ESET HOME Security Essential vs Malwarebytes Premium Security Comparison

• Essential for 1 year: $59.99 for the first year; renewal price not published
• Premium for 1 year: $89.99 for the first year; renewal price not published
• Ultimate for 1 year: $179.99 for the first year; renewal price not published
• NOD32 Antivirus for 1 year: $39.99 for the first year; renewal price not published

• Standard for 3 devices, 1 year: $59.99 a year; the store cart lists the same amount for the next billing
• Standard for 1 device, 1 year: $44.99 a year
• Plus for 3 devices, 1 year: $79.98 a year
• Total for 1 adult and 3 devices, first year: Intro: $89.99 for the first year, a 50% discount
• Total for 1 adult and 3 devices, renewal: $179.99 a year after the first year; the page says the discount is first year only

The privacy policy says the LiveGrid reputation system compares one-way hashes of scanned files with a cloud list of safe and unsafe files. The separate LiveGrid feedback system, offered at installation, submits suspicious files to ESET's lab by default once it is on, along with the file path, name, date and process; office documents and PDFs are excluded by default. The privacy policy adds that feedback can include IP addresses, website addresses and crash dumps.

The privacy policy lists, among the data its software collects, 'artifacts detected as malware, PUPs, or suspicious files' and, for blocked exploits, the exploit payload files and possibly a copy of the exploit executable. It says the content analysis of files, photos and messages runs on the device and the company does not receive the content, 'unless we describe otherwise for a specific feature'; one such feature is text message protection on mobile, which sends the sender and the body of texts from senders not in your contacts and keeps the malicious ones for analysis. It does not say whether the upload of detected files can be switched off separately; the opt-out covers 'threat statistics', which include detection samples.

The privacy policy for ESET HOME subscriptions says ESET may process 'aggregated statistical data relating to usage of our Services to improve them' and use the account email to advertise similar ESET products unless you opt out. It says 'We do not share your data with third parties', apart from ESET's own affiliates, partners for licensing and support, and cloud and billing processors. Billing records are kept 10 years; licensing data is anonymised within 12 months after the licence expires.

The privacy policy says Malwarebytes does not sell personal data for money, but that it may share limited information with advertising partners such as Meta to measure ads: a hashed email address, online identifiers, ad click identifiers and IP address. Meta and Malwarebytes are joint controllers for data sent through Meta's business tools. The policy offers an opt-out through 'Your Privacy Choices' on the website or Global Privacy Control. It also says the product collects usage and threat statistics, a machine identifier created at install, and IP-based location, but that it does not store the IP address of client requests.

ESET, spol. s r.o. is registered in Bratislava, Slovak Republic, and is the data controller for ESET HOME subscriptions under the EU GDPR. In the United States the plans are sold by ESET North America in San Diego, whose own privacy policy covers the website and purchases.

Malwarebytes is based in Santa Clara, California, and its privacy policy gives that address and says Malwarebytes Inc. takes part in the EU–US, UK and Swiss data privacy frameworks. The policy says the company may disclose personal data to government agencies in response to lawful requests, including subpoenas and warrants.

Established in 1992 by Miroslav Trnka, Peter Paško and Rudolf Hrubý as a privately owned limited liability company. ESET's press kit lists Peter Paško as chairman of the board and Miroslav Trnka as a board member; Richard Marko is CEO.

Founded in 2008; co-founder Marcin Kleczynski is still chief executive. In December 2022 the private equity firm Vector Capital closed a $100 million minority investment and two of its managing directors joined the board.