G Data CyberDefense
Corporate brand
UnclaimedGerman cybersecurity company providing antivirus, endpoint protection, and other security solutions for consumers and organizations.
Last updated August 27, 2026
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Overview
G Data CyberDefense AG is a German cybersecurity company headquartered in Bochum. Founded in 1985 by Kai Figge, the business began as a software developer for the Atari ST and became associated with the development of one of the earliest commercial antivirus products. Its first security product, Anti-Virus Kit, was introduced for the Atari ST in 1988. The company later adapted the product for MS-DOS and continued expanding its detection and protection capabilities as personal computers, networks, and internet threats evolved. G Data’s principal business is the development and distribution of security software for private users and companies. Its portfolio includes consumer antivirus and security suites, business endpoint-security products, and related network and cloud-oriented protection technologies. The company’s security architecture is notable for its use of multiple scanning engines: one developed internally and another supplied by Bitdefender. This approach is intended to combine different detection technologies and provide broad protection against malware and other digital threats. During its early years, G Data also developed software outside the security field, including the GeoRoute route-planning program and products associated with voice recognition and speech synthesis. In November 2000, the company became a stock corporation and subsequently concentrated its portfolio fully on computer security. It expanded internationally during the 2000s, establishing a Japanese branch in Tokyo in 2004 and entering additional European, American, and other markets during the following decade. G Data’s growth accelerated in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The company expanded into Brazil, Mexico, the United States, Canada, and Russia, and opened further European branches in Italy, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. By 2015, its security solutions were available in approximately 90 countries and the company had around 500 employees. It also became an exclusive launch partner for Microsoft Cloud in Germany in 2015, ahead of the service’s German availability in 2016. The company has occasionally extended its technology portfolio beyond conventional antivirus products. In 2015 it launched Secure Chat, a messaging application based on the Signal Protocol, and published the application’s source code under the GPLv3 license. The service was discontinued in 2018. In September 2019, the annual general meeting approved the company’s renaming from G DATA Software AG to G DATA CyberDefense AG, reflecting a broader cybersecurity identity rather than a narrower software-brand description. G Data remains an active, privately held cybersecurity provider serving consumer and business markets. Its public profile emphasizes German origins, proprietary security development, protection for endpoints and networks, and participation in European cybersecurity institutions. The company received the Cybersecurity Made in Europe seal in 2021 and awards including the Comenius EduMedia seal and the eco://award in 2022.
History
G Data CyberDefense was founded in Bochum, Germany, in 1985 by Kai Figge. Although the company is now primarily identified with cybersecurity, its initial software activities were broader. In 1988 it released Anti-Virus Kit, or AVK, for the Atari ST. The product is regarded as one of the earliest antivirus programs. G Data subsequently adapted the program for MS-DOS, adding a graphical user interface in 1990, and continued developing its security technology as personal computing became more widespread. The company briefly maintained a broader software portfolio. In 1993 it developed GeoRoute, described as an early route planner using intelligent mapping. It also produced software connected with voice recognition and speech synthesis, including Invox and Logox. Security nevertheless became the company’s central direction. Hardware-oriented antivirus protection was added in 1995, and the company introduced CloudSecurity in 2005. In November 2000, G Data was converted into a stock corporation and later focused its portfolio entirely on computer security. International expansion became an important part of the company’s development. G Data opened a branch in Tokyo in 2004 and expanded into additional markets during the 2000s. Brazil and Mexico were added in 2008, while the United States, Canada, and Russia followed in 2009. The business continued building a European presence with an Italian branch in 2010 and branches in France, the Netherlands, and Belgium in 2011. The company’s workforce grew from approximately 100 employees in 2007 to around 300 by the summer of 2010. By 2015, it had approximately 500 employees and its solutions were available in roughly 90 countries. G Data’s products have served both household and organizational users. Its consumer portfolio has included antivirus programs and broader security suites, while its business range has included endpoint and network protection. A characteristic of its security products is the use of multiple scanning engines, combining an internally developed engine with the Bitdefender engine. This architecture forms part of the company’s effort to provide layered malware detection and protection. The company also experimented with secure communications. In September 2015, it launched Secure Chat, a messaging application built on a fork of Signal and using the Signal Protocol. G Data published the application’s source code under the GPLv3 license, but discontinued the service in May 2018. Around the same period, G Data strengthened its enterprise and cloud positioning. It became an exclusive launch partner of Microsoft Cloud in Germany in 2015, before the service became available in Germany in mid-2016. In September 2019, the annual general meeting approved the change of the legal name from G DATA Software AG to G DATA CyberDefense AG. The renaming placed cybersecurity at the center of the corporate identity. G Data has also participated in European security organizations, including Eurobits and TeleTrusT, the Federal IT Security Association. In 2021 it received the Cybersecurity Made in Europe seal of quality. In 2022, it received the Comenius EduMedia seal and the eco://award. The company continues to operate from Bochum and maintains international business activities, including a North American subsidiary in Newark, Delaware.
