Google Is Pulling The Plug On Dark Web Reports And Here's Why

Bah, humbug! Another Google tool has just been sunsetted, as Scrooge McGoogle has announced the immediate wind-down of its 'dark web report' feature, a free tool designed to alert users when their personal information is compromised and found circulating in illicit corners of the internet. While it wasn't a particularly proactive/reactive tool for users, at least the information was located in one easy location. For those missing the feature, there are, thankfully, alternatives.

Initially rolled out exclusively to Google One subscribers before being made freely available to all users in mid-2024, dark web report provided a consolidated view of leaked personal identifiable information (PII). Users who opted into the monitoring profile receive notifications if sensitive data, such as their name, email address, or phone number, appeared in data dumps sold or shared on the dark web.

The premise was straightforward ...