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- Excels at preventing viruses
- Low system drain
- No software conflicts
- Clunky user interface
- Not appropriate for inexperienced users
Reviewers agree that NOD32 is as good as or better than Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0, with the exception of this program's unintuitive and confusing user interface. However, early reviews of the new 3.0 version indicate that these interface issues have been considerably improved, though the overall presentation is still not very elegant. Computer experts say NOD32 offers great protection, no system drain and no software conflicts. User satisfaction with this program is much higher than with its antivirus competitors. This program is designed for expert users; beginners may be more comfortable with either Kaspersky AntiVirus 7.0 (*est. $40) or Norton AntiVirus 2008 (*est. $40).
The scientific testing sites WestCoastLabs.com, Virus Bulletin and CheckVir.com all weigh in on the effectiveness of ESET NOD32 antivirus software. We also consulted editor and owner reviews of this software on CNet.com and Amazon.com, which help evaluate ease of use, something not assessed by the big lab-testing firms.
Our Sources
West Coast Labs evaluates malware detection performance and offers the results to computer publications. Certification requires that the "product must be able to detect all those viruses, worms and BOTS currently 'in the wild'" at the time of testing. NOD32 passes all the appropriate benchmarks.
Review: NOD 32, Editors of WestCoastLabs.com
2. Virus BulletinDetails/Subscribe
To receive certification from Virus Bulletin, an antivirus program must detect all in-the-wild viruses "during both on-demand and on-access scanning." ESET NOD32 is one of the few programs that passes tests on Linux and Windows Server editions, and is one of only two titles that passes all 2008 tests.
Review: VB100 Results Summary, Editors of Virus Bulletin, 2007
3. CheckVir.com
According to the editors: "The main purpose of CheckVir project is testing anti-virus products and solutions independently from developers, helping users and anti-virus companies as well." In the most recent test, CheckVir evaluates these programs' abilities to detect and destroy nearly a thousand common malware threats. NOD32 receives "advanced" certification here.
Review: Certification Results, Editors of CheckVir.com, Oct. 2007
4. CNET
CNet.com relies on third party companies for technical testing, but editor Robert Vamosi covers other factors like ease of use, system drag and speed. Vamosi writes that NOD32's interface has been much improved and is now more intuitive for beginners, yet experienced users still have access to finely tweak protection.
Review: ESET NOD32 3.0 Antivirus System, Robert Vamosi, Apr. 28, 2008
5. Amazon.com
There are about two dozen user reviews at Amazon.com for NOD32. Most give it a perfect score, but a few have trouble with software conflicts or system drag.
Review: ESET NOD32 3.0 Antivirus System Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com
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