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.

Why multiscanning

A number of testing agencies have 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]

Multiscanning applications

• Coranti – Combines the engines of BitDefender, F-Prot, and the multiple ones of Lavasoft Ad-Aware.
• Emsisoft Anti-Malware – Combines an in-house engine with Ikarus Anti-Virus' engine.^[6]
• G Data AntiVirus – Combines AVAST and BitDefender's engines.^[7]
• Hitman Pro 3 - Combines an in-house behavioral engine with a cloud containing engines from Emsisoft Anti-Malware, Prevx, Dr. Web and the multiple ones of G-Data.^[8]
• Lavasoft Ad-Aware – Combines an in-house anti-spyware engine with Vipre's engine. Ad-Aware Total Security replaces Vipre with G-Data's multiple engines.
• Microsoft Forefront – Combines the engines of Authentium, Kaspersky, Norman and VirusBuster, with its own in-house engine.^[9]
• OPSWAT Metascan SDK – Combines up to 10 anti-malware engines (inclusions product variable).^[10]
• TrustPort Antivirus – Combines the engines of BitDefender and AVG. Business editions also include the engines of Dr. Web, VirusBlokAda, and optionally Norman.

References

1. ^ http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2F2003%2Fs1407%2F38s07%2F38s07.asp
2. ^ http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dsn/document?c=us&l=en&s=gen&docid=286481
3. ^ http://www.gfi.com/whitepapers/why-one-virus-engine-is-not-enough.pdf
4. ^ http://www.av-test.org/certifications.php
5. ^ http://blogs.technet.com/b/forefront/archive/2007/10/19/the-advantage-of-multiple-anti-virus-engines-on-server-products.aspx
6. ^ http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/technology/
7. ^ http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/61695/review/internet_security_2010.html
8. ^ http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro/
9. ^ http://www.darkreading.com/vulnerability_management/security/antivirus/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224700879
10. ^ http://www.opswat.com/products/metascan