Google has acquired malware detection company VirusTotal. VirusTotal announced the acquisition in a blot post, saying, “Our goal is simple: to help keep you safe on the web. And we’ve worked hard to ensure that the services we offer continually improve. But as a small, resource-constrained company, that can sometimes be challenging. So we’re delighted that Google, a long-time partner, has acquired VirusTotal.”
The company says this is “great news for you, and bad news for malware generators,” because, “The quality and power of our malware research tools will keep improving, most likely faster,” and “Google’s infrastructure will ensure that our tools are always ready, right when you need them.”
TechCrunch shares a statement from a Google spokesperson, saying, “Security is incredibly important to our users and we’ve invested many millions of dollars to help keep them safe online. VirusTotal also has a strong track record in web security, and we’re delighted to be able to provide them with the infrastructure they need to ensure that their service continues to improve.”
The company will continue to operate independently, it says, and it will maintain the partnerships it already has.
No word on the terms of the deal.