Vendor: ESET
Can Your SMB Endpoint Protection Stop Real Hackers?
In the small business security space, bold claims are everywhere. Most vendors say their endpoint protection stops ransomware, blocks phishing, and detects advanced threats. But when the stakes are high, how many tools can actually deliver? Will your SMB endpoint protection stop real hackers?
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To find out, we test like hackers
At SE Labs, we don’t rely on vendor claims. We Test Like Hackers.
That means replicating real-world attacks using threat intelligence and offensive tools. We create phishing emails, customise exploits, build backdoors and more. We don’t cut corners. We mimic genuine adversaries to see how well products perform under realistic, high-pressure conditions.
SMB Endpoint Protection Stop Real Hackers?
Why do we go to all this trouble? Because businesses need answers grounded in reality, not synthetic benchmarks or scripted demos. We copy the bad guys to discover the truth.
In this comparative report, we put leading endpoint products through rigorous testing. Each product faced the same attack scenarios, allowing us to observe how early they detected threats, whether they blocked them effectively, and how well they protected the system overall.
Which solutions to trust?
If your organisation depends on endpoint security to protect sensitive data, this report will show you which solutions are worth your trust, and which ones may leave you exposed.
We should be able to rely confidently on the security products that everyone tells us we need. The endpoint protection products in this report have undergone the most strenuous testing available, and they’ve come out well. They’ll provide you with strong protection while you use your computer to do something useful, fun or both.
How we test
We tested a variety of anti-malware (aka ‘anti-virus’; aka ‘endpoint security’) products from a range of well-known vendors in an effort to judge which were the most effective. Each product was exposed to the same threats, which were a mixture of targeted attacks using well-established techniques and public email and web-based threats that were found to be live on the internet at the time of the test. The results indicate how effectively the products were at detecting and/or protecting against those threats in real-time.
Choose your reports and reviews carefully
We pride ourselves on a level of transparency that elevates our work above the less open reports available. But don’t just take our word for it. This report has gone through the AMTSO certification process to ensure that we say what we’re going to do; do it; and can prove it. Our results help vendors improve their products and buyers choose the best for their own needs.
All reports
01/2025 - 03/2025
Security Evaluation Test Report: Enterprise Endpoint Security (Protection)
Can Your Endpoint Protection Stop a Real Hacker?
In the enterprise security space, bold claims are everywhere. Most vendors say their endpoint protection stops ransomware, blocks phishing, and detects advanced threats. But when the stakes are high, how many tools can actually deliver? Will your endpoint protection stop a real hacker?
Loading…
To find out, we test like hackers
At SE Labs, we don’t rely on vendor claims. We Test Like Hackers.
That means replicating real-world attacks using threat intelligence and offensive tools. We create phishing emails, customise exploits, build backdoors and more. We don’t cut corners. We mimic genuine adversaries to see how well products perform under realistic, high-pressure conditions.
Endpoint Protection Stop a Real Hacker?
Why do we go to all this trouble? Because businesses need answers grounded in reality, not synthetic benchmarks or scripted demos. We copy the bad guys to discover the truth.
In this comparative report, we put leading endpoint products through rigorous testing. Each product faced the same attack scenarios, allowing us to observe how early they detected threats, whether they blocked them effectively, and how well they protected the system overall.
Which solutions to trust?
If your organisation depends on endpoint security to protect sensitive data, this report will show you which solutions are worth your trust, and which ones may leave you exposed.
We should be able to rely confidently on the security products that everyone tells us we need. The endpoint protection products in this report have undergone the most strenuous testing available, and they’ve come out well. They’ll provide you with strong protection while you use your computer to do something useful, fun or both.
How we test
We tested a variety of anti-malware (aka ‘anti-virus’; aka ‘endpoint security’) products from a range of well-known vendors in an effort to judge which were the most effective. Each product was exposed to the same threats, which were a mixture of targeted attacks using well-established techniques and public email and web-based threats that were found to be live on the internet at the time of the test. The results indicate how effectively the products were at detecting and/or protecting against those threats in real-time.
Choose your reports and reviews carefully
We pride ourselves on a level of transparency that elevates our work above the less open reports available. But don’t just take our word for it. This report has gone through the AMTSO certification process to ensure that we say what we’re going to do; do it; and can prove it. Our results help vendors improve their products and buyers choose the best for their own needs.
Cyber Security Protection has Evolved
Top-tier anti-virus solutions are undeniably ‘next-generation’. This term was introduced nearly a decade ago by newcomers to the industry: a marketing device designed to compete with almost unassailable anti-malware brands.
“Stop using that tired old anti-virus and try the new, improved approach! No more mistakes. No updates. Full protection!” Problem solved. Except in 2024 I don’t think anyone would claim that malware is a thing of the past.
Cyber security protection has evolved and the leading vendors have embraced advanced technologies to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats. Traditional anti-virus relies solely (or mostly) on signature-based detection. That’s not enough to defend against modern-day attacks like ransomware, file-less malware and zero-day exploits.
