Hello,
ESET has released the seventeenth generation of its security software for consumer editions of Windows. The 2024 release introduces some changes in how ESET’s software for home users is licensed:
- Programs are now offered under a new marketing schema that highlights the level of security offered by each program (Essential, Premium, Ultimate).
- Programs are now offered on a subscription basis. Subscriptions require an ESET HOME account to managed.
- A new program tier, ESET Security Ultimate (Ultimate Security), is now available.
The Ultimate Security tier offers the top level of security for consumers, and offers all of the features of ESET’s existing consumer offerings with additional features such as a virtual private network, identify protection, and enhancements to the Browser Privacy & Security extension for your web browser.
#Products
| Product (Marketing Scheme) | Homepage | Documentation |
|---|---|---|
| ESET NOD32 Antivirus (Essential Security) | ESET NOD32 - Antivirus for windows & macOS | ESET | online help |
| ESET Internet Security (Essential Security) | Internet Security with antivirus protection | ESET | online help |
| ESET Smart Security Premium (Premium Security) | ESET Smart Security Premium | ESET | online help |
| ESET Security Ultimate (Ultimate Security) | ESET Home Cyber Security Plans | ESET | online help |
#Changelog
##Version 17.0.15.0
New and updated features in this version include:
- new ESET Security Ultimate program
- new subscription offerings ESET HOME Security Essential, Premium, and Ultimate
- new ESET unlimited VPN (ESET Security Ultimate)
- new Identity Protection (ESET Security Ultimate)^7
- new Browser Privacy & Security extension with metadata cleaner^8, browsing cleaner, secure search, and website settings review^8 for Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Mozilla Firefox web browsers (available with ESET Internet Security, ESET Smart Security Premium, and ESET Security Ultimate)
- Banking and Payment Protection has been renamed to “Safe Banking & Browsing”
- added additional configuration options in the interactive Firewall dialog
- added Azure Certification Signature support (required by Microsoft)
- added Clipboard protection setting to Advanced setup for Safe Banking & Browsing
- added drag-and-drop support for headers in the Firewall rule editor
- added support for subscription
- removed Banking & Payment Protection redirector
- updated logos, splash screens, GUI, Advanced setup
- other small improvements and bugfixes
See the matrix below for which features are included in which program.
#Downloads
#System Requirements
Version 17 is compatible with the following operating systems:
- Microsoft Windows 10 (Intel and ARM64)
- Microsoft Windows 11 (Intel and ARM64)
NOTE: ESET’s consumer programs are intended for use on consumer editions of Microsoft Windows such as Home and Pro which run supported versions of the operating system listed in Microsoft’s Modern Lifecycle Policy, and may require certain features and/or functionality present in the latest versions of those operating systems, such as support for Azure Code Signing (see below for more details).
##Support for older editions of Windows
Azure Code Signing must be available in order to install or upgrade to version 17 of ESET’s consumer programs.
Azure Code Signing is present in Windows 10 Version 21H2 and newer, as well as all Windows 11 versions. For more information, see the Operating system update necessary to install or upgrade ESET products article.
If you wish to use ESET’s software on older versions of Windows or on corporate editions of Microsoft Windows such as Enterprise or LTSC, consider licensing one of ESET’s business solutions for endpoint protection, instead.
#Feature Comparison
NOTE: This section is updated from the post [here]
(https://old.reddit.com/r/eset/comments/yeml33/eset_version_16_for_home_users_released/) discussing the previous version of ESET’s consumer software.
| Program► Feature▼ | ESET NOD32 Antivirus^1 | ESET Internet Security | ESET Smart Security Premium | ESET Security Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Machine Learning |  |
|
|
|
| Advanced Memory Scanner | |
|
|
|
| Anti-Malware^1 | |
|
|
|
| Anti-Phishing | |
|
|
|
| Anti-Spam |  |
|
|
|
| Anti-Theft | |
|
|
|
| Banking & Payment Protection | |
|
|
|
| Botnet Protection | |
|
|
|
| Bruce Force Attack Protection | |
|
|
|
| Cloud-based protection^2 | |
|
|
|
| Dark Mode/Light Mode | |
|
|
|
| Deep Behavioral Detection | |
|
|
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| Exploit Blocker | |
|
|
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| File encryption | |
|
|
|
| Firewall | |
|
|
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| Gamer Mode^3 | |
|
|
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| Identity Protection^4 | |
|
|
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| Intel® Threat Detection Tech. | |
|
|
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| LiveGuard (cloud-based analysis) | |
|
|
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| Native 64-bit Support | |
|
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| Network Attack Protection | |
|
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| Network inspector^5 | |
|
|
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| Offline Updates^6 | |
|
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| Parental Control^7 | |
|
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| Password Manager | |
|
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| Ransomware Shield | |
|
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| Remote Management^6 | |
|
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| Removable Media Device Control | |
|
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| Router Vulnerability Scanner | |
|
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| Script-based Attack Protection | |
|
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| Security Reports | |
|
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| System Registry Scanner | |
|
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| System Settings Restorer | |
|
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| UEFI Scanner | |
|
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| Virtual Private Network (VPN) | |
|
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| Vulnerability Shield | |
|
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| Webcam Protection | |
|
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| WMI Scanner | |
|
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[I’ll point out that this is very much a “best effort” by me, and it’s possible I got some things wrong. Check with an actual ESET sales person if you have a question about supported features.]
###Notes
^1 Although this program contains the word ‘Antivirus’ in its name, this is strictly for marketing purposes because that’s what most people use as a search term. These programs are all actually beter described as anti-malware programs, and detect adware, agents, bootkits, droppers, injectors, password stealers, potentially unsafe applications, potentially unwanted applications, ransomware, rootkits, spyware, trojans, viruses and worms, just to name a few of the things caught by the software. Today, actual computer viruses account for less than 10% of malware detected on a day-to-day basis.
^2 Also known as ESET LiveGrid (and previously called ThreatSense.Net), this provides real-time threat telemetry as well as assists in blocking certain kinds of malicious software such as ransomware, dangerous web sites, and so forth.
^3 Prevents pop-ups and messages from being disabled while running full-screen applications. Called Gamer Mode in home versions and Presentation Mode in business versions.
^4 Initially available only in the United States. For latest information on availability in your country, check with ESET.
^5 Called Connected Home Monitor in previous version of the software.
^6 This feature is only available in business editions. See this post for more information.
^7 Blocking of undesirable web sites. Called Parental Control in home versions and Web Control in business versions.
#Sources
I will update this post with additional information and links as I come across them.
Regards,
Aryeh Goretsky