In terms of features, G Data delivers on lots of what you’d expect from an extensive suite. G Data’s straightforward, simple interface doesn’t degrade the experience by hiding the security status. Like many other programs this program uses green ticks or a caption to indicate the security status.
The program is also very efficient in blocking new malware. The ‘virus monitoring’ service that routes your traffic through the G Data cloud service not just updates the virus definition files, but also detects malware based on its behavior. G Data blocked all of the unknown malware that we threw at it during our tests. There was just one false positive.
In AV Comparatives’ offline detection test, G Data scored even better than Bitdefender’s close relative did. This is probably due the program’s own DeepRay engine that detects malicious code that has been disguised by looking at the actions that malware is trying to carry out. It examines patterns that could indicate malicious intent. For example, changing the settings of other programs, or tracking keystrokes.
However it does fall short in a few areas that we consider to be important for an antivirus software suite. The program doesn’t offer a parental control, VPN or firewall. If you’re looking to add these features then you’ll need G Data’s more expensive Internet Security package. This is a major disadvantage, especially since top-of-the-line rivals such as Norton 360 and Bitdefender provide them at a similar or less expensive cost.
