others come in at or near that $39.99 price for one
license. McAfee costs $59.99 per year, but that lets you
install McAfee protection on every device in your
household, including devices running Windows,
macOS, Android, or iOS. It’s not immediately obvious,
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platform security: You can use your licenses to activate
an installation of ESET Cyber Security for Mac, if you
wish.
GETTING STARTED WITH NOD32
Just about every antivirus program includes the ability
to detect and remove potentially unwanted applications
(PUAs)—programs that, while not actively malicious,
cause problems that outweigh any virtues they may
have. Some default to removing these PUAs, while
others leave them alone by default. NOD32 makes you
actively choose whether to remove PUAs during
installation. I enabled PUA detection, and I advise you
to do the same.
The main window includes plenty of white space, along
with a picture of ESET’s blue-eyed cyborg mascot. To
launch a scan or an update, you can use either the left-
side menu or a pair of large blue panels near the bottom
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green security banner changes color. When NOD32
needs your attention—to show the results of a
completed scan, for example—you see the number of
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Like Norton AntiVirus Plus, NOD32 gives you a ton of
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the one you want—you can just start typing in the
search box. This may not even be an issue, though,
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optimal security.
ESET NOD32
Antivirus
PROS
Some excellent scores
from independent labs.
Some good scores in
our hands-on tests.
HIPS component
blocks exploits.
Comprehensive device
control.
CONS
Poor score in our
hands-on malware
blocking test. Device
control is too complex
for most users.
Ransomware
protection isn’t
effective in testing.
BOTTOM LINE
In lab tests and our
own hands-on tests,
ESET NOD32 Antivirus
earns some impressive
scores. It also packs
extras that go far
beyond the antivirus
basics, such as exploit
protection and device
control.