It's been two and a half years since ESET's last security suite update but the long drought for ESET fans is now over.
Version 5 for both Smart Security and NOD32 respectively ESET's full internet security suite and its later antivirus suite have finally been unleashed with an unsuspecting populous.
They're both available at cnetdownload.com but you know that, right?
So, what's new in the new suites?
Practically everything or
except for the stuff that's not.
ESET has improved its antivirus and anti-spyware engines so that they don't only detect threats but prevent your host files from corruption before the bad guys go after you.
There's removable media control so you can block USB keys or external drives from even connecting to your computer and the new gamer mode automatically initiates silent running whenever a program is running at full screen.
It's perfect for movies and presentations as well as games.
You can also activate it from the system tray.
ThreatSense, ESET's cloud-based detection isn't new yet they had it three years ago but it's been expanded in Version 5 to include reputation analysis.
All of that comes in the basic NOD32.
Up in to smart security gets you antispam, parental controls and a smart firewall that learns how your computer uses the internet very quickly.
For example, many firewalls don't know what to do with Firefox's development build Aurora initially and will ask you to verify that it's legit.
ESET recognize that immediately and let it through without an annoying pop-up.
Speaking of browsers, ESET's browser guards are browser-agnostic and don't require a browser extension.
You won't get search result ratings but ESET successfully blocked me from getting to dangerous websites that I click on in Search Results.
ESET scores well on independent efficacy test with virtually non-existent false positives and high marks for both the detection and removal.
CNET labs found that ESET's impact on your computer's performance was much generally lighter than average.
With all said, ESET told me directly that they don't see themselves as the company with more features.
They want to be the security company that does less with more.
That's certainly one explanation for why the program lacks many of the ancillary features that the high-end suites tend to include such as password management, free online storage and file syncing or mobile protection.
One thing that both versions of ESET have that no other
security suite offers is an education module that helps teach you how to protect yourself, your personal data, and your computer when online.
It's an in-depth approach that I wish other vendors would take because at the end of the day, it's going to be your own wits that keep you safest.
The first look at ESET's Smart Security 5, I'm Seth Rosenblatt.
