Google is Discontinuing its Dark Web Monitoring Tool

Google is discontinuing its free dark web monitoring tool that warns users when their personal information is circulating on the dark web. In an email to users shared by 9to5Google, the company explained that it will cease scanning the dark web for new results on January 15, 2026, and all data from dark web reports will also be deleted after February 16.

“While the report offered general information, feedback showed that it did not provide helpful next steps. We’re making this change to instead focus on tools that give you more clear, actionable steps to protect your information online. We will continue to track and defend you from online threats, including the dark web, and build tools that help protect you and your personal information,” Google explained in its email to customers.

Google’s dark web report tool was first made available as a paid Google One perk in 2023, but the company made it free for all Google account users a year later. The opt-in feature is currently available from this page, where users can set up their monitoring profile and get notified when their personal information, including emails, birthdates, phone numbers, and addresses, is found on the dark web.

Going forward, Google recommends users check out its existing features, including its security and privacy checkups. “We encourage you to also use Results about you, which can be used to find and request the removal of your personal information from Google Search results, like your phone number and home address,” the company also said. If you haven’t used it yet, you can access Google’s Results about you portal here.