Multiscanning Explained

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.
• VirusTotal

See also

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

Notes and References

1. http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2F2003%2Fs1407%2F38s07%2F38s07.asp Clash Of The Antivirus Apps
2. http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=286481 System Locks With Multiple Anti-Virus Programs | Dell
3. http://www.gfi.com/whitepapers/why-one-virus-engine-is-not-enough.pdf Why one virus engine is not enough
4. http://www.av-test.org/certifications.php AV-TEST.org
5. http://blogs.technet.com/b/forefront/archive/2007/10/19/the-advantage-of-multiple-anti-virus-engines-on-server-products.aspx The advantage of multiple anti-virus engines on server products – Forefront Team Blog – Site Home – TechNet Blogs
6. http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Bitdefender-Carrier-IQ-Android-Rootkit-Mobile-Security,news-13394.html Bitdefender Releases Carrier IQ Finder for Android
7. http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/61695/review/internet_security_2010.html Complete coverage of the G Data Internet Security 2010 Antivirus & Security Software
8. HitmanPro
9. http://www.darkreading.com/vulnerability_management/security/antivirus/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224700879 New Microsoft Forefront Software Runs Five Antivirus Vendors' Engines
10. https://www.opswat.com/products/metadefender/api MetaDefender Core - Advanced Threat Prevention Development Platform