ESET Smart Security 4 (Nod32 Antivirus 4): A Positive Evolution
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: 2009, antivirus, test | Themes: Software
- 1. One-Stop Comparison for 14 Anti-Virus Titles
- 2. Anti-Virus Basics
- 3. Comodo Internet Security v3.8: The Newbie
- 4. Avira Antivir Personal Free Edition v9.0.0386: The Best of the Freebies
- 5. Clamwin Free Antivirus 0.94.1: Open Source Protection Software
- 6. Avast! 4.8 Home Edition Free: The Classic
- 7. BitDefender Total Security 2009: A Balanced Choice
- 8. F-Secure Internet Security 2009: A Disappointment
- 9. Trend Micro PC-Cillin Internet Security Pro 2009: A Reasonable Option
- 10. McAfee Internet Security 2009: Very Complete
- 11. Norton Antivirus 2009: The Choice For Ease and Simplicity
- 12. Panda Global Protection 2009: An Outsider Who’s Left In The Dust
- 13. G-Data Total Care 2009: The Heavy Weight Of Security
- 14. ESET Smart Security 4 (Nod32 Antivirus 4): A Positive Evolution
- 15. Kaspersky Antivirus 2009: A Half-Colored Version
- 16. AVG Internet Security v8.5 (paid version): An Insufficient Evolution of What You Can Get For Free
- 17. The Verdict
- 18. The Test Protocol
- 19. More on this topic
14. ESET Smart Security 4 (Nod32 Antivirus 4): A Positive Evolution
#PRICEGRABBER_M8038980 #
The 2008 version of Nod32, the anti-virus included in the ESET security package, left us totally satisfied. This year, we’ll look to see if any improvements have been made.
A Well-Designed Interface
First observation: the graphics, which are both functional and discrete, represent one victory for the software. The presentation is light and airy and all of the information is very readable. The functions are easily identifiable and accessible.
The default settings are consistent and the possibilities for personalization are numerous and varied. These variable options will make experts happy, while others will be satisfied by the very well thought out default settings. The possibility of locking the functions with a password shows us that effort was invested in quality protection. Whether or not that protection is indeed provided, we will soon see.
Good Graphics But Performance Leaves Room For Improvement
During the internal disk scan, the detection engine performs at a good level (it treats the vast majority of threats without a problem), but it does not mark those files infected with more rare types of viruses. The resident protection suffers from the same problem–although it reacts perfectly well against known threats, those that come from less conventional sources are systematically missed, like a minnow slipping through a net with large holes.
This is indeed unfortunate because, despite the absence of an automatic scan for external support systems and the choice of readable detection, Nod32 reacts effectively to threats that it does manage to locate. The procedure for treating infected email attachments is equally well conceived–only the infected file is deleted, which is replaced by a warning message while the email itself remains readable.
A Light System Disruption
Finally, the real strong point of this last version of Nod32 is its light use of the operating system. The additional time necessary to start up Windows is almost unperceivable (+5%) and the processor's resources that are used during the fast hard drive scan (24 minutes) are not very noticeable, either. Its uninstall process is also a model of its kind–it leaves no trace of the program on the computer at all.
Conclusion
The 2009 version of Nod32 is clearly superior to its predecessor. While the threat detection remains imperfect, it is now situated in the middle of the pack with regards to the rest of the competition. The interface is very well done and the effect of this new edition from Nod32 on recent systems is negligible. ESET Smart Security 4 still has, however, a major handicap: its price (especially when licensed for just one computer). It’s the most expensive program in our comparison, a cost that neither the performance of Nod32 nor the additional programs can justify in our eyes.
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And here I thought AVG Free was the best free antivirus.
Kaspersky internet security/ anti-virus does not look like that.. what the heck
No NOD32?
What about Microsoft's own Oncecare
These guys sound like they don't know what they are talking about. They claimed that Avast skips text files even though "they are a classic refuge for malevolent programs." Text files cannot be executed and therefore cannot contain viruses. The pictures they have are different as well. In any case I am a happy user of Avast and prefer it to McAfee and Norton but have not tried the others.
the picture they use for Avast is with a different skin. You can switch the skin at anytime.
I m using avast home too. I think the scanning for HD is bit longer and taxing a lot on my P4 2.6. But its free..no complain...
what about Kespersky ??? lol so much missing good antivirus software
Spanish Kespersky = norman?
French... T_T?? not english there we go
KASPERSKY Ftw ...
what I used to like on Tom's site was the use of graphs... can't find any in this round up. More over how the can you judge resident scan performance just on start up time? What about disk R/W after all services have been initialized?
Anyway quite poor article
I use Norton NIS 2009, and have had problems that made me look for another. When I saw this article, I said "Great timing lol !"
Unfortunately, there is nothing in this article that inspires confidence in either the comparisons or the conclusions. There are comments about Norton that my personal experiences tell me are incorrect (at least in the US).
And, as said before, no tables, etc.
Very disappointing.
@Shadow703793: NOD32 is in page 14
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/2009-a [...] 15-14.html
@romain_75: Kaspersky in page 15
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/2009-a [...] 15-15.html
@shurcooL: So do I, use AVG for last 3 years thinking it was best one.
May be good time for change ...
eset smart security 4!!!and zone alarm extreme security 8
I'm very surprised to hear that Norton is not a resource hog. It is the reason I switched to free AV software like Avast and AVG. I'm not going back to Norton even if they paid me...OK I might consider it.
Why do you have pictures of Kaspersky on the page with AVG antivirus?
haha kapersky became norman.. avg became kepersky.. lol
Was this review bought or something? For Norton to get such a good review I am leaning towards it being bought. I mean c'mon, Norton not being a resource hog and stealing your system. How do you expect us to believe that?
Why not review Kaspersky Internet Security, instead of just the Antivirus, when the Internet Security package for other brands were reviewed?
Also, The KAV Internest Securitiy is $54.99 at Walmart. The review stated it was double.
I seriously have my doubts and found myself shaking my head after reading the reviews for several of the products in here.
I'm surprised you didn't give a "Best Value" award... I'd say for best value go with Trend Micro, for less than $20 you can get protection for 3 PCs for one year (Look online you will find it). I use it on all my computers and no complaints.