G DATA Antivirus Review: Built for Secure Browsing

At a Glance

G DATA, founded in 1987 in Germany, created the world’s first commercial antivirus software. They aim to protect businesses of all sizes, critical infrastructures, and millions of individuals worldwide. Their expertise spans antivirus software, endpoint protection, AI-driven technologies like DeepRay®, and online security awareness training. G DATA also collaborates closely with German law enforcement to strengthen cyber defense efforts, combining technical innovation with real-world experience. Independent tests have repeatedly recognized G DATA for their outstanding detection rates against Trojans, malware, and even unknown threats, reinforcing their reputation as one of the top performers in IT security.

Features & Services

Virus and malware scanning: G DATA uses a dual-engine scanning system that combines traditional signature-based detection with advanced techniques to catch a wide range of threats, including new and evolving malware samples.

Real-time protection: Security processes run continuously in the background to block threats as they emerge, offering full web protection without significantly impacting system performance. Even during a full system scan or scheduled virus scans, G DATA maintains low disruption.

Anti-spam and anti-phishing: Filters suspicious emails and websites, blocking fake login pages and scams that target financial sites or steal personal data. The software includes email check tools and a local spam filter for added email safety.

Online banking and shopping protection: BankGuard technology creates a secure environment around your browser sessions, offering added protection for transactions. This feature works with common browsers, including Internet Explorer, and helps prevent man-in-the-browser attacks.

Integrated firewall: Shields your device from unauthorized access by filtering both incoming and outgoing traffic. Users can set detailed rules through the security center, which works alongside tools like the autostart manager to block background threats from launching on boot.

Quarantine management: Automatically isolates suspicious files, allowing for safe manual review or removal. During a first scan, users can quarantine potentially dangerous items, including infected files found on removable drives like USB sticks.

Mobile device security: On Android and iOS, G DATA offers app permission control, password protection, lost device tracking, and mobile web protection through a secure browser.

Cross-platform support: A single registration code covers Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. Users can manage protection through a shared security center, keeping their full antivirus suite updated monthly or more frequently.

QR code scanner: Built into the mobile security app, this tool scans QR codes to detect hidden phishing links or malware. It’s especially useful when interacting with QR codes from emails or shared via platforms like Google Drive.

Plans & Prices

Antivirus Windows

G DATA’s antivirus plan offers award-winning virus protection for Macs and Windows PCs, covering threats like viruses, Trojans, spyware, and other malware without slowing down performance. It also detects Windows malware, helping you avoid passing infections to others.

Priced at $29.95 per year, the antivirus plan includes browser protection to block phishing websites and dangerous links, plus an easy drag-and-drop feature to scan suspicious files or removable media quickly.

Internet Security plan

The Internet Security plan, priced at $39.95 per year, adds stronger protection to the antivirus package, including a powerful firewall, secure online banking and shopping tools, and email scanning to block threats before they reach you. It also protects against ransomware, exploits in programs like Microsoft Office, and tampered USB devices.

Parents can manage internet access with built-in parental controls, while Android and iOS devices get extra security with real-time scanning, phishing protection, app control, and lost device tracking.

Total security plan

G DATA’s Total Security plan, available for $49.95 per year, includes everything from the Internet Security package and adds even more tools to protect your personal data and boost system performance. It features a password manager to create and store strong passwords securely, making weak login credentials a thing of the past.

The plan also includes a Performance Tuner that removes unnecessary files to speed up your computer. You can encrypt your important files with just a few clicks, storing them safely either locally or on external drives. Total Security also strengthens USB device control, letting you decide who can access your USB ports to block unauthorized devices and prevent malware infections.

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Advantages

USB Keyboard Guard

USB Keyboard Guard detects and blocks malicious USB devices that pretend to be keyboards. It protects against a type of attack that most antivirus tools don’t cover.

Rollback feature

G DATA includes a rollback function that can reverse harmful changes made by malware. If a threat slips through and makes system-level changes, the software can restore your files and settings to their pre-infection state.

BEAST behavior blocker

BEAST is G DATA’s real-time behavior analysis engine. It monitors how programs act and stops suspicious activity on the spot, helping to catch zero-day threats that traditional scanning might miss.