- 2022
Two awards received
[1]The company received the Comenius EduMedia seal and the eco://award.
- 2021
Cybersecurity Made in Europe seal received
[1]G Data received the European Cyber Security Organisation’s Cybersecurity Made in Europe quality seal.
- 2019
Corporate name changed to G DATA CyberDefense AG
[1]The annual general meeting approved the renaming from G DATA Software AG to G DATA CyberDefense AG.
- 2015
Secure Chat launched
[1]G Data launched Secure Chat, a Signal Protocol-based messaging application with GPLv3-published source code.
- 2011
Further European branches opened
[1]The company established branches in France, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
- 2010
Italian branch opened
[1]G Data opened a branch in Italy as part of its European expansion.
- 2005
CloudSecurity introduced
[1]The company added CloudSecurity to its continuing antivirus development.
- 2004
Japanese branch opened
[1]G Data expanded its international presence by opening a branch in Tokyo.
- 2000
Conversion into a stock corporation
[1]The company was converted into a stock corporation in November and subsequently concentrated its portfolio on computer security.
- 1993
GeoRoute developed
[1]G Data developed GeoRoute, a route-planning program using intelligent mapping.
Products and positioning
A German cybersecurity provider positioned around layered, high-detection protection for household devices, business endpoints, and networked environments, with an emphasis on internally developed security technology and European cybersecurity credentials.
Antivirus software · 1988
Anti-Virus Kit
Anti-Virus Kit, commonly abbreviated as AVK, was G Data’s early antivirus product. Introduced for the Atari ST in 1988, it established the company’s security-software identity and was later adapted for MS-DOS. The program received a graphical user interface in 1990 and was continuously developed as the company expanded its protection technology.
Consumer security suite
G Data Total Security
G Data Total Security is a consumer-oriented security suite within the company’s broader home-user portfolio. It represents the multi-function security-suite segment rather than a single-purpose antivirus product, combining malware protection with additional security capabilities offered by G Data. Specific current feature details are not established by the supplied reference material.
Business endpoint security
G Data Endpoint Protection
G Data Endpoint Protection is a business-focused offering designed to protect organizational endpoints. It belongs to the company’s enterprise and corporate-security portfolio, which serves companies alongside its consumer products. The supplied sources identify endpoint protection as a principal area of G Data’s business but do not provide a complete feature or release history.
Cloud-oriented security · 2005
CloudSecurity
CloudSecurity was added to G Data’s antivirus development in 2005. Its introduction marked an expansion from conventional locally installed antivirus capabilities toward cloud-oriented security technology. The available reference does not specify the product’s detailed architecture, distribution model, or current status.
Encrypted messaging · 2015
Secure Chat
Secure Chat was an encrypted messaging application launched by G Data in September 2015. It used the Signal Protocol and was based on a fork of Signal. G Data released its source code under the GPLv3 license. The service was discontinued in May 2018 and is therefore a historical product rather than a current offering.
Brand decisions
2019
Corporate rebranding as G DATA CyberDefense AGStrategyBackground
The former legal name, G DATA Software AG, emphasized software rather than the company’s broader cybersecurity role.
Action taken
The annual general meeting approved the name change to G DATA CyberDefense AG.
Aftermath
The new name placed cyber defense at the center of the corporate identity.
2015
Launch of Secure ChatProduct launchBackground
G Data expanded beyond endpoint and antivirus software into secure communications.
Action taken
The company launched Secure Chat using the Signal Protocol and published its source code under the GPLv3 license.
Aftermath
The messaging service was discontinued in May 2018.
2000
Concentration on computer securityStrategyBackground
G Data had developed software in areas including route planning, voice recognition, and speech synthesis in addition to antivirus products.
Action taken
After its conversion into a stock corporation in November 2000, the company focused its portfolio fully on computer security.
Aftermath
The decision established cybersecurity as the company’s central business direction.
Sources2 sources
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