ESET Home Security Premium offers robust antivirus protection, a user-friendly password manager, and a suite of PC utilities, making it a compelling choice for users who prioritize performance and customizable settings. While some features, like parental controls, may fall short of expectations, its strong core functionality and advanced settings cater well to tech-savvy users.
ESET Home Security Premium builds upon the foundation of its predecessor, ESET Smart Security Premium, retaining its core strengths while introducing some enhancements. The software excels in threat protection, offering real-time scanning, scheduled scans, and manual scanning options. Its advanced settings provide granular control over scan behavior, appealing to power users. Beyond antivirus, ESET includes a password manager, firewall, anti-theft features, browser extensions, and PC utilities.
What’s Included in ESET Home Security Premium?
ESET Home Security Premium’s core features include antivirus and firewall protection against malware, ransomware, suspicious websites, and network attacks. The software also offers webcam protection, email attachment scanning, parental controls, and a password manager. Additional features include browsing protection for online banking, data encryption, and anti-theft capabilities to locate lost or stolen devices. However, identity protection features like dark web scanning require an upgrade to the Ultimate plan.
Unlike some competitors, ESET Home Security Premium focuses more on PC utilities, offering tools to monitor system changes, analyze active processes and network connections, troubleshoot Windows issues, and check connected devices.
ESET Home Security Premium feature comparison
Pricing and Subscriptions
ESET Home Security Premium allows users to tailor their subscription to the number of devices they need, up to 10, with pricing starting at $60 for a single device. Covered devices can include Windows, macOS, and Android, but iOS is not supported. ESET offers a 30-day money-back guarantee and automatic renewal. Discounts are available for multi-year subscriptions, with 15% off for two years and 20% off for three years. It’s important to note that prices are subject to change upon renewal.
Key Features and Performance
User Interface and Installation
ESET Home Security Premium features a clean, customizable interface with both dark and light themes. The software is organized into tabs for easy navigation, though some features, like parental controls, are tucked away in less intuitive locations. Advanced settings offer extensive customization options but can be overwhelming for less experienced users. The software integrates with ESET’s web portal for account management, password manager access, and anti-theft tools.
Security and Protection
ESET provides real-time protection, scheduled scans, and manual scans. While it lacks granular app access control, its real-time monitoring effectively catches threats. The software’s firewall replaces Windows’ built-in firewall, offering customizable rules for advanced users. Anti-theft features, while present, have limitations.
Additional Features
ESET offers browser extensions for enhanced online security, but compatibility issues may arise. Parental controls provide website filtering but lack detailed explanations for some categories and have inconsistent geolocation tracking. The password manager is user-friendly and effective for basic password management, though it lacks advanced features. PC utilities offer valuable insights into system performance and network activity. Secured browsing features are included but lack clear visual indicators.
Performance and System Impact
ESET Home Security Premium performs well in independent tests, demonstrating strong malware detection rates. The software has minimal impact on system resources during everyday tasks and a relatively low impact during full system scans, making it suitable for older or less powerful computers.
ESET Home Security Premium dashboard
ESET Home Security Premium Advanced settings
ESET Home Security Premium scheduled scan creation
ESET Home Security Premium scheduled scan location settings
ESET Home Security Premium Anti-Theft info
ESET Home Security Premium parental controls website categories
ESET Password Manager
ESET Secure Data
Chrome run in ESET secured browser
AV-Comparatives Real-World Test results
AV-Comparatives September 2024 Malware test results
Conclusion
ESET Home Security Premium provides a solid balance of protection, performance, and customization. While some features could benefit from improvement, its robust antivirus engine, comprehensive PC utilities, and granular settings make it a strong contender for users who value control and performance. It’s a particularly good choice for tech-savvy users who are comfortable navigating advanced settings. However, those seeking a more streamlined experience with robust parental controls might consider alternative options.
