Self : Review : GData Internet Security 2010

[grr]

Part-1



Disclaimer: All review posted by me are my own work. They are not copied from anywhere. I'm free to post this elsewhere. I will not post any kind of rating, etc. It is entirely based on experience - which I'm sharing.


Part-2

Review

1. Description

G Data InternetSecurity is completely undetectable. Self-learning fingerprinting and whitelisting accelerate the test-winning protection so that PC performance remains completely unaffected.


2. Image(s)




3. Link to developer page/site/blog

http://www.gdata-software.com/online-shop/anti-virus-produkte/shop/46-private-users/964-g-data-internetsecurity-2010.html

4. Availability of trial

Yes. 273Mb

http://www.gdata-software.com/typo3conf/ext/dam_frontend/pushfile.php?docID=5441

5. System Requirements

OS:
Windows 7 (32/64Bit)
Windows XP at least SP 2 (32/64Bit)
Windows Vista (32/64Bit

RAM:
512 MB


6. Features



Includes:

* AntiVirus
* AntiSpyware
* AntiPhising
* AntiRookit
* Child-Protection



7. Benefits

Simple user guidance - ideal for beginners:

* With new “one click” user interfaces - everything at a glance
* Automatically carries out all protection functions undetected in the background
* Silent firewall without annoying querying



8. Version Tested/Reviewed





9. Self review - includes Pros, Cons, difference from other products

Brief

I was using F-Secure while I got a license of Gdata from a promo. So today I thought to give it a try. So give me the opportunity to take you through a potential review of Gdata Internet Security 2010.



Pros

1. Has dual Engine. So better protection. Similar of having 2 different security software's
2. Updates are very quick and small in size
3. Updates can be done only by entering valid license and registering. So pirated keys cannot be used.
4. 1 click maintenance to fix the problems like, updates, scan, virus monitor, Internet protection





5. Contains 5 products in one package: Antivirus, AntiSpyware, AntiPhishing, AntiRootkit, Parental Control

6. 1 click and see the Statistics from the Tray Icon See below







7. Easy to disable monitor, firewall & autopilot from the tray icon







8. Easy to update from the Tray Icon





9. Ability to automatically pause the virus check in case of High System load







10. Ability to select either of Engine A or Engine B; or Both.





11. Ability to schedule Virus checks. Does not requires user intervention.






12. Ability to create a Bootable CD to automatically check the system for virus/infections, in case the system could not be started using the installed OS.

[grr]

13. The logs from the Firewall provide complete details as to what was going on. It includes information like: Network used, Protocol Used, Direction of use, Host Name, port and many others. See an example below:






14. On uninstalling it leaves less clutter than other similar products. However it does not deletes the extracted set-up file of 273Mb size.

15. On uninstalling it completely removed your registration information. This is something other products won't do.


16. Parental control can be set-up for each existing user. Also new users could be added. this not just limited to content usage, but also Internet & Computer usage. See below:





17. It also adds an add-on to the browsers for checking the Web-content. Similar to Mcafee Site advisor and WOT. See below:







18. It also has another useful tool by the name "G Data Shredder". This tool helps deleting the files completely, so that they cannot be recovered back.

19. To reduce the scan time you could select the file types you would like to scan. See below:

[Alboguy]

Good job grr!! And thanks for sharing...

[grr]

Cons

1. Rootkit Scanning takes a lot of time. I just canceled it.


As the scan was still going on for more than 2.5 hours without showing any progress, I canceled it.


2. Once the scan is canceled, it still keeps on going. See proofs below








3. Is a resource hog. Adds many processes
4. Installation takes a lot of time and hangs the system completely. See proof below:






5. Scanning a single file of 273mb (setup) eats 60-63% CPU. See proofs below










6. In the scan GUI against the Start time: it shows the date. The field should have been named as Start Date. See Below:






7. By default the Firewall setting is set to Normal--which allows everything.


8. During or After installation there is no wizard which allows/assists the user to set different settings. All the settings are set by default. Lack of wizard makes it difficult to go into each product and change the setting.

9. While scanning a single file of 273mb (setup), it keeps on going--without showing any progress .

As the scan was still going on for more than 2.5 hours without showing any progress, I canceled it.

EDIT: I uninstalled and then reinstalled it back. Now the scan for the same file ended in less than a minute. I was perplexed to see this ambiguity.


10. The help file gets closed, if the main interface is closed. It should have 2 independent thread for both of them. It is a bug.


11. While checking the Firewall logs, GData process GDFwSvc.exe eats almost more than 70% of the CPU. Proof below:






10. Self image(s)





11. PC configuration where tested/used - OS, RAM, CPU, HDD

OS:
Win-XP with SP-2; 32 bit

RAM:
1 Gb

CPU:
Centrino Duo, 2 Ghz

HDD:
60 Gb



12. Any other security related products currently installed

Yes.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Pro V1.45.


