ESET frequently runs promotional campaigns during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and back-to-school seasons where licenses are heavily discounted.
| Method | Mechanism | Detection Risk | |--------|-----------|----------------| | | Deletes license token and activation timestamps, forcing the software to request a new trial key from ESET servers. | High – ESET now links trial keys to hardware ID (HWID) or MAC address. | | System restore / reinstallation | Restores OS to pre-activation state. | Moderate – Many modern EIS versions store a hidden marker in non-volatile UEFI/NVRAM. | | Modified hosts file | Blocks ESET activation servers (to prevent expiration check). | Very High – Prevents virus definition updates, leaving system vulnerable. | | Leaked “forever trial” keys | Shared keys found on forums. | Extremely High – ESET quickly blacklists such keys; may also flag your IP as abusive. | Eset Internet Security Trial Key