ESET

ESET is a privately held cybersecurity software company headquartered in Bratislava, Slovakia. Its business grew from NOD, an antivirus program created in 1987 by Miroslav Trnka and Peter Paško, while Czechoslovakia was still under a communist system that restricted private entrepreneurship. In 1992, Trnka and Paško joined with Rudolf Hrubý to establish ESET as a private limited-liability company. The name ESET was taken from the Slovak form of Isis, the ancient Egyptian goddess associated with health, marriage, and love. The company initially concentrated on antivirus software for personal computers, first supporting MS-DOS and later Microsoft Windows. Its NOD32 product became the foundation of the brand's commercial identity. ESET released NOD32 1.0 for Windows in 1998 and version 2.0 in 2003, establishing a product family that was subsequently expanded with broader protection against malware, phishing, ransomware, network attacks, botnets, and other online threats. Consumer offerings have included ESET NOD32 Antivirus, ESET Internet Security, and ESET Smart Security Premium. The company has also developed products for macOS, Android, and Android TV. ESET's business extends beyond consumer antivirus. Its enterprise portfolio covers workstation and server protection, endpoint management, extended detection and response, authentication, encryption, and other controls intended to protect corporate data and support regulatory and privacy requirements. Products and platforms have included ESET PROTECT Entry, ESET Enterprise Inspector, ESET Secure Authentication, and ESET Endpoint Encryption. ESET has also operated a global research and threat-intelligence program, with research and development centers in several countries and security software localized into more than 30 languages. Technology has been central to ESET's positioning. The company introduced heuristic analysis into its detection engine in 1995, used neural-network-based machine learning from 1997, and later developed DNA Detections, which examines selected characteristics of samples to classify them as clean, malicious, or potentially unwanted. Its ESET LiveGrid cloud reputation system, introduced after replacing ThreatSense.NET in 2011, uses telemetry and sample analysis to help assess suspicious files. Other layers include protection against botnets, network attacks, scripted attacks, and brute-force attacks. In 2017, ESET introduced a UEFI scanner designed to detect threats before the operating system and conventional security modules start. The company is also known for public malware research. ESET has reported on advanced persistent threat groups and criminal operations associated with incidents including the Ukrainian power-grid attacks, NotPetya, the M.E.Doc compromise, and the Trickbot and Dorkbot botnets. Its researchers identified or analyzed threats such as LoJax, a UEFI rootkit found in the wild, ESPecter, IIS malware families, and the KrØØk vulnerabilities affecting certain Wi-Fi chipsets. ESET disseminates research through technical reports and WeLiveSecurity, a security-focused publication launched in 2013. ESET operates internationally and describes its products as made in Europe. Its partnerships have included Google, the No More Ransom initiative, Europol's European Cybercrime Centre, Microsoft, Cisco, Lumen's Black Lotus Labs, NTT Ltd., and other security and law-enforcement organizations. The company remains a privately held European cybersecurity provider whose scope spans consumer protection, business security, threat intelligence, and collaborative cybercrime disruption.

ESET's roots lie in 1987, when Miroslav Trnka and Peter Paško created NOD, an antivirus program for computers running MS-DOS. The project emerged in Czechoslovakia, where private business activity was restricted by the communist system. The usefulness of the program and the growing need to protect personal computers led the founders to develop a broader commercial concept. Alongside NOD, they also worked on a product called Perspekt. Following political and economic changes in the region, Trnka and Paško joined with Rudolf Hrubý in 1992 to establish ESET as a privately owned limited-liability company in the former Czechoslovakia. The new name was derived from the Slovak name of Isis, an Egyptian goddess associated with health, marriage, and love. This company became the organizational basis for the ESET brand and its international expansion. The early business focused on antivirus protection. ESET's first product line targeted MS-DOS, while NOD32 1.0 for Microsoft Windows was released in 1998. Version 2.0 followed in 2003. The NOD32 name became closely associated with antivirus detection and formed the base for later consumer suites that added web, email, firewall, identity, ransomware, and network protections. Over time, ESET expanded beyond home users into corporate endpoint and server security. Research and detection technology have been recurring elements of the company's development. ESET added heuristic analysis to its detection engine in 1995 and began using neural-network-based machine learning in 1997. In 2005, it introduced DNA Detections, a machine-learning-oriented method that extracts selected sample characteristics for classification. In 2011, ESET replaced ThreatSense.NET with ESET LiveGrid, a cloud reputation and sample-analysis system supported by information from ESET-protected endpoints. The company later added local advanced machine learning, network attack protection, botnet protection, scripted-attack protection, and brute-force protection. In 2017, it introduced UEFI scanning to inspect firmware-level threats before standard operating-system security tools load. ESET broadened its product range geographically and technically. It introduced products for macOS in 2010, including business and home offerings. ESET Mobile Security for Android was announced in 2012 and provided malware detection, call filtering, adware detection, payment protection, and theft-related controls. ESET Parental Control followed in 2015. The company introduced ESET Secure Authentication in 2015 and expanded into encryption after integrating DESlock+ technology, with ESET Endpoint Encryption released in 2017. ESET Smart TV Security, intended for Android TV devices, was introduced in 2018. The enterprise portfolio developed to include endpoint and server protection, centralized management, endpoint detection and response, authentication, encryption, and tools relevant to corporate privacy and compliance programs. ESET's research activity also became a major part of its public identity. In 2013, it launched WeLiveSecurity, a blog and research outlet covering malware, vulnerabilities, cybercrime, and threat actors. ESET researchers have analyzed major cyber operations and malware families. The company investigated the TeleBots activity associated with the 2015 Ukrainian power-grid attack and the 2017 NotPetya outbreak, and examined the compromise of Ukrainian accounting software provider M.E.Doc as a propagation point. It reported on LoJax, described as the first UEFI rootkit found in the wild, and later analyzed ESPecter, a bootkit persisting on the EFI System Partition. ESET also discovered the KrØØk vulnerability affecting certain Wi-Fi chipsets and published research on malicious IIS extensions, including backdoors, information stealers, injectors, proxies, and search-engine-optimization fraud tools. Collaboration has been another part of ESET's operating model. The company worked with Microsoft and law-enforcement or security organizations against the Dorkbot botnet in 2015 and Gamarue, also known as Andromeda, in 2017. It joined the European Cybercrime Centre's Advisory Group on Internet Security in 2018, partnered with No More Ransom, became a founding member of Google's App Defense Alliance, and participated in a 2020 effort to disrupt Trickbot with Microsoft, Lumen's Black Lotus Labs, and NTT Ltd. ESET continues to operate as a privately held international cybersecurity company with consumer, business, research, and collaborative security activities.

