Google has introduced an anti-virus scanning
service to Gmail. Each time users send and receive attachments, Gmail
will automatically scan them for viruses. It"s unclear whether Google
developed the technology in-house (highly unlikely) or licensed it from
a security firm, much less who that firm might be.
Gmail previously blocked the transmission of executable attachments
but adding anti-virus scanning allows the service to keep up with its
competitors on user security. Yahoo! Mail uses Symantec software to
scan for viruses. Hotmail, which has offered anti-virus scanning for
some time, licenses its technology from Trend Micro.