ESET NOD32 Antivirus: Way Beyond the Essential

An effective antivirus for the tech-savvy

- NEIL J. RUBENKING

The core task for every antivirus utility is to exterminate any malware infestations that took root before its installation and then maintain vigilance to prevent any further attacks. Some products stick to those essential activities, while others, like ESET NOD32 Antivirus, go quite a bit beyond them. Among other bonus features, NOD32 includes a Host Intrusion Prevention System, a scanner for your PC’s firmware, and an elaborate device control system. It scores well in most tests, both lab tests and our hands-on tests, but it did turn in a few poor scores. In addition, some of its advanced features may be too complex for the average user.

HOW MUCH DOES NOD32 COST?

A NOD32 subscription costs $39.99 per year. Each additional license adds $10 per year. Kaspersky, Bitdefender Antivirus Plus, Webroot, and quite a few others come in at or near that $39.99 price for one license. McAfee costs $59.99 per year, but that lets you install McAfee protection on every device in your household, including devices running Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS. It’s not immediately obvious, but a NOD32 subscription offers its own kind of cross-platform security: You can use your licenses to activate an installation of ESET Cyber Security for Mac, if you wish.

GETTING STARTED WITH NOD32