Google’s Dark Web Reports Now Available to All UsersGoogle’s Dark Web Reports Now Available to All Users Previously exclusive to Google One subscribers, Google’s dark web monitoring reports will soon be accessible to all users in eligible countries through the Results About You dashboard. Enhanced Security for Free Users Free users will now have access to alerts about the appearance of their personal information, including Social Security numbers, on the dark web. This information was previously only available to paid subscribers. Manual Data Tracking To improve results, users can manually add specific data they want to be monitored. This allows for more accurate and immediate notifications. Opting Out Users who prefer not to have Google search the dark web for their information can delete their monitoring profile and stop reporting. To start over, a new profile must be created. Importance of Staying Vigilant Despite these monitoring tools, it remains crucial to be cautious about data breaches and leaks. Strong passwords, password managers, and up-to-date antivirus software are recommended for enhanced online safety.
Keeping your leaked data online is a thankless task, which is why services have sprung up that monitor the dark web for your info. Some are free, like the venerable site Have I Been Pwned, while others are paid services or included with paid software (like antivirus suites).
Even Google is getting into the fray, monitoring the dark web for paying Google One subscribers.
But that’s all set to change soon, as later this month Google’s dark web reports will be available to all users in eligible countries via the Results About You dashboard.
Previously, free users only saw where their personal contact information appeared in online searches, while Google One subscribers received additional details about personal information (including Social Security numbers) that may have appeared on the dark web.
For more immediate and accurate results, you can manually add to your monitoring profile which data you explicitly want to be tracked. (Earlier this year, a family member of mine was alerted about the AT&T breach and the exposure of his social security number, even though that information was not in his profile.)
Don’t like the idea of Google searching the dark web for your information? You can delete your monitoring profile via the Edit Monitoring Profile page. This will stop reporting. To start over, you’ll need to create a new profile.
As always, being alert to data breaches and data leaks is a necessary evil for staying safe online and avoiding scams. Sound exhausting? It is! You can make your life easier by using passwords (or strong passwords plus two-factor authentication) for all accounts, relying on a good password manager, and making sure your anti-virus software is up to date.
