App Review Shadowra's Big Comparative : Episode 2 - Paid Antivirus

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Shadowra

Captain Awesome

Level 25
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 7, 2016
1,481
A pleasant result for Eset, though most likely achieved due to some luck. Eset has an excellent signature engine and good system-level web protection through HTTPS/QUIC scanning (which can be further configured, for instance, to block dangerous top-level domains). However, its HIPS is too weak, even though it has been slightly improved, and behavioral analysis is almost nonexistent. While this benefits performance, it weakens protection.

The absence of behavioral analysis in the Smart Security Premium version is compensated by Live Guard, where unknown files are uploaded to the cloud for analysis in a virtual environment. This approach is convenient for maintaining local machine performance but has its downsides:
  1. The cloud verdict requires a wait time ranging from 10 seconds to 15–20 minutes, depending on the sample size and potentially other factors.
  2. The analysis is limited to a maximum file size of 64 megabytes, so many files simply bypass this system, leaving only the reputation checks from LiveGrid as a fallback.

The lack of HIPS is also partially offset in Smart Security Premium with a separate folder protection module, which can also safeguard browser profiles. However, this does not provide full system protection against accidental damage or configuration changes.

Overall, Eset is an excellent, flexible, lightweight, and customizable antivirus that I enjoy using. However, its zero-day protection is objectively weaker than that of Kaspersky and Bitdefender. That said, there are no perfect products—just those that suit our needs.
100%
 

superleeds27

Level 8
Verified
Apr 5, 2017
361
A pleasant result for Eset, though most likely achieved due to some luck. Eset has an excellent signature engine and good system-level web protection through HTTPS/QUIC scanning (which can be further configured, for instance, to block dangerous top-level domains). However, its HIPS is too weak, even though it has been slightly improved, and behavioral analysis is almost nonexistent. While this benefits performance, it weakens protection.

The absence of behavioral analysis in the Smart Security Premium version is compensated by Live Guard, where unknown files are uploaded to the cloud for analysis in a virtual environment. This approach is convenient for maintaining local machine performance but has its downsides:
  1. The cloud verdict requires a wait time ranging from 10 seconds to 15–20 minutes, depending on the sample size and potentially other factors.
  2. The analysis is limited to a maximum file size of 64 megabytes, so many files simply bypass this system, leaving only the reputation checks from LiveGrid as a fallback.

The lack of HIPS is also partially offset in Smart Security Premium with a separate folder protection module, which can also safeguard browser profiles. However, this does not provide full system protection against accidental damage or configuration changes.

Overall, Eset is an excellent, flexible, lightweight, and customizable antivirus that I enjoy using. However, its zero-day protection is objectively weaker than that of Kaspersky and Bitdefender. That said, there are no perfect products—just those that suit our needs.
So does that mean Kaspersky has gotten weaker? Based on the tests done here and the other one (can't remember where it was AV comparatives? Maybe)

Or has Eset raised their game? Or bit of both?
 

Kongo

Level 37
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
Feb 25, 2017
2,609
Why not? Is it impossible?
Lucky, lucky all I hear is lucky. ESET is performing well in multiple tests over the years. It's no secret that Kaspersky has better behavioural analysis but in the end nobody should care how the malware is detected as long as it is detected. ESET isn't lucky, they just have another approach.
 

Captain Awesome

Level 25
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 7, 2016
1,481
Lucky, lucky all I hear is lucky. ESET is performing well in multiple tests over the years. It's no secret that Kaspersky has better behavioural analysis but in the end nobody should care how the malware is detected as long as it is detected. ESET isn't lucky, they just have another approach.
Kaspersky: Pack: Remains 9 out of 215.
Eset : 12/215
Eset is lucky enough for this win over Kaspersky Sorry @Kongo 😉 why I am sound like a fanboy of Kaspersky!! OMG!!Fyi I'm not at all Kaspersky's fanboy...!🤣🤣
 
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harlan4096

Super Moderator
Verified
Staff Member
Malware Hunter
Well-known
Apr 28, 2015
8,980
But LummaStealer gets the better of Kaspersky and doesn't react.
I still don't understand what is that "doesn't read"... remained running and calling home, was home online or down? Did He check if something was stolen? 🤷‍♂️ When We posted at MalwareHub, TCPView capture of activity was mandatory, and other checking of system folders, etc... I don't see anything of that in these tests... unless @Shadowra explain better...
 

Captain Awesome

Level 25
Verified
Top Poster
Well-known
May 7, 2016
1,481
I still don't understand what is that "doesn't read"... remained running and calling home, was home online or down? Did He check if something was stolen? 🤷‍♂️ When We posted at MalwareHub, TCPView capture of activity was mandatory, and other checking of system folders, etc... I don't see anything of that in these tests... unless @Shadowra explain better...
it did nothing harmful to system. As far I tested.
 

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