Google has announced that it will be shutting down its Dark Web Monitoring Tool in February 2026, less than two years after its launch. It was a tool that allowed users to monitor whether their personal data had been found on the dark web. Scans for new breaches on the dark web will stop on January 15, 2026, and the feature will be discontinued on February 16, 2026.
“While the report offered general information, feedback indicated that it did not provide useful next steps,” Google said in a support document. “We are making this change to focus on tools that provide you with clearer, actionable steps to protect your information online.”
See also: Alleged hackers posted a zero-day exploit for iOS 26 on the Dark Web
Dark Web Monitoring Tool: Data Deletion
The tech giant said it would delete all data related to the dark web report once the feature is retired in February. However, it noted that users have the option to delete tracking profile beforehand.
The process is as follows:
- Go to the Dark Web report
- In the “Results with your info” section, click Edit monitoring profile.
- At the bottom, click “Delete monitoring profile” -> Delete
See also: FTSE 100: Thousands of corporate credentials on cybercrime sites
The Dark Web Monitoring Tool was introduced by Google in March 2023 to combat fraud online identity, which stems from information stolen through data breaches and available on the dark web. The report was designed to scan the dark web for personal data, such as name, address, email, phone number, and social security number, and notify users when it is detected.
In July 2024, Google expanded the offer beyond Google One subscribers to include all account holders.
See also: Dark web leaks: How companies monitor and deal with data leaks
Google is also urging users to enhance their account privacy and security by creating a passkey for phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication (MFA). Finally, it recommends removing personal information from Google search results.
🔒 Protect your privacy with Proton VPN
Swiss VPN from the creators of Proton Mail — strict no-logs policy, strong encryption, and built-in NetShield that blocks ads, trackers, & malware.
- ✔ No-logs, based in Switzerland (except 14-Eyes)
- ✔ NetShield: blocks ads, trackers & malicious domains
- ✔ Covers all devices — free version available
The link is an affiliate link — SecNews may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. It does not affect the independence of our article writing.
