G Data offers a wide array of features that you would expect from a comprehensive software suite. G Data’s easy-to-use interface doesn’t dumb down the experience by hiding security status. Like other programs, this one uses a green tick or a caption to display the security status.
The program also does an excellent job of spotting and blocking new malware. The ‚virus monitor’ that directs your internet traffic through G Data’s cloud service not only updates the virus definition file it also detects and block malware based upon its behavior. In our tests, G Data detected and blocked all the unknown malware we tested, with just one false positive.
In AV Comparatives offline detection test, G Data scored even better than Bitdefender’s close relative did. This is likely due to the program’s own DeepRay engine which detects malicious code that has been disguised by looking at the actions the malware tries to perform. Among other activities, it is looking for patterns that could indicate malicious intent, such as changing the settings of programs or monitoring keystrokes.
The program falls short in a number of areas we believe are essential for an anti-virus software suite. The program doesn’t offer parental control, VPN or firewall. If you’re interested in these features then you’ll need G Data’s more expensive Internet Security package. This is a major drawback, particularly since top-tier rivals such as Norton 360 and Bitdefender provide the same features at a cheaper cost.