Virus protection

You can use this module to specifically check your computer or selected storage media for infections by malware. This is recommended if, for example, you receive self-burned CDs or USB sticks from third parties. A virus check is also recommended when installing new software and when downloading from the Internet.

Virus protection
Checking the computer or selected data media serves as additional protection. Basically, with the G DATA idle scan and the G DATA virus guard, which is constantly active in the background, you are optimally protected against threats from malware. A virus scan would also find viruses that were copied to your computer before you installed the G DATA software or that you received during the G DATA scan.

Virus scan

Select here which area of your computer or which storage medium you would like to specifically check.

virus protection scan computer Check computer (all local drives).

If you want to check your computer independently of the automatic scan by the idle scan (e.g. because you have a current virus suspicion), then simply click on this entry. Your computer will now be checked directly for viruses.

virus protection scan timed Scheduled virus checks

Use this to schedule automatic virus scans.

virus protection scan autostart Check memory and autostart

This checks the programme files and programme libraries (DLLs) for all running processes. Malicious programmes can be removed from the memory and autostart. Active viruses can thus be removed directly, without having to search the entire hard disk. However, this function is not a substitute for a regular virus check of the stored data.

virus protection scan files Check directories/files

Use this to check selected drives, directories or files for viruses. If you click on this action, a directory and file selection is opened. Here you can selectively check individual files or entire directories for viruses. In the directory tree, you can open and select directories by clicking on the "plus" symbols. Every directory or file that you tick is checked by the software.

Virus protection
If not all files in a directory are checked, there is a grey tick at this directory.

virus protection scan device Check removable media

Use this function to check CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs, memory cards or USB sticks for viruses. If you click this action all removable media connected to your computer (i.e. also inserted CDs, inserted memory cards or hard disks or USB) will be checked. Please note that the software cannot remove viruses from media that do not allow write access (e.g. burned CD-ROMs). The virus detection is then logged here.

virus protection scan rootkits Check for rootkits

Rootkits try to evade conventional virus detection methods. With this function, you can search specifically for rootkit viruses without performing a complete scan of the hard disks and stored data.

Files in the quarantine

During the virus scan, you have the option to deal with virus detections in different ways. One option is to move the infected file to the quarantine. The quarantine is a protected area within the software, where infected files are stored in encrypted form and thus cannot spread the virus to other files.

Virus protection

virus protection quarantine icon Show quarantine

The files in the quarantine remain in the state in which the G DATA software found them and you can decide how to proceed.

  • Update: If you have the dialogue window for the quarantine open for a longer period of time and a virus is found in between and moved to the quarantine (e.g. automatically via the virus guard), you can refresh the view via this button.

  • Allow in the future: If Behavioural Monitoring has mistakenly moved a file to Quarantine, you can use this function to add it to the whitelist so that the behaviour monitor does not move it to the quarantine in the future.

  • Disinfect: In many cases, infected files can still be saved. The software then removes the virus components in the infected file and reconstructs the uninfected original file in this way. If disinfection is successful, the file is automatically moved back to the location where it was stored before the virus check and is once again available to you without restriction.

  • Move back: Sometimes it may be necessary to move an infected file, which cannot be disinfected, from quarantine to its original storage location. This may be done for data recovery reasons, for example. You should use this function only in exceptional cases and under strict security measures (e.g. disconnect the computer from the network/Internet, back up uninfected data beforehand).

  • Delete: If you no longer need the infected file, you can simply delete it from the quarantine.

Boot medium

The boot medium is a helpful tool for ridding computers that are already contaminated of viruses. Especially for computers, which had no virus protection before the installation of the G DATA software, the use of a boot medium is recommended.

Virus protection

virus protection boot device icon Create boot medium: Simply click on the Create boot medium button and follow the instructions of the installation wizard. Here you will download the latest virus signatures to bring your boot medium up to date You can choose to burn a CD/DVD as the boot medium or use a USB stick.

If you are using the program version G DATA Total Security, you can also use a boot medium to restore a drive backup on the volume on which the system is currently located. It is possible to restore a drive or file backup to other destinations. To do this, insert the boot medium and select the function Start recovery.