Google will end dark web reports that alerted users to leaked data
As Google admits in the email alert, its scans of the dark web haven’t provided much help. “Feedback showed that it did not provide useful next steps,” Google said of the service. Here is the full text of the email.
With other types of personal data alerts provided by the company, the company has the power to do something. For example, you can ask Google to remove pages from search that list your personal data. However, Google doesn’t manage anything on the dark web, so all it can do is remind you that your data is circulating in one of the darkest corners of the Internet.
The shutdown begins on January 15, when Google will stop conducting further analysis of user data on the dark web. Previous data will no longer be available as of February 16, 2026. Google announces that it will delete all reports before this date. However, users can delete their monitoring profile earlier in the account settings. This change has no impact on other Google privacy reports.
The good news is that the best ways to protect your personal data from traffic on the dark web are the same ways that keep you safe on the open web. Google suggests always using two-step verification, and tools like Google AccessKeys and Password Check can ensure you don’t accidentally reuse a compromised password. Stay safe out there.
