Google to End Dark Web Report Feature in Early 2026
Google has announced that it will discontinue its Dark Web Report feature in early 2026, ending a service that allowed users to check whether their personal information had appeared in data breaches circulating on the dark web. The feature was designed to help users monitor exposed details such as email addresses, phone numbers, and other identifying information linked to their Google accounts.
The Dark Web Report was introduced in 2023 and was initially limited to Google One subscribers. In 2024, Google expanded the feature to all users in an effort to raise awareness about data breaches and online identity threats. When potential matches were found, users were notified that their information may have been exposed, along with basic guidance on securing their accounts.
Google said that scanning for new dark web data will stop in January 2026, while the feature will be fully disabled by February 2026. Once the service is shut down, all associated monitoring data will be deleted. Users who no longer wish to use the feature before its official end date may also remove their monitoring profiles manually.
According to the company, the decision to retire the Dark Web Report was based on its limited impact. While the tool was effective in alerting users about possible data exposure, Google noted that it did not provide enough clear and actionable steps for users to respond after receiving alerts. The company said it will instead focus on strengthening security features that help prevent account compromise rather than simply reporting potential breaches.
Google is encouraging users to rely on other security tools such as Security Checkup, stronger password and passkey options, multi-factor authentication, and features that help remove personal information from search results.
