At a glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- Many useful features
- Extra smart anti-theft protection
- Good price
Our Verdict
If you don’t feel the need for a VPN, this is a security package that delivers a lot for a good price. Excellent virus and web protection is complemented by the most feature-rich mobile anti-theft protection I’ve seen.
Price When Reviewed
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Best Pricing Today
Free
Best Prices Today: ESET Mobile Security for Android
Free
There is a free version of Eset Mobile Security, but in the installation process, it can be easy to miss. You don’t miss much, though, as it only consists of protection against classic malicious apps like Trojans and the like.
That protection is at the Google Play Protect level and misses the occasional threats that Avast and Bitdefender, for example, detect, albeit very few. But without more free features, you might as well run Play Protect instead. If your mobile doesn’t support it, however, this may be an option.
If you want to more, you’ll need to get a subscription, which starts from £9.99 per year for one device. But you can still try the app for free as the first month is free (like F-Secure), and you are free to cancel the subscription before the first payment is due.
If you have an Eset Home Security package with a multi-licence, you can also use one of them to install the Android or iOS version. Just note that you’re better off buying via the web vs the app as prices are cheaper.
The app has a traditional antivirus engine that scans and detects malware in apps before they are installed or run. On top of that, you also get active anti-phishing protection, which is an extra layer of protection on browsers, Facebook, Instagram and similar apps.
Solid theft protection
The app can also block text messages that contain malicious links. Major banking apps, as well as Bank ID, Paypal and Swish are said to have some sort of extended protection for phishing, but it’s not clear how it works.
You also get anti-theft protection for your mobile phone, which can lock the phone, and track it with an IP number and GPS, and it is also possible to activate automatic locking of the phone if someone tries to replace the SIM card.
You can also select apps that you want to give extra protection and require a PIN or fingerprint to launch them. Finally, you get a simple manual block list for phone numbers. You see your call history and can choose which numbers you don’t want to be bothered by anymore. However, it is not more advanced than that, or not linked to any register of known telemarketers or similar.
The interface is easy to use and clear, but in some situations, it is a bit annoying with pop-ups that come up over other apps. I would have preferred it to just work in the background without being visible. I don’t need to be constantly reminded that Eset is there and doing good.
Specs
- App control
- App lock
- Anti-theft
- Browsing protection
- Banking protection
- Number blocker
- Wi-Fi control
- Backup
- Android 6+
This article originally appeared on our sister publication PC för Alla and was translated and adapted from Swedish.
