ESET HOME Security Essential vs Microsoft Defender Antivirus 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

• Included in Windows: Built into Windows; not sold separately

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.

Cloud-delivered protection is on by default. When the app cannot decide about a file on the device, it sends the file's metadata to Microsoft: hashes, file name and size, signer, the process that touched it, the download address and IP, the hashed file path, and the device's OS version, locale and geographical location. If that is not enough, Microsoft can request the file itself. The default setting sends 'safe samples' such as .exe, .dll and .bat files automatically and asks you before sending a file likely to contain personal data. You can switch off sample submission or cloud-delivered protection in Windows Security; Microsoft's documentation says detection metadata is still sent when sample submission is off.

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.

Microsoft's privacy statement says Defender Antivirus automatically sends reports about suspected malware and unwanted software and may send files for inspection, asking first if a report may contain personal data. Windows required diagnostic data, which includes a Defender health event with a Defender machine ID, is stored with unique identifiers and used to keep Windows secure and to improve Windows. If you turn on the Windows setting Personalized offers, Windows diagnostic data is also used for tips, ads and recommendations. The statement also says Microsoft discloses personal data for digital advertising, and in response to valid legal process from law enforcement and government agencies.

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.

Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington, is the data controller; for the European Economic Area, the UK and Switzerland it is Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited in Dublin. Microsoft takes part in the EU–US, UK and Swiss data privacy frameworks.

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.

Microsoft was founded in 1975 and trades on the stock market as MSFT. Its antivirus began in 2009 as Microsoft Security Essentials, became Windows Defender in Windows 8 and 10, and was renamed Microsoft Defender Antivirus in 2020.