For the nonce I have started using G-Data Internet Security as part of my aging laptop's security. Reasons for my present use of GD include: =>GD has a full spectrum of protective components: real-time patrolling, AI/behavior-blocker (known as the BEAST), firewall, specific protection against exploits & keyloggers, email monitor, Bankguard, autostart manager. Each component can be user enabled/disabled. =>GD is a long-time participant in AV-Comparatives testing, with consistently top-tier results as to protection and performance. =>Based in Germany, GD has a strong home-user base plus a solid enteprise-user base. Thus, GD is highly unlikely to be sold or go out of business. (I hope) =>I love bargains!!! There is a reseller (serialcart dot com) that gave me an altogether lovely discount on GD Internet Security. They are fully legit -- GD quickly accepted the license that singlecart sold me. SITUATION: GD uses TWO antivirus engines -- BitDefender (BD) and GD's own engine. User can set GD to either (a) run both engines, OR (b) run only the BD engine. NOTE: The fact that user is given this option indicates that GD will still be okay with just the BD engine, right? QUESTION: BitDefender's own AV app is consistently one of AV-Comparative's top-tier AVs so ---WHY not turn off the GD engine & rely solely on BD's engine? Any comments or opinions will be greatly appreciated.
Foremost I don't use G-Data apps so have zero experience but two AV engines under one roof leads me to think that it has something to do with layered security. How it's efficient and if this is not on account of performance I can't say. One thing is sure though GD engine isn't on par with BD engine otherwise you could use it alone. That opens question why GD engine is there and what actually does.
Apparently G DATA developed the world's first antivirus software in 1987. They also developed something called Close Gap technology for use inhouse..
Yeah, that definitely counts but it means nothing nowadays. However I don't say their engine is bad but what strikes me is that they primarily use BD engine.
No need at all for dual AV engines. More is not better. I am an high-risk internet user and I have never had any kind of malware-ever. Use something basic like WD and make an image every day-no worries.
I used G DATA from 2008 till early 2020 (when I migrated from Windows 7 to Kubuntu). I always understood the G DATA engine was an addition to the Bitdefender engine, for the few things the Bitdefender engine missed. Also, I don't know if the Bitdefender engine in the G DATA application works as well as 'the whole package' Bitdefender application does. In several tests over the years, Bitdefender did better than G DATA. For those reasons, if I used G DATA, I would not disable the G DATA engine, but I'd use the whole package.
F-Secure and Emsisoft also use their own engines to supplement the purchased main engine. Obviously, these additions are intended to compensate for weaknesses in the main engine. I didn't notice any speed disadvantages with either program.
@stapp -- I didn't know that. Interesting! @Stupendous Man -- Excellent rationale. I shall follow your advice. THANKS!
You're welcome, bellgamin. Oldie1950 said something similar regarding the use of an additional own engine to supplement the purchased engine. I hope you'll like G DATA. I used it about twelve years, it was OK. There were some little annoyances, like strict blocking of PUP supported installers (there are options to whitelist such installer, but it wasn't the easiest thing), and also the fact that G DATA mentioned anything that it detected as unwanted, like PUP supported installers, as "Virus", which I think is plain stupid. I tried to convince G DATA to use better descriptions, like PUP for PUPs, not virus, but G DATA was very stubborn. Apart from those little annoyances, I thought G DATA was OK.
Well I for one couldn't stand all that RED for an AV it would disturb me into thinking I had a virus.
Maybe you want an AV color to match your eyes, wot? Anyhow, those G-Data pages are rarely seen except when doing initial settings. G-Data is an excellent AV and has a very powerful AI/behavior blocker (called "Beast") for 0-day & other stuff that might squeeze by sigs. I hope color won't deter you from using an excellent AV -- whether it be G-Data or any other top-tier AV. BTW, per your signature you are a Linux adherent. Are you even using Windows any more?
I want to know about the two engines used by GData Total Security. While running a test it detected a trojan and logged: "Engine B". Which two engines it uses ? Secondly, their website does not show any email where they can be contacted. Their products are not available on Amazon India and I would like to contact them. The online shop is expensive. Their distributor in India is not reachable. Do they have any forums?
