ESET actively combats the distribution of keys associated with terms like "160260" or those found on social media:

Searching for and using keys obtained via Facebook groups poses severe security threats. Paradoxically, attempting to secure a computer using these methods often compromises it.

Students, teachers, and NGO staff can request discounted or free ESET licenses through ESET’s academic program or techsoup.org.


Why do people search for “ESET license key Facebook” specifically? Because Facebook groups and Marketplace have become unofficial bazaars for stolen or counterfeit software credentials.

Here’s what actually happens when you join those groups:

A user posts: “ESET Internet Security 160260 license key – first come, first served!” You try the key. It works! For a day. Then ESET’s license blacklist catches up, and the key is revoked. This is because the key was either a trial key shared by thousands or a key stolen from a business.

Many files shared in Facebook groups claiming to be "Key Generators" or "Trial Resetters" for ESET contain malware. Since users are often instructed to disable their antivirus to run these tools (a standard procedure for cracking software), the system is left completely exposed.