1. 2021ESET publishes research on native IIS malware

   ESET published an analysis of more than 80 malicious native IIS extensions and categorized multiple malware families and operating modes.

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2. 2020ESET contributes to a Trickbot disruption effort

   ESET collaborated with Microsoft, Lumen's Black Lotus Labs, and NTT Ltd. in an effort to disrupt Trickbot.

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3. 2019Advanced Machine Learning detection layer is released

   ESET released a local advanced machine-learning detection layer capable of analyzing samples on endpoints, including when they are offline.

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4. 2018ESET joins No More Ransom

   ESET partnered with the No More Ransom initiative to support ransomware victims and improve access to decryption resources.

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5. 2017UEFI Scanner and Endpoint Encryption expand the portfolio

   ESET introduced UEFI scanning and released ESET Endpoint Encryption after integrating DESlock+ technology.

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6. 2015ESET adds parental control and secure authentication products

   ESET introduced ESET Parental Control for Android and ESET Secure Authentication for two-factor authentication.

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7. 2013WeLiveSecurity launches

   ESET launched WeLiveSecurity as a public channel for security research and analysis.

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8. 2012ESET Mobile Security is announced

   ESET announced its Android mobile-security product with malware, call, payment, and theft-protection capabilities.

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9. 2011ESET LiveGrid is introduced

   ESET replaced ThreatSense.NET with ESET LiveGrid, a cloud-based reputation and sample-analysis system.

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10. 2010ESET expands to macOS security

    ESET released security products for macOS, later including the business-oriented ESET Endpoint Antivirus and home-oriented ESET Cyber Security.

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11. 2005DNA Detections is introduced

    ESET incorporated DNA Detections, a machine-learning-based approach that evaluates selected characteristics of samples.

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12. 2003NOD32 version 2.0 is released

    The company released the second major Windows version of NOD32.

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13. 1998NOD32 for Windows is released

    ESET released NOD32 1.0 for Microsoft Windows.

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14. 1997Machine learning research begins in products

    ESET began using neural-network-based machine learning in its security products.

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15. 1995Heuristic analysis enters the detection engine

    ESET introduced heuristic analysis as part of its malware-detection technology.

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16. 1992ESET is established

    Miroslav Trnka, Peter Paško, and Rudolf Hrubý established ESET as a privately owned company in the former Czechoslovakia.

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17. 1987Creation of the NOD antivirus program

    Miroslav Trnka and Peter Paško developed NOD, ESET's precursor antivirus product, for MS-DOS computers.

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A European, research-led cybersecurity provider positioned around layered malware detection, low system impact, endpoint protection, and security expertise for both consumers and organizations.

• NODAntivirus software1987

  ESET's original antivirus program, created for MS-DOS computers in 1987 by Miroslav Trnka and Peter Paško. NOD provided the technical and commercial starting point for the later NOD32 product family and the ESET cybersecurity business.

• ESET NOD32 AntivirusConsumer antivirus1998

  ESET's core antivirus product for personal computers. The Windows line began with NOD32 1.0 in 1998 and developed into a broader consumer security family centered on malware detection and layered endpoint protection.

• ESET Internet SecurityConsumer internet security

  A consumer security suite that extends antivirus protection with broader defenses for online activity, networks, communications, and common internet-based threats.

• ESET Smart Security PremiumConsumer security suite

  A premium consumer security offering combining ESET's malware-detection capabilities with a wider set of security functions for personal computers and online activity.