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Cyber security protection has evolved
Next-generation anti-virus is now the benchmark for the best security solutions. These systems go far beyond the old-fashioned model of looking for known malware signatures. Instead, they use a combination of machine learning, artificial intelligence and behavioural analysis to monitor how programs and processes behave in real-time.
How we test
We tested a variety of anti-malware (aka ‘anti-virus’; aka ‘endpoint security’) products from a range of well-known vendors in an effort to judge which were the most effective. Each product was exposed to the same threats, which were a mixture of targeted attacks using well-established techniques and public email and web-based threats that were found to be live on the internet at the time of the test. The results indicate how effectively the products were at detecting and/or protecting against those threats in real-time.
Choose your reports and reviews carefully
We pride ourselves on a level of transparency that elevates our work above the less open reports available. But don’t just take our word for it. This report has gone through the AMTSO certification process to ensure that we say what we’re going to do; do it; and can prove it. Our results help vendors improve their products and buyers choose the best for their own needs.
Cyber Security Protection has Evolved
Top-tier anti-virus solutions are undeniably ‘next-generation’. This term was introduced nearly a decade ago by newcomers to the industry: a marketing device designed to compete with almost unassailable anti-malware brands.
“Stop using that tired old anti-virus and try the new, improved approach! No more mistakes. No updates. Full protection!” Problem solved. Except in 2024 I don’t think anyone would claim that malware is a thing of the past.
Cyber security protection has evolved and the leading vendors have embraced advanced technologies to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats. Traditional anti-virus relies solely (or mostly) on signature-based detection. That’s not enough to defend against modern-day attacks like ransomware, file-less malware and zero-day exploits.
Loading…
Cyber security protection has evolved
Next-generation anti-virus is now the benchmark for the best security solutions. These systems go far beyond the old-fashioned model of looking for known malware signatures. Instead, they use a combination of machine learning, artificial intelligence and behavioural analysis to monitor how programs and processes behave in real-time.
How we test
We tested a variety of anti-malware (aka ‘anti-virus’; aka ‘endpoint security’) products from a range of well-known vendors in an effort to judge which were the most effective. Each product was exposed to the same threats, which were a mixture of targeted attacks using well-established techniques and public email and web-based threats that were found to be live on the internet at the time of the test. The results indicate how effectively the products were at detecting and/or protecting against those threats in real-time.
Choose your reports and reviews carefully
We pride ourselves on a level of transparency that elevates our work above the less open reports available. But don’t just take our word for it. This report has gone through the AMTSO certification process to ensure that we say what we’re going to do; do it; and can prove it. Our results help vendors improve their products and buyers choose the best for their own needs.
Lift your org’s security into the top 1%
Back to security basics, lift your org’s security into top 1%. It’s a shocking statistic, but most businesses don’t have a cyber security plan. Given the lack of general interest in cyber security, it’s no wonder that ransomware and less obvious threats are running riot through computer systems all over the world.
The same old cliched advice still applies to everyone:
- Apply security patches when available.
- Back up your important data.
- Use multi-factor authentication.
- Use endpoint protection.
If that sounds painfully basic and boring, I’m sorry. But it’s still the best advice out there. You don’t need AI, blockchain or other magical concepts to raise yourself to the top 1% of secure internet users.
If you want to know which endpoint protection to use, this report will help you or your business choose. There is, of course, more to cyber security than choosing an ‘anti-virus’ program though!
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Choose your reports and reviews carefully
We pride ourselves on a level of transparency that elevates our work above the less open reports available. But don’t just take our word for it. This report has gone through the AMTSO certification process to ensure that we say what we’re going to do; do it; and can prove it. Our results help vendors improve their products and buyers choose the best for their own needs.
Lift your org’s security into the top 1%
Back to security basics, lift your org’s security into top 1%. It’s a shocking statistic, but most businesses don’t have a cyber security plan. Given the lack of general interest in cyber security, it’s no wonder that ransomware and less obvious threats are running riot through computer systems all over the world.
The larger the organisation, the more complex its security needs, but at the very core the same old cliched advice still applies to everyone:
- Apply security patches when available.
- Back up your important data.
- Use multi-factor authentication.
- Use endpoint protection.
If that sounds painfully basic and boring, I’m sorry. But it’s still the best advice out there. You don’t need AI, blockchain or other magical concepts to raise yourself to the top 1% of secure internet users.
If you want to know which endpoint protection to use, this report will help you or your business choose. There is, of course, more to cyber security than choosing an ‘anti-virus’ program though!
Loading…
Choose your reports and reviews carefully
We pride ourselves on a level of transparency that elevates our work above the less open reports available. But don’t just take our word for it. This report has gone through the AMTSO certification process to ensure that we say what we’re going to do; do it; and can prove it. Our results help vendors improve their products and buyers choose the best for their own needs.
Essential Endpoint Security Enterprise
Realistic attacks for useful results
Essential Endpoint Security for Enterprise. Keeping your organisation safe from online threats requires strong endpoint protection. It’s not just important – it’s crucial. So, it’s a good idea to regularly check how well it’s working. Essential endpoint security means checking if the security tools on devices like desktops, laptops, and mobiles do their job.
