apparently you haven't used Eset yet?
it does block all the toolbars, and it will block connections to bad websites, and also block downloads.
Originally Posted By: Mystic
I think Microsoft Security Essentials (Windows 7 and before) and Windows Defender (Windows 8/8.1) have a weakness when it comes to PUPs. But typically the computer user may have to accept some responsibility if PUPs get installed on his computer. A lot of people will download all kinds of questionable software such as registry cleaners and screensavers. Microsoft has said that registry cleaners are useless.
But sometimes various software companies will include questionable software in their software. For example, if you are trying to download an update to some Adobe software such as Adobe Reader you need to check carefully that no other software is included in the download. If something like the Ask Toolbar is included in the download a person would have to uncheck that part of the download.
I went to Microsoft.com a while back and apparently Microsoft is going to have stricter rules when it comes to adware. So the accuracy of Microsoft Security Essentials/Windows Defender may increase soon. Some of the stuff that is being counted as malware is adware and PUPs.
But no antivirus software can protect a person if they are going to insist on downloading all sorts of strange software on the internet and going to questionable websites and torrent file downloading websites, or pirated software websites. And even if downloading legitimate software a person has to check that no extra software like the Ask Toolbar is included.
I don't think it hurts to use a quality antivirus like ESET. But a person could probably just use the Microsoft antivirus software if they used good common sense on the internet and were careful when downloading software, including updates to existing software, and used the free version of Malwarebytes and occasionally did scans with the ESET online scan. The Microsoft antivirus is included in Windows 8/8.1 and the free version of Malwarebytes and the ESET online scan are free.