• ESET Cyber SecuritymacOS security2010

  ESET's home-user security product for macOS, developed as part of the company's expansion beyond Windows-based personal-computer protection.

• ESET Endpoint AntivirusBusiness endpoint security2010

  An endpoint-protection product for organizations, including the business-oriented macOS offering and related workstation security capabilities.

• ESET Mobile SecurityMobile security2012

  An Android security product offering malware protection together with features such as call filtering, adware detection, payment protection, and anti-theft controls including SIM-related protection and data wiping.

• ESET Parental ControlFamily digital safety2015

  An Android-oriented parental-control product that allows parents to monitor and manage aspects of children's mobile-device use.

• ESET Secure AuthenticationIdentity and access security2015

  A two-factor authentication solution intended to add an additional verification layer to organizational access and support corporate security requirements.

• ESET Endpoint EncryptionData security2017

  An enterprise encryption product supporting protection for files, folders, email, and virtual disks, along with secure file deletion. It followed ESET's integration of DESlock+ technology.

• ESET Smart TV SecuritySmart TV security2018

  A security product for Android TV devices designed to address malware, phishing, and ransomware risks on smart televisions and related platforms.

• ESET PROTECT EntryEnterprise endpoint security

  An enterprise offering covering workstation and server protection and associated endpoint-management capabilities for organizations.

• ESET Enterprise InspectorEndpoint detection and response

  An enterprise endpoint detection and response product designed to help organizations investigate suspicious activity and respond to threats across managed endpoints.

• 2019Release of an Advanced Machine Learning detection layerGeneration change

  Endpoint detection increasingly needed to operate locally and retain effectiveness when a device was offline.

  What changed. ESET released an advanced machine-learning layer capable of analyzing samples locally on endpoints.

  Aftermath. The approach complemented cloud-assisted reputation analysis with local detection capabilities.

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• 2018Participation in No More RansomStrategy

  Ransomware victims often face pressure to pay attackers when recovery tools are unavailable.

  What changed. ESET partnered with the No More Ransom initiative to support the distribution of decryption resources and public ransomware awareness.

  Aftermath. The partnership reinforced ESET's role in cooperative responses involving security vendors, police organizations, and international cybercrime bodies.

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• 2017Introduction of UEFI scanningProduct launch

  Firmware-level threats can execute before an operating system and conventional endpoint-security modules load.

  What changed. ESET implemented a UEFI scanner designed to inspect the boot environment for threats.

  Aftermath. The product strategy expanded from operating-system and application security into pre-boot protection.

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• 2017Release of ESET Endpoint EncryptionProduct launch

  Corporate customers required controls for protecting stored data and supporting privacy and regulatory obligations.

  What changed. Following the integration of DESlock+ technology, ESET released ESET Endpoint Encryption for files, folders, email, virtual disks, and secure deletion.

  Aftermath. ESET expanded its enterprise security scope beyond detection and response into data protection.

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• 2015Expansion into authentication and family mobile safetyStrategy

  ESET was broadening beyond conventional antivirus into adjacent identity, mobile, and digital-safety categories.

  What changed. The company introduced ESET Secure Authentication and ESET Parental Control.

  Aftermath. These launches extended ESET's portfolio from malware protection into access security and managed family use of mobile devices.

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• 2011Replacement of ThreatSense.NET with ESET LiveGridGeneration change

  Cloud-based reputation and sample analysis became increasingly important for identifying previously unknown or suspicious files.

  What changed. ESET replaced ThreatSense.NET with ESET LiveGrid, a cloud reputation system supported by information from ESET-protected endpoints.

  Aftermath. The change strengthened the cloud-assisted component of ESET's detection and classification workflow.

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• 2010Expansion into macOS securityProduct launch

  ESET's earlier antivirus business was strongly associated with personal-computer protection, particularly on Windows.

  What changed. The company released products for macOS, including home and business-oriented offerings.

  Aftermath. The move broadened ESET's desktop operating-system coverage and supported its wider endpoint-security strategy.

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• 2020ESET collaborates on the disruption of Trickbot

  ESET worked with Microsoft, Lumen's Black Lotus Labs, and NTT Ltd. in an effort to disrupt the Trickbot botnet.

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• 2019ESET becomes a founding member of Google's App Defense Alliance

  ESET joined Google and other participants as a founding member of the App Defense Alliance, focused on improving the safety of Android applications.

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• 2018ESET joins the No More Ransom initiative

  ESET partnered with No More Ransom, an international initiative that helps ransomware victims recover files with available decryption tools instead of paying attackers.

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• 2017ESET partners with Google on Chrome Cleanup

  ESET partnered with Google to integrate its security technology into Chrome Cleanup.

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• 2017ESET introduces UEFI scanning capability

  ESET became the first security company reported in the reference material to implement a UEFI scanner, targeting threats that can execute during the boot process.

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• 2013ESET launches WeLiveSecurity security research publication

  ESET established WeLiveSecurity as a public-facing publication covering malware, vulnerabilities, cybercrime, and broader information-security topics.

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1. ESET
2. ESET official website