# Multiscanning

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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
'''Multiscanning''' is running multiple [anti-malware](/source/anti-malware) or [antivirus](/source/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.<ref>[http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2F2003%2Fs1407%2F38s07%2F38s07.asp Clash Of The Antivirus Apps]. Smart Computing Article (5 January 2007). Retrieved on 2012-02-29.</ref><ref>[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]. Support.dell.com (15 March 2005). Retrieved on 2012-02-29.</ref> 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.<ref>[http://www.gfi.com/whitepapers/why-one-virus-engine-is-not-enough.pdf Why one virus engine is not enough] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207195349/http://www.gfi.com/whitepapers/why-one-virus-engine-is-not-enough.pdf |date=7 December 2010 }}. GFI White Paper. gfi.com</ref><ref>[http://www.av-test.org/certifications.php AV-TEST.org]. [AV-TEST](/source/AV-TEST). Retrieved on 2012-02-29.</ref> 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.<ref>[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]. Blogs.technet.com (19 October 2007). Retrieved on 2012-02-29.</ref>

== Notable vendors ==
<!-- Please respect alphabetical order. Listed vendors should be notable with an existing Wikipedia article. -->
* [F-Secure](/source/F-Secure) – Combines an in-house engine with Avira's engine.<ref>[http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Bitdefender-Carrier-IQ-Android-Rootkit-Mobile-Security,news-13394.html Bitdefender Releases Carrier IQ Finder for Android].</ref>
* [G Data](/source/G_Data_CyberDefense) AntiVirus – Combines in-house and [BitDefender](/source/BitDefender)'s engines. avast has been removed with version 2014.<ref>[http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/product/61695/review/internet_security_2010.html Complete coverage of the G Data Internet Security 2010 Antivirus & Security Software]. PCWorld (28 May 2009). Retrieved on 2012-02-29.</ref>
* HitmanPro – Combines an in-house behavioral engine with a cloud containing engines from Kaspersky Lab, BitDefender and Sophos.<ref>HitmanPro</ref>{{Circular reference|date=February 2018}}
* [Lavasoft](/source/Lavasoft) [Ad-Aware](/source/Ad-Aware) – Combines an in-house anti-spyware engine with [Bitdefender](/source/Bitdefender)'s engine.
* [Microsoft Forefront](/source/Microsoft_Forefront) – Combines the engines of [Authentium](/source/Authentium), [Kaspersky](/source/Kaspersky_Anti-Virus), Norman and [VirusBuster](/source/VirusBuster), with its own in-house engine.<ref>[http://www.darkreading.com/vulnerability_management/security/antivirus/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224700879 New Microsoft Forefront Software Runs Five Antivirus Vendors' Engines] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100512181132/http://www.darkreading.com/vulnerability_management/security/antivirus/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224700879 |date=12 May 2010 }}. Dark Reading (5 May 2010). Retrieved on 2012-02-29.</ref>
*[https://metadefender.opswat.com/ OPSWAT MetaDefender Cloud] – Combines over 30 anti-malware engines to scan files for malware. Also available on-premise.<ref>[https://www.opswat.com/products/metadefender/api MetaDefender Core – Advanced Threat Prevention Development Platform]</ref>
* [Qihoo 360 Internet Security](/source/Qihoo_360) use Bitdefender Engine, QVM 2 Engine, 360 Cloud engine. But, the Chinese version includes the Avira engine additionally.
* [TrustPort](/source/TrustPort) Antivirus – Combines the engines of [BitDefender](/source/BitDefender) and [AVG](/source/AVG_Technologies).
* [VirusTotal](/source/VirusTotal)

==See also==

* [Internet Security](/source/Internet_Security)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Antivirus software

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Multiscanning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiscanning) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiscanning?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.