G DATA AntiVirus is extremely simple to use. The main configuration and info page has all of the important functions that you will need. Options that aren’t immediately available can be located easily because of the intuitive organization and simple user interface. There are a variety of advanced options throughout G DATA AntiVirus 2009, but the basics are right at-hand and clear-cut.
One of the best aspects of G DATA AntiVirus is that there isn’t much user intervention required. The default configuration is sufficient for most home users. You can easily schedule the complete virus scans to run when you won’t be using the computer. But you can also set the program to be automatically detect when you’re running other programs, and it will pause for a time. Of course the background monitoring will continue to run, protecting your computer.
Antivirus software is only as good as its level of protection, and AntiVirus from G DATA certainly is effective. AntiVirus 2009 actually runs two distinct antivirus engines, for very thorough protection. It is also nice that the software doesn’t eat up many resources while scanning. We were able to run a couple of other demanding programs while G DATA kept scanning.
G DATA AntiVirus has been certified by ICSA, VB 100%, and W.C. in years previous, and we have no reason to believe that their latest software is any less effective. In fact, in various other independent tests (AV Test, Raymond, AV Comparatives) G DATA has outperformed most if not all other antivirus programs. The general consensus is that G DATA might be a bit slower than some, but is the most thorough and effective at detecting and removing viruses. And when it comes right down to it, isn’t that the most important?
G DATA AntiVirus has worked hard to improve their speed. The newest version even incorporates ParallelScan technology. This simultaneous scan allows for computers running dual or quad-core processors to distribute the workload and allocate resources efficiently. Combined with other features, ParallelScan can help G DATA run up to five times faster.
With new computer threats making themselves known every day, updates are a crucial aspect of antivirus software. G DATA is up to date on current threats, and updates accordingly as major threats are detected. G DATA is set up by default to perform an hourly virus check, but actual detection updates happen every minute with the OutbreakShield. Luckily you can set the updates for both the software and virus definitions to happen automatically and without interfering.
G DATA can even help protect your computer from presently unknown threats. With heuristic scanning, G DATA AntiVirus keeps an eye on files and watches out for files that even have the traditional characteristics of viruses.
G DATA AntiVirus comes equipped with all the essential tools to keep your computer safe. And while it doesn’t have some additional features that add convenience (gamer mode, password protected settings), the software has a healthy dose of extra features.
One great feature of G DATA is that it comes with a boot CD that can be used on your computer prior to installation. The boot CD can run a safe Linux-based scan to locate and remove rootkits, making it possible to load antivirus software on a completely virus-free system.
Another impressive option is the ability to scan removable media for malware. You can check USB flash drives, memory cards, CD and DVD-roms, and external hard drives.
With G DATA AntiVirus you can protect yourself and your friends. You can set G DATA to monitor emails you send to others and make sure that you don’t accidentally pass on malware. Furthermore, you can use AntiVirus to create a boot CD (read above) that you can use on a different computer. If a friend’s computer has been attacked by a virus, you can help them remove rootkits and other malware safely, so that they can then install antivirus software on their own computer.
Installing G DATA AntiVirus is as simple as following the prompts and letting it run. It took us about eight minutes to download the software on our test computer, and another two minutes to install. After installation, we only had to restart our computer once.
Of course when you start up the program for the first time, you’ll need to perform an update, and you’ll want to run a complete system scan. This takes time, but wasn’t that long (half hour), and can then be set to run on your own schedule.
Support for G DATA AntiVirus is a bit lacking. G DATA does offer email support and phone support, but keep in mind that they are based in Germany. As far as online help, we were unimpressed. You can submit a support ticket, but the process is a bit lengthy. The software itself has a thorough built-in help section, complete with a useful glossary and FAQs sections. But the only online help, a small FAQs section only includes products from 2005 and 2006.
Overall, G DATA AntiVirus is a phenomenal antivirus product. The software is simple, straightforward, and safe. G DATA is effective at keeping your computer safe from all sorts of malware, including viruses, trojans, browser hijackers, dialers, worms, phishing scams, and rootkits. And the software protects you on all fronts, from email to instant messaging, to HTTP traffic. With a good set of features, solid user interface and excellent effectiveness, G DATA AntiVirus is one of the best antivirus software solutions.
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