G Data offers a wide array of features that you would expect from a full software suite. It has a simple, plain-looking opening screen that doesn’t make things complicated by ignoring security status by displaying the « Protected! » caption or a green tick like a lot of other programs.
The program is also efficient in blocking and detecting new malware. The virus monitor that transmits your web traffic to G Data’s cloud platform not only updates the virus definition file but also detects and blocks malware based on behavior. In our tests, G Data detected and blocked all new, unknown malware that we tossed at it with only one false positive.
G Data performed even better in AV Comparatives offline detection test than Bitdefender, a close relative. This is likely due to the program’s in-house DeepRay engine, which detects malware disguised by looking at all the actions that malware is typically attempting to perform. In addition, it looks for patterns that would suggest malicious intent, for instance, changing the settings of applications or monitoring keystrokes.
The program falls short in a number of areas that we believe to be important for an anti-virus software suite. The program does not include firewalls, VPN, or parental controls. If you’re looking for those features then you’ll need G Data’s more expensive Internet Security package. This is a significant disadvantage, especially since top-of-the-line rivals such as Norton 360 and Bitdefender provide the same features at a lower price.