There's nothing really to criticize about ESET Smart Security, and if it was the only option available it would be strongly recommended. System scans aren't particularly fast, but neither are they excessively time consuming.
The software doesn't bring the computer to a grinding halt, but it does make for a minor slowdown in everyday use. The feeling of averageness continues when it comes to resources. The user interface does a good, if not outstanding job, of finding the tough balance between allowing plenty of control without overwhelming less tech-savvy users. The problem is that these are all things that a lot of rivals provide. There's also a decent firewall that does a good job of blocking legitimate threats without irritating false positives.
Potential threats are checked against a combination of a downloaded database and an online or 'cloud' library, giving a nice balance of convenience and up-to-date protection. There's a choice of automated and customized scans of the system. Most of the features are run of the mill by today's standards. ESET Smart Security isn't a bad performer, but there's no compelling reason to favour it over its rivals. The computer security market is a tough one to crack and it takes a lot to stand out.