13. Other similar products used recently

F-Secure Internet Security 2010
Kaspersky Internet Security 2010
Avast Antivirus Professional
Bitdefender Internet Security 2010


14. TIPS

1. DO NOT use the firewall. Just disable it. Reason firewall eats up to 50% CPU and slows down your system to an extent that you would uninstall GData.
2. Do not use this product for scanning .exe file. It goes into infinite, never ending scan mode.
3. Even though it has 2 Engines (A & B), still it is comparatively low on system resources. Assuming that you DO NOT use Firewall.
4. Set the configurations after the set-up is done. DO NOT trust and go by the default settings.
5. Have good amount of disk space (at least 3gb free) before installing.
6. Peak Memory usage is 27,936 K.
7. DO NOT trust the Remaining time, as it changes frequently
8. The time elapsed also is ambiguous. WHY? Because --I did a full scan of my computer. While when I selected "pause scan on load", it didn't counted that time. Though the FULL Scan lasted for approximately 6 hours, it showed the scan time as only some 3 hrs and 15 minutes.



I hope you liked the review. Please feel free to post your comments and/or suggestions. It would be nice to hear from you.

[noaccount]

wow very detailed review. i'm going to read later, when i tried gdata antivirus what i didnt like was the extra long time to update & scan, if compared with u know what

[sujay]

I uninstalled G-Data Yesterday. It took forever during a scan.
Also it kept on with the notification "checking download", even when I was not downloading anything.
I had no problems otherwise. It did not slowed down my system.

[leofelix]

Hi grr,
thank you for your efferts.
let me ask and add something:

As the scan was still going on for more than 2.5 hours without showing any progress, I canceled it.

I use Gdata antivirus 2010 on a computer of mine and progress bar is shown as far as I remember.
And even if you couldn't see the progress bar why cancelling the scan?

EDIT: I uninstalled and then reinstalled it back. Now the scan for the same file ended in less than a minute. I was perplexed to see this ambiguity.

It is likely you didn't delete Gdata personal settings when you uninistalled it the first time

GData won't check files already scanned unless they have been changed in the meanwhile.
Go to antivirus option>advanced and customize . it

1. DO NOT use the firewall. Just disable it. Reason firewall eats up to 50% CPU and slows down your system to an extent that you would uninstall GData.

I have never used Gdata firewall, but you can uncheck it during set up;-) and use another firewall: I use PC tools firewall plus even because is very light in memory usage and more effective.
Or go to control panel>add remove programs and uninstall the built in firewall

8. The time elapsed also is ambiguous. WHY? Because --I did a full scan of my computer. While when I selected "pause scan on load", it didn't counted that time. Though the FULL Scan lasted for approximately 6 hours, it showed the scan time as only some 3 hrs and 15 minutes.

The first scan take always a long time: it depends on how many files are stored on your HD, what CPU you use, HD speed, RAM installed and other possible resident security software installed.
Even Kaspersky takes a long time during the first scan: it is normal.
Some users are used to scan their system while surfing or chatting for example: this is wrong.
It showed 3 h and 15 minutes because you paused the scan: pause is not counted as you said
Nothing strange as a result;-)

Moreover Gdata will protect you against infected scripts while surfing.
Gdata offers a behaviour blocker as well: you will be prompted if some software is attempting to modify system and registry areas

4. Installation takes a lot of time and hangs the system completely. See proof below:

You downloaded Gdata ISO rescue disc too didn't you?
If yes now you know why it took to long to install: it had to extract ISO file during setup
It might hang up your system if other processes are running the the same time: i.e you have other softwares running in background which may conflict and you are trying to kill them

2. Do not use this product for scanning .exe file. It goes into infinite, never ending scan mode.

never happened to me on 2 computers + a VM where I tested Gdata IS

17. It also adds an add-on to the browsers for checking the Web-content. Similar to Mcafee Site advisor and WOT.

No, it is not similar to WOT or Siteadvisor: it is an antiphising add on, it won't show the reputation website: it will prevent you to visit known phishing web sites

8. During or After installation there is no wizard which allows/assists the user to set different settings. All the settings are set by default. Lack of wizard makes it difficult to go into each product and change the setting.

You may customize your installation in order to chose what component (firewall, parental control etc etc) you do not want to install.
You may customize other settings after installing it: what and how to check (A) external storage, USB flash drivers /DVD/Floppy discs B) sytem area at every start up C) all file or only the most important files both for scanning and real time protection.

This is normal: every antivirus or security suite act in the same way. :-)

OS:
Win-XP with SP-2; 32 bit

RAM:
1 Gb

CPU:
Centrino Duo, 2 Ghz

HDD:
60 Gb

And do you still you wonder why Gdata uses too memory and takes too long to scan?;D

Just a question: why did you install the parental control?
Unless you have children at home and share your computer with them, of course

Ah, you forgot to mention the built in firewall and the behaviour blocker:

Includes:

* AntiVirus
* AntiSpyware
* AntiPhising
* AntiRookit
* Child-Protection

Thank you

[grr]

Thanks Alboguy, noaccount, sujay & leo..

