Multiscanning

Multiscanning is running multiple anti-malware or antivirus engines concurrently. Traditionally, only a single engine can actively scan a system at a given time. Using multiple engines simultaneously can result in conflicts that lead to system freezes and application failures.[1][2] However, a number of security applications and application suites have optimized multiple engines to work together.

Reason

Testing agencies published results showing that no single antivirus engine is 100% effective against every malware threat.[3][4] Because each engine uses different scanning methodologies and updates their malware definition files at various frequencies, using multiple engines increases the likelihood of catching malware before it can affect a system or network.[5]

Notable vendors

• F-Secure – Combines an in-house engine with Avira's engine.[6]
• G Data AntiVirus – Combines in-house and BitDefender's engines. avast has been removed with version 2014.[7]
• HitmanPro – Combines an in-house behavioral engine with a cloud containing engines from Kaspersky Lab, BitDefender and Sophos.[8]
• Lavasoft Ad-Aware – Combines an in-house anti-spyware engine with Bitdefender's engine.
• Microsoft Forefront – Combines the engines of Authentium, Kaspersky, Norman and VirusBuster, with its own in-house engine.[9]
• OPSWAT MetaDefender Cloud – Combines over 30 anti-malware engines to scan files for malware. Also available on-premise.[10]
• Qihoo 360 Internet Security use Bitdefender Engine, QVM 2 Engine,360 Cloud engine. But, the Chinese version includes the Avira engine additionally.
• TrustPort Antivirus – Combines the engines of BitDefender and AVG.

See also

• Comparison of antivirus software
• Comparison of firewalls
• Internet Security

References

1. Clash Of The Antivirus Apps. Smart Computing Article (2007-01-05). Retrieved on 2012-02-29.
2. System Locks With Multiple Anti-Virus Programs | Dell. Support.dell.com (2005-03-15). Retrieved on 2012-02-29.
3. Why one virus engine is not enough. GFI White Paper. gfi.com
4. AV-TEST.org. AV-TEST. Retrieved on 2012-02-29.
5. The advantage of multiple anti-virus engines on server products – Forefront Team Blog – Site Home – TechNet Blogs. Blogs.technet.com (2007-10-19). Retrieved on 2012-02-29.
6. Bitdefender Releases Carrier IQ Finder for Android.
7. Complete coverage of the G Data Internet Security 2010 Antivirus & Security Software. PCWorld (2009-05-28). Retrieved on 2012-02-29.
8. HitmanPro
9. New Microsoft Forefront Software Runs Five Antivirus Vendors' Engines. Dark Reading (2010-05-05). Retrieved on 2012-02-29.
10. MetaDefender Core - Advanced Threat Prevention Development Platform