Anti-malware startup VirusTotal disclosed in a blog post today that it has been acquired by Google. VirusTotal offers a free online service that analyzes files and URLs enabling the identification of viruses, worms, trojans and other kinds of malicious content detected by antivirus engines and website scanners.

"Our goal is simple: to help keep you safe on the web," VirusTotal said in the post today. "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."

VirusTotal said it will continue to operate independently, "maintaining our partnerships with other antivirus companies and security experts."

The deal bolsters Google's Web scanning tools.