Free trial

G DATA offers a 30-day free trial with full access to their features. This lets users test the software, including malware protection, real-time scanning, and browser safety, before committing to a paid plan.

CloseGap technology

This patented hybrid engine balances signature-based and behavior-based detection. It intelligently switches between both methods to respond faster to threats, without relying on a constant cloud connection.

Specialized BankGuard protection

BankGuard secures your online financial sessions by building a safe zone around your browser. It prevents malware from hijacking or altering transactions, offering more than basic HTTPS-level security.

Disadvantages

Mobile protection only supports Android

G DATA offers a dedicated security app for Android devices, which includes features like real-time malware scanning, phishing protection, app control, and remote lock and locate tools. However, their mobile protection does not extend to iOS in the same way. There’s no app-level malware scanning, permission monitoring, or anti-theft functionality on iOS. This creates a noticeable gap in coverage, especially for users with multiple device types who expect consistent protection across platforms.

No dedicated software or driver updater

G DATA focuses on core security functions like malware detection and behavioral analysis, but they don’t include a tool to update outdated applications or system drivers automatically. This is a drawback for users who want a more complete maintenance solution bundled with their antivirus. In contrast, several competitors offer built-in updaters to streamline this process and reduce vulnerability windows. Without this feature, G DATA users need to rely on third-party tools or manage updates themselves.

Customer Experience

Most customer reviews for G DATA are positive, with users praising their strong protection and reliability. On Trustpilot, G DATA holds a rating of 4.2 out of 5 based on 500 reviews. G2 also rates them at 4.0 out of 5. Overall, many customers trust G DATA for dependable malware defense, although there are some recurring concerns about performance and customer service.

Positive reviews

Positive reviews often highlight G DATA’s ability to block malware quickly and effectively, with several users mentioning improvements in system speed over the years. One customer shared that after encountering a malware infection, G DATA’s behavior blocker immediately stopped the threat and rolled back the damage, describing the experience as “brilliant.” Others have noted consistent protection over several years with only minimal impact on their computer’s performance, calling the software light, efficient, and dependable.

Critical reviews

Negative reviews, however, focus on a few specific frustrations. Some users reported that customer support was slow to respond and unhelpful when troubleshooting issues, especially with VPN settings. Others complained about high system resource usage during certain tasks, with one user mentioning that G DATA interfered with cloud storage applications and used up significant RAM. There were also complaints about difficulty in canceling subscriptions and dissatisfaction with the company’s renewal practices.

How Can I Reach Out to G DATA?

G DATA offers several ways to get in touch, with dedicated support available for private users and businesses worldwide. Their main website for international users is www.gdata-software.com, while users in Germany can visit www.gdata.de. A full list of service numbers for countries like Belgium, Brazil, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and South Africa is available on their support page. Users can also manage their account, extend licenses, or submit a service request through the My G DATA portal.

In addition to direct customer service, G DATA maintains an active presence on social media. You can follow their updates and reach out to them through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and YouTube. For those needing assistance with specific issues like lost login data, software downloads, or submitting suspicious files, their dedicated support center provides step-by-step help.

Conclusion

Founded in Germany in 1987, G DATA is known for creating the world’s first antivirus software and continues to offer a well-rounded security suite with tools like dual-engine virus scanning, real-time protection, a firewall, BankGuard browser security, and mobile protection for Android. Their plans—Antivirus ($29.95/year), Internet Security ($39.95/year), and Total Security ($49.95/year)—include useful features like phishing filters, email checks, quarantine management, and file encryption. G DATA combines strong malware protection with advanced features like behavior-based scanning and secure online banking tools. While it may not include every extra found in competitor suites, it offers solid value across all plans and consistent performance across Windows and Android. For users looking for a reliable, privacy-focused antivirus solution backed by decades of experience, G DATA remains a dependable choice.

If you’re still weighing your options, we’ve got more tools to help. Start with our list of top-rated antivirus providers, then use our comparison tool to see how they stack up. For deeper insights and practical tips, check out our blog!