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