Why? Because these devices are often the target of online attacks. If they’re not protected, they can become a way for cybercriminals to get to your sensitive information.
Our reports help you choose the best home anti-malware product that can protect you from ransomware and other types of attacks.
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How we test
SE Labs brings a wealth of experience to the table when it comes to testing endpoint protection. We firmly believe in the necessity of conducting these tests regularly to ensure that security vendors are consistently updating and enhancing their effectiveness. Our testing approach involves recreating real-world cyberattack situations, allowing us to assess the performance of endpoint security solutions in terms of detection, prevention, and mitigation.
Choose your reports and reviews carefully
We pride ourselves on a level of transparency that elevates our work above the less open reports available. But don’t just take our word for it. This report has gone through the AMTSO certification process to ensure that we say what we’re going to do; do it; and can prove it. Our results help vendors improve their products and buyers choose the best for their own needs.
Essential Endpoint Security
Realistic attacks for useful results
Critical Endpoint Protection Evaluations
Keeping your organisation safe from online threats requires strong endpoint protection. It’s not just important – it’s crucial. So, it’s a good idea to regularly check how well it’s working. Essential endpoint security means checking if the security tools on devices like desktops, laptops, and mobiles actually do their job. Why? Because these devices are often the target of online attacks. If they’re not protected, they can become a way for cybercriminals to get to your sensitive information.
Our reports help you choose the best home anti-malware product that can protect you from ransomware and other types of attacks.
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How we test endpoint protection for small businesses
SE Labs brings a wealth of experience to the table when it comes to testing endpoint protection. We firmly believe in the necessity of conducting these tests regularly to ensure that security vendors are consistently updating and enhancing their effectiveness. Our testing approach involves recreating real-world cyberattack situations, allowing us to assess the performance of endpoint security solutions in terms of detection, prevention, and mitigation.
Choose your reports and reviews carefully
We pride ourselves on a level of transparency that elevates our work above the less open reports available. But don’t just take our word for it. This report has gone through the AMTSO certification process to ensure that we say what we’re going to do; do it; and can prove it. Our results help vendors improve their products and buyers choose the best for their own needs.
Critical Endpoint Protection
Realistic attacks for useful results
Endpoint protection is a critical component of any organisation’s cybersecurity strategy
If it’s critical then you should test it. Testing endpoint protection involves evaluating the effectiveness of the security solutions that are deployed on endpoint devices. Devices such as desktops, laptops and mobile devices. Endpoint protection testing is necessary because endpoints are often the target of cyberattacks and can be used as a gateway to gain access to sensitive data.
Our reports help you choose the best home anti-malware product that can protect you from ransomware and other types of attacks.
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How we test endpoint protection for small businesses
SE Labs has extensive experience in endpoint protection testing. We have found that it is essential to conduct these tests regularly to ensure that the security vendors are keeping them up-to-date and effective. Our testing methodology involves replicating real-world cyberattack scenarios and evaluating how well the endpoint security solutions perform in detecting, preventing, and mitigating those attacks.
One of the key aspects of endpoint protection testing is the use of realistic attack scenarios. Our team of experts analyses the latest threat intelligence and creates attack scenarios that closely mimic the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by real-world cybercriminals. By doing so, we can determine how well the endpoint security solutions perform in detecting and preventing these attacks.
Choose your reports and reviews carefully
We pride ourselves on a level of transparency that elevates our work above the less open reports available. But don’t just take our word for it. This report has gone through the AMTSO certification process to ensure that we say what we’re going to do; do it; and can prove it. Our results help vendors improve their products and buyers choose the best for their own needs.
Critical Endpoint Protection
Realistic attacks for useful results
Endpoint protection is a critical component of any organisation’s cyber security strategy
And if it’s critical then you should test it. And have others run assessments too. Testing endpoint protection involves evaluating the effectiveness of the security solutions. These solutions are deployed on endpoint devices such as desktops, laptops and mobile devices. Endpoint protection testing is necessary because endpoints are often the target of cyberattacks. Endpoints can be used as a gateway to gain access to sensitive data.
Our reports help you choose the best home anti-malware product that can protect you from ransomware and other types of attack.
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SE Labs has extensive experience in endpoint protection testing. We have found that it is essential to conduct these tests regularly to ensure that the security vendors are keeping them up-to-date and effective. Our testing methodology involves replicating real-world cyberattack scenarios. And then evaluating how well the endpoint security solutions perform in detecting, preventing, and mitigating those attacks.
One of the key aspects of endpoint protection testing is the use of realistic attack scenarios. Our team of experts analyses the latest threat intelligence and creates attack scenarios that closely mimic the tactics, techniques, and procedures used by real-world cybercriminals. By doing so, we can determine how well the endpoint security solutions perform in detecting and preventing these attacks.
Choose your reports and reviews carefully
We pride ourselves on a level of transparency that elevates our work above the less open reports available. But don’t just take our word for it. This report has gone through the AMTSO certification process to ensure that we say what we’re going to do; do it; and can prove it. Our results help vendors improve their products and buyers choose the best for their own needs.
