Google’s Dark Web monitoring feature is now available for all users. The feature scans the dark web to notify users of any leaked personal information. It was previously available only to paid subscribers of Google One and has now been extended to all users for free. Here are the details.
Google Dark Web Monitoring Public Rollout
Google’s dark web monitoring feature allows users to set alerts when their personal data, such as email address, phone number, or other details, is exposed on the dark web.
Users can manually add scanning parameters in the monitoring dashboard. The function works like a search filter where Google scans for your details over the dark web and immediately notifies you when a relevant match is found.
It is very common for personal user data to get exposed on the dark web due to data breaches. Hence, active monitoring of these details helps users track whether their details were exposed somewhere. This feature was available only for Google One paid subscribers as a premium perk.
Google announced that dark web monitoring will be available by the end of July 2024. Google One subscribers will also retain the same feature. However, it is unclear whether paid users will have more perks or not for dark web scanning.
Here’s an example of how Google notifies you when it detects your private information on the dark web:
Although it’s not possible to delete the leaked information from the dark web, users get an idea about the exact details that were exposed. So, if those details contain an active login ID and password, users can quickly change their credentials for that particular website and secure their account.