Windows Defender or ESET?

Which one protects my computer better?
What types of protection do they offer?
Can’t decide? We are happy to help you choose. CALL US. WE ARE HAPPY TO ADVISE YOU.

Is Windows Defender sufficient to protect your device? Can it detect viruses on the internet, or does it let them through like a sieve? Is the homegrown ESET product better at protecting your computer than free competing programs or Windows Defender? The answers to these questions have been debated for a long time. But few people know the right answer. That is why we decided to run our own protection tests.

Looking back, Windows Defender does not have the best reputation when it comes to virus protection. Microsoft has faced many challenges in protecting users, but has been continuously working to improve its Windows 10 operating system, which includes Windows Defender. It naturally pushes the quality bar higher and enhances protection in the online world. But is it enough?

In principle, basic protection is certainly better than none at all. Many users do not realize its advantages. It protects the user automatically, for free, and without any configuration needed. It does not burden the system and requires virtually no maintenance. On the other hand, most of these features are also available in free and, of course, paid antivirus programs. That is why we focused directly on protection compared to the Slovak product ESET.

ABOUT WINDOWS DEFENDER

As mentioned above, Microsoft has made significant progress in recent years in developing its antivirus and has expanded the features in Windows Defender:

Real-time threat detection
Firewall protection
Parental controls
Cloud-based antivirus library (for improved overall performance)

After these expansions, we started to wonder whether it is necessary to use another antivirus or whether Windows Defender alone is sufficient for protection.

IS WINDOWS DEFENDER ENOUGH?

Microsoft has made many improvements in recent years. But there are still many things we do not like about Microsoft Defender:

Parental controls are limited to the Microsoft browser only
Internet security features must be installed separately for external browsers (such as Chrome and Firefox)
Real-time protection failed to block some malicious files during testing
It does not include a built-in password manager
Microsoft does not update its database frequently enough to keep it always current

In conclusion, we would also like to mention free antivirus programs that provide better protection against viruses and malware. Many programs offer additional features that Microsoft does not include, such as a virtual private network (VPN) and a password manager. The best approach for free protection is a combination of Windows Defender and a free antivirus. However, they will certainly not provide you with 100% protection. That is why we recommend ESET to our clients.

WHAT DOES ESET OFFER?

ESET has a wide range of computer security tools, which is why it is a better option than Windows Defender. Users will also appreciate the extensive selection of packages to choose from, allowing them to tailor protection to their needs. But what protection does it offer?

Let’s start with computer performance while using the program. You will not notice any drop in performance; the device runs without any issues during office work. Demanding users will be pleased to know that there is no noticeable performance drop even during gaming. Fast threat detection is ensured through cloud-based diagnostics.

Thanks to the “LiveGrid” service, you will be warned in time about potential virus risks. Computer scanning runs continuously, focusing on file changes and connections. ESET also provides deep scanning of all files.je hĺbkové preskúmanie všetkých súborov.

Compared to the competition, ESET offers more than enough. From webcam access protection to thorough protection against deep infection threats (UEFI). It also allows you to view devices connected to your home network and scan for network vulnerabilities. Thanks to this feature, you can detect whether a neighbor or an unknown device is connecting to your WiFi.

The antivirus provides all the protective features of Windows Defender, but faster. Virus penetration was zero.

Parental controls are available for all browsers without installation.
Real-time protection was able to defend against all threats.
It includes a built-in password manager.
The database is continuously updated.

CONCLUSION

Microsoft is heading in the right direction with Windows Defender. It provides users with basic security and features that, while not extensive, are still useful. Combined with the right free antivirus, it offers decent security. However, it is important to realize that the virus databases are not the most up to date and threat penetration is higher.

The Slovak company ESET offers multiple packages for one or more devices. Virus databases are continuously updated thanks to fast cloud-based diagnostics.

The basic NOD32 package provides general protection, or you can opt for one of the advanced packages. From our own experience, we can only recommend antivirus from ESET. But if you are still unsure, you can try all the features yourself first. For new users, they offer a free 30-day trial version with all features included.