I use Gdata antivirus 2010 on a computer of mine and progress bar is shown as far as I remember.
And even if you couldn't see the progress bar why cancelling the scan?

I couldn't control my patience to go on for 8 hours & more...so I gave up. Also during the scan I was not able to use the system...

It is likely you didn't delete Gdata personal settings when you uninistalled it the first time

Yes, I uninstalled everthing and remember checking the personal settings option during uninstall.

GData won't check files already scanned unless they have been changed in the meanwhile.
Go to antivirus option>advanced and customize . it

Yep..i know abt it..

I have never used Gdata firewall, but you can uncheck it during set up;-) and use another firewall: I use PC tools firewall plus even because is very light in memory usage and more effective.
Or go to control panel>add remove programs and uninstall the built in firewall

Yes, I'm aware of it. But as I wanted to test it out for review, I had to install it.. But it is complete waste.

The first scan take always a long time: it depends on how many files are stored on your HD, what CPU you use, HD speed, RAM installed and other possible resident security software installed.
Even Kaspersky takes a long time during the first scan: it is normal.
Some users are used to scan their system while surfing or chatting for example: this is wrong.
It showed 3 h and 15 minutes because you paused the scan: pause is not counted as you said
Nothing strange as a result;-)

I agree. Fsecure & Avast did the scan much faster with low use of resources. As I said in my review I'm just sharing my experience. It may vary from user to user; system to system..

Moreover Gdata will protect you against infected scripts while surfing.
Gdata offers a behaviour blocker as well: you will be prompted if some software is attempting to modify system and registry areas

Hmm..didn't got a chance to check, as I had to leave it scanning and let it complete..

You downloaded Gdata ISO rescue disc too didn't you?
If yes now you know why it took to long to install: it had to extract ISO file during setup
It might hang up your system if other processes are running the the same time: i.e you have other softwares running in background which may conflict and you are trying to kill them

No, i just d/l the setup i mentioned in the link in my review.

never happened to me on 2 computers + a VM where I tested Gdata IS

Good for you..

No, it is not similar to WOT or Siteadvisor: it is an antiphising add on, it won't show the reputation website: it will prevent you to visit known phishing web sites

Good point, I'll edit my post. Thanks

You may customize your installation in order to chose what component (firewall, parental control etc etc) you do not want to install.
You may customize other settings after installing it: what and how to check (A) external storage, USB flash drivers /DVD/Floppy discs B) sytem area at every start up C) all file or only the most important files both for scanning and real time protection.

This is normal: every antivirus or security suite act in the same way. :-)

Yes, for review I installed everything.

And do you still you wonder why Gdata uses too memory and takes too long to scan?;D

It is as per their system specification..

Just a question: why did you install the parental control?
Unless you have children at home and share your computer with them, of course

for review I installed everything.

[grr]

Ah, you forgot to mention the built in firewall and the behaviour blocker:

I think I mentioned in point-6 Features...is it something that i miss I would then have to install it again..

Also Leo, are u still using Gdata or Avira?

[leofelix]

Thank you for your reply
I hope your are not used to test security software into a productive environment, that could be your main PC.
For such a purpose there exist Virtual Machines and Test PCs.
I hope you took a system image backup before proceeding in order to restore your system after the test.

If you didn't follow any of the above mentioned procedures: let me say you are a martyr of the cause! LOL

IN regards to infected script you won't find them by running a system scan but while surfing the web.

Yes, for review I installed everything.

I see, but you cannot say that Gdata doesn't offer any choice to customize it anyhow.

- You wonder why when you uninstalled Gdata, the original setup file was not removed. This is normal for every software
- If you download Gdata ISO Rescue disc it will be extracted anyway during setup.
- you should specify that you perfomed a full scan by allowing Gdata to scan all files, that's why the first scan took too long. It is normal.
- and you cannot expect an excellent overall performance with your HW software configuration.

In my Country we are used to say that "Haste makes waste!" (or "Impatience gives bad advices");-)
It means that before talking about a security software, for instance, you should test it for several days in order to provide a more accurate review.
People who will read your review and never tried Gdata could think it is not a good software and this is not true.

In order to satisfy you curiosity:
I have 6 computers in the same LAN
(plus a MacOsX which I cannot use now and an old PC with Windows 98)
8 Computers as a grand total.

As a consequence, yes I use several security software.
Gdata antivirus is installed in a desktop PC
Avira is installed on a Virtual Machine.

I have to feed my computers;-)

Well thank you again
I appreciate your efforts and I'd like you to improve, because you can!