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- Quick specs
- Price: Free to try (30-day trial); $59.99 to buy
- Operating system: Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000
- Date added: February 25, 2008
- Total Downloads: 67,969
- Downloads last week: 1,951
- See full specifications
A newer version of ESET Smart Security (32-bit) is available.
(Download doesn't provide access to previous versions of this program.)
- CNET editors' rating: stars
- Average user rating: stars out of 143 votes
See all user reviews
CNET editors' review
Reviewed by: Seth Rosenblatt on March 06, 2009
ESET's Smart Security takes the structure built by their popular antivirus program NOD32 and adds on two wings: a personal firewall and a spam filter. Because much of Smart Security is the same as NOD32, this review will focus only on the firewall and spam filter.
The firewall's advanced settings are Smart Security's strength. Users can extensively customize the firewall's behavior, but don't have to. There are five default settings: automatic, automatic with user-defined exceptions, interactive, policy-based, and learning. You can set safe zones, configure remote desktop access, and manage intrusion detection, all from an uncluttered and easy-to-use menu. ESET chose usability over flashiness with its design, and users can jump between advanced options for any of Smart Security's tools from the same pane.
The antispam filter is similarly effective and configurable. The program can automatically mark outgoing addresses as safe, as well as detect global address books. Smart Security is surprisingly light, consuming around 50MB of RAM when running, and users should note that NOD32 has consistently scored near the top of several independent antivirus testing organization ratings for finding the most malware while encountering fewer false positives than most. Uninstallation is still tricky, unfortunately, leaving behind residual system files and Registry settings. Still, for getting all your security tools in one box, Smart Security is an effective and well-respected choice.
Publisher's description
From ESET :ESET Smart Security is a tightly integrated solution designed to protect computers from a range of threats. Built on the award-winning ESET NOD32 Antivirus and its powerful ThreatSense engine, ESET Smart Security provides antispyware, antispam and customized firewall features to protect against viruses, trojans, worms, adware, spyware, phishing, rootkits and other Internet threats. Utilizing ThreatSense the industry's most advanced heuristics the window of vulnerability between virus outbreak and signature update is reduced. This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.
What's new in this version:
This version is the first release on CNET Download.com.
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User reviews of ESET Smart Security (32-bit)
- Average user rating: 4.4 stars out of 143 votes
- My rating: 0 stars Write review
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Showing 5 of 13 user reviewsSee all 13 user reviews
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4 out of 16 people found this review helpful
Version: ESET Smart Security (32-bit)
"I guess old habits still die hard."
Pros: I bought a new PC last month. It came with a 15 month subscription to McAfee. I didn't have much faith in it so I bought KIS 7 on line, cheap. After twice trying to kill McAfee I used Revo Uninstaller and that did it. While waiting on my new KIS to arrive, I downloaded the free trial of Smart Security. Bought it the next day. KIS is in the desk drawer now. Guess it will make a nice gift for someone one day. This suite is light, fast to load, looks great in it's redesigned GUI and the folks at ESET are a very nice, English speaking staff. The first scan found and killed two nasties that McAfee missed. It made me look at Vista in a different light as it actually runs good now.
Cons: It's pricey. I could only find the new NOD32 anti-virus on line at a great price.
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10 out of 10 people found this review helpful
Version: ESET Smart Security (32-bit)
Pros: Not only with the product, also with ESET as a company . I split a two user license with a friend. forgot the user name and password, called ESET who's support staff was so nice and willing to help. She spoke English and all. Something you don't usually find with these companies any more. I was big time pleased and impressed.
The suite itself is so light on system recourses you hardly know it's running. It's so simple to configure and schedule anyone can do it. It's virus rating is 96.71%, just one point behind Kaspersky and F-secure, ahead of Norton, McAfee and Bit Defender, AVG and Avast Pro. I'm running a full scan on Vista Home Premium as I write this review. The Interface has been totally redesigned to look great and make it simple to navigate. This is definitely how all security suits should be. Other companies should learn a lesson from ESET. They have done a fantastic job on this suite.
Cons: None, none at all. I'm big time impressed. This is my first 5 star review on a security suite, most likely be my only one.
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8 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Version: ESET Smart Security (32-bit)
"this is how security is suppose to work"
Pros: smart security has a 30 day trial of the full program. i was 100% impressed by this. my computer actually ran like there was no security program slowing it down. it even scanned and i wasn't aware until a small pop-up in the task bar told me nothing was found. same with the updates. i currently have kaspersky's security suite, when the subscription expires this will be taking it's place, if not sooner.
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9 out of 9 people found this review helpful
Version: ESET Smart Security (32-bit)
"I've been using KIS for a long time."
Pros: But, I have nothing but praise for this suite. Why, you ask? Because it's light, effective and don't believe any complaints you may read about it's firewall!
Click Setup, Personal Firewall, Advanced Personal Firewall setup, Click the pull down and select interactive mode. You wanted to know? Here it is and it will ask a lot but it will remember. It's easy to Configure!
AV comparison ratings are as follows.
Kaspersky - 97.89%
Smart Security - 96.71%
I can live with that due to Vistas greedy hunger for resources where this suite doesn't need much at all. Scans are very fast and theres no slow down while scanning. The new interface is vastly improved in both look and ease of use. Highly recommended for Vista Users.
Cons: You get what you pay for and I'll use the best I can fine in lieu of free programs because I can't stand to be infected. Not cheap but it's worth it any day.
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4 out of 4 people found this review helpful
Version: ESET Smart Security (32-bit)
Pros: Very easy to set up.
Cons: A bit expensive?. but so too is reinstalling Windows after a virus or malware attack!
Hopefully the protection will work if or I when need it!!
- See all 13 user reviews Write review
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