ESET vs Adaware: Which One is Better? [2024 Top Picks]

Find the best antivirus for you and your devices.
We compare security, extra features, ease of use, and more to help you decide.

ESET vs. Adaware: Which Is Right for You?

Tyler Cross
Tyler Cross
Writer

ESET vs. Adaware: Which Is Right for You?

A truly useful antivirus needs to protect from recognized and never-before-seen malware. Both ESET and Adaware use a combination of real-time protection and behavior monitoring, and they scored near-100% detection in our lab tests. However, they use a range of tactics to keep you safe.

ESET focuses on creating the best user experience. Its anti-phishing and email-filtering options protect you from some of the most common online threats. Plus, they ensure that all files are scanned during download, which means no infected items ever actually make it onto your PC. ESET’s handy ‘Idle Scan’ mode will wait until your computer is asleep or on screensaver to check for viruses so it doesn’t slow down your system. Its ‘Game Mode’ stops all pop-ups from interrupting you during full-screen activities. They also offer Mac and Linux options, which aren’t available for Adaware users.

Adaware, on the other hand, has a lot of useful extra features. It includes default port scanning, a firewall, and advanced parental controls which allow you to create age-based templates to filter websites. The software also offers email protection, letting you create a safe sender list to stop unnecessary scans. One slight drawback is that Adaware takes some time to install; two reboots were required before it was ready to go.

Adaware and ESET have different approaches to customer service. The former provides a wealth of online options, including a PDF software manual, FAQ section, community forum, and ticketed messages, but they don’t offer phone or live chat. ESET is limited in its written support but provides email tickets, live chat, and phone support.

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Latest Positive Review*User reviews are not verified
Mar. 23, 2022
Best antivirus for windows
ESET caught all of the 30,00,000 samples I used in protection of zero-day...
Cyril Bartlam
Mar. 22, 2022
Incorrect Info
In the UK Eset do have a Tech Support telephone number, with Norton you...
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No reviews yet
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No reviews yet
Latest Negative Review*User reviews are not verified
Richard Stephenson
Feb. 5, 2023
Awful
False positives, removes legitimate software and when manually selected to...
Sep. 7, 2021
Blocks WSL2 and WSL1 Network interfaces
works great for most things, bit of a CPU hog on startup but most of my...
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No reviews yet
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No reviews yet
Our Verdict
Tyler Cross
Tyler Cross
Writer
ESET and Adaware are both strong antiviruses. ESET is ideal if you want a low-maintenance option that won’t interrupt your work, and it may be better for new users due to its real-time support. However, Adaware might be better for those with young children and it has a free version for those on a budget.
Time To Decide Which One Is Best For You

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the best antivirus for me?

The first thing to do is to understand what you need — all antiviruses come with different internet security tools to help you stay protected, so identifying what level of protection you want will help you figure out which product is right for you.

Some antiviruses have a virtual private network (VPN), some have safe browsing extensions, and some have a password manager. Some only work on certain operating systems, while others cover all operating systems across multiple devices.

It’s important to compare the best antiviruses on the market to find the perfect one with the functionality you need.

What makes an antivirus secure?

A high-quality antivirus suite will detect, flag, and remove viruses and various types of malware. It will also offer real-time protection against all threats, regardless of whether you are browsing the internet, downloading software, shopping online, or opening email. For additional security, many antivirus suites offer a VPN, secure storage, and a password manager — these things all add several layers of protection against various cyber threats.

For more information on how antiviruses work, read this.

What do I need to look for when searching for an antivirus?

An antivirus needs to protect against all types of malware — trojans, rootkits, worms, spyware, viruses, ransomware, and anything else that might cause damage to your devices. This is done in a variety of ways, but the most essential feature of an antivirus is real-time protection — this makes sure that an active threat is effectively stopped before anything serious can happen.

Other things to look for include — excellent detection rates, fast system performance, included extra features (like a VPN, password manager, etc.), easy-to-use interface, good customer support, and overall value.

Go here for a list of the best antivirus software of 2024.

How do I know if one antivirus is better than another?

When researching antiviruses, it’s a good idea to visit a few well-known antivirus software websites such as Norton, McAfee, and Bitdefender to directly compare each antivirus’s features.

You can also look at the expert opinions of our reviewers at SafetyDetectives.com to find the most up-to-date and unbiased information about the best cybersecurity products on the market today.

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