ESET has introduced version 10 of its home security software lineup. Their top product, ESET Smart Security Premium, uses ESET’s NOD32 technology, designed for a balance of effective threat detection, speed, and user-friendliness.

This latest version includes a new password manager for simplified secure logins and ESET Secure Data for robust and convenient file encryption. In addition to ESET Smart Security Premium, users can also choose ESET Internet Security. 

“As online threats become more varied, users need comprehensive internet security suites with customizable features,” explains Lukas Raska, ESET’s COO for Asia Pacific. “Our new product portfolio reflects this trend.”

ESET emphasizes the importance of privacy in its new products. Both ESET Smart Security Premium and ESET Internet Security include Webcam Protection. This feature gives users control over which processes and apps can access their camera, allowing them to monitor, block, or grant access, and even turn off the camera entirely.

“Recent DDoS attacks in the US and Singapore highlight how crucial it is to secure everyday devices against malware,” Raska points out. “ESET Webcam Protection is one of many new features in ESET Smart Security Premium 10, providing fast, lightweight, proactive protection for webcams, files, passwords, and home networks – all in a single, integrated package.”

ESET’s Beng Hai Sim, a Sales Engineer in Asia, explains that the company is shifting to feature-based pricing, with each product offering a distinct set of capabilities.

Version 10 introduces:

Script-Based Attack Protection: This feature identifies and stops attacks that exploit Windows PowerShell using malicious scripts. It also detects and blocks harmful JavaScript that targets browsers, supporting all major browsers.

Home Network Protection: This allows users to identify vulnerabilities within their home router, such as weak passwords or outdated firmware, and guides them through solutions. It also generates a categorized list of connected devices, showing the type of device and who is connected.

Webcam Protection: This feature monitors applications and processes attempting to access the computer’s webcam, issuing notifications for any unauthorized access attempts. By monitoring all active processes and software, it alerts the user to any unexpected webcam access, giving them the option to block it. Sim cautions, “Your system could be compromised, allowing a hacker to use a remote access tool to activate your webcam and even the microphone without your knowledge.”

ESET Password Manager: Utilizing AES-256 encryption, a military-grade standard, this feature securely stores and automatically fills in passwords. It also generates and saves new, extra-strong passwords whenever needed. Sim emphasizes that users only need to remember their master password, but losing it means losing access to all saved passwords.

This feature will synchronize passwords across various devices and is available on Windows and Mac, with iOS and Android support coming soon. Browser compatibility includes Chrome, Explorer, and Firefox, with Edge support planned for the future.

ESET Secure Data: This feature, leveraging technology from DESlock+, a data encryption company acquired by ESET in 2015, safeguards against data theft in case of a lost USB drive or laptop. It also enables secure data sharing and collaboration. Sim demonstrated creating an encrypted folder or virtual drive to store sensitive files, ensuring data remains inaccessible even if the device is lost.

ESET also offers ransomware protection that identifies and blocks suspicious activity until the user decides whether to allow or continue blocking it. Ransomware encrypts files, making them inaccessible, and demands a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. “Even with the decryption key, there’s no guarantee of complete system restoration or full data recovery,” warns Sim.

Existing features in the ESET Smart Security Premium and Internet Security home user suite include Banking & Payment Protection, Anti-spyware, Anti-Phishing, Exploit Blocker, an advanced personal firewall, and the ESET LiveGrid Reputation System.

Parvinder Walia, ESET’s Sales and Marketing Director for Asia Pacific, highlights ESET’s strengths: lightweight products with minimal system resource usage, rapid threat detection, and the industry’s highest detection rate. ESET protects over 100 million users in 180 countries, including Singapore, the company’s regional headquarters. Walia adds that IDC ranks ESET among the top five in the Asia Pacific endpoint security market.

ESET Smart Security 9 was recently recognized as the only security solution to achieve 100% protection in SE Labs’ Home Anti-Malware Protection Test, earning the highest score among all evaluated products. It also achieved the highest score among all tested internet security products in AV-Comparatives’ Performance Test. Furthermore, ESET excelled in both the VBSpam Test and the AV-Comparatives Anti-Spam Test.

Intrigued?

These new products are currently for Windows only. Existing users with an active v9 license can download and install v10 for free. However, v9 will not update to v10 automatically.

Pricing is as follows:

• ESET NOD32 Antivirus: US$20 for one user for one year
• ESET Internet Security: US$30 for one user for one year
• ESET Smart Security Premium: US$50 for one user for one year
• ESET Multi-Device Security Pack: US$50 for three users for one year, US$70 for five users for one year

You can purchase ESET Smart Security 10 and ESET NOD32 Antivirus 10 or get a free trial of ESET Smart Security Premium or NOD32 Antivirus. Product activation is required.