocking (91% in 19.8 vs. higher in 25.4).
  • ARM64 Support: Version 25.4 supports ARM64 platforms, while 19.8 does not, limiting its compatibility with modern devices.
  • Active Updates: Version 25.4 receives ongoing security updates, whereas 19.8 may be end-of-life, lacking new virus definitions or patches, increasing vulnerability.

Upgrading to 25.4 is recommended for better protection. Check Protect your digital moments | F‑Secure for details.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dave Russo
This is what Grok found:
Yes, F-Secure version 25.4 is safer than version 19.8. Here's why:


  • Improved DeepGuard: Version 25.4 has an updated DeepGuard with faster cloud-based threat detection (as quick as 60 seconds) compared to 19.8, which uses an older, less advanced version.
  • New Features in 25.4: Includes enhanced banking protection with customizable website lists, conflict detection for competing software, and SHA256 hash visibility for quarantined files, none of which are in 19.8.
  • Better Malware Protection: Version 25.4 detects 97% of malware samples and includes "Browser Safety" for improved malicious URL blocking (91% in 19.8 vs. higher in 25.4).
  • ARM64 Support: Version 25.4 supports ARM64 platforms, while 19.8 does not, limiting its compatibility with modern devices.
  • Active Updates: Version 25.4 receives ongoing security updates, whereas 19.8 may be end-of-life, lacking new virus definitions or patches, increasing vulnerability.

Upgrading to 25.4 is recommended for better protection. Check Protect your digital moments | F‑Secure for details.

Grok may be letting you down a bit as far as DeepGuard which has been replaced (renamed in the app to Behavior Detection) by Avirs's Sentry Protection SDK. My below image is from 25.4

From this link of the 25.2 changes:

"DeepGuard" is renamed to "Behavior Detection".

From Brave Leo:

What is Avira Sentry SDK​

Avira Sentry Protection SDK is a component of Avira's security software suite, typically found in BullGuard Internet Security and BullGuard Premium Protection. It is an executable file named SentryEye.exe that provides real-time protection for your computer by monitoring for potential threats such as viruses, malware, and other malicious software and taking immediate action to neutralize them.

sentry deepguard.png

Also, see @Shadowra opening comments on his review of 25.2

They have been making some nice changes as you, Grok mentioned, as well as the VPN that is actually worth using now. WireGuard connection issues will be worked out.
Still, whether the FP has ever been an issue when using the app for those who use it (I'm trying IS + the VPN), AV-Comparative wasn't to thrilled about it, needs improvement.

 
Last edited:
Grok may be letting you down a bit as far as DeepGuard which has been replaced (renamed in the app to Behavior Detection) by Avirs's Sentry Protection SDK. My below image is from 25.4
Thanks for the post, but I never endorse what Grot writes, but it's an assessment of f-secure that I find interesting. Maybe it will turn out that f-secure is not on a wild path, but on the way to something better?
 
Thanks for the post, but I never endorse what Grot writes, but it's an assessment of f-secure that I find interesting. Maybe it will turn out that f-secure is not on a wild path, but on the way to something better?
That's what I'm hoping for, too. At this point, they're still going through some v25 growing pains, but I do like some of the changes they've made. The changelog link has a lot of the good improvements you mentioned in your previous post. I also like using it in tandem with Glasswire.


Resolution

Version 25.4​

Released May 2025

ARM64 upgrades resumed​

Clients running Total PC version 19.8 on ARM64 will be automatically upgraded to this version. We are still working on adding ARM64 support for the VPN.

Manual banking protection activation​

You can manually activate banking protection on specific websites by adding them to a custom Banking list under Scam Protection → Manage allowed and blocked websites.

Other improvements​

  • Alert is shown in the main user interface when a conflicting product has been installed that completely prevents Device Protection from functioning.
  • In App and file control user interface, SHA256 hashes of quarantined files are visible and can be copied to the clipboard. Full file paths can also be copied.
  • VPN Hydra and WireGuard tunnel adapters are named FSVpnSDK-HydraTunnel and FSVpnSDK-WireGuardTunnel.
  • User interface framework updated from .NET6 to .NET8.
  • On Settings → Updates user interface, the Device Protection update installation time shown reflects the installation time of the latest new update instead of the last update check time.

Bug fixes​

  • Fixed an issue where Device Protection updates could fail with certain firewall configurations.
  • Improved recovery in cases where Device Protection malfunctioned.
  • Fixed an issue where UDP server could get incorrectly blocked.
  • Resolved a problem where VPN Hydra connection establishment could take over 30 seconds.
  • Fixed VPN WireGuard connection failures caused by link-local IPv6 DNS servers in the system network configuration.
  • Fixed an issue where the VPN trusted network setting did not work correctly after a VPN upgrade.
  • Fixed VPN bypass not working when the application path contained certain uppercase Unicode characters.
  • Fixed an issue where the virus scan did not always display the name of the currently scanned file.
  • Fixed an issue where network connectivity was broken after system returned from sleep or connected standby while VPN was connected.
  • Resolved a crash that could occur when opening the hamburger menu in the main user interface.
  • Fixed an issue where touch screen-based scrolling did not work on ARM64 devices.
  • Applied layout fixes to the Password Vault, ID Monitoring, and login views.
 
It was mentioned earlier by Zero Knowledge(he also recommends some others),but if you add Cyberlock,(if its affordable to you) your just way better protected with any other choice, also appquard, a bit expensive, is another super strong candidate addition to consider
Cyberlock is a excellent recommendation, as others will agree with you. But as @danb mentioned in a post, it is geared more towards the business user, as a normal user could find it confusing, as it would be in my case :)

New Update - VoodooShield CyberLock 7.0