The tool will stop scanning in January as Google shifts focus to other security tools.
WASHINGTON — Google is shutting down its dark web report feature, an opt-in tool that notified users if their personal information appeared on the dark web.
In an email sent to users, Google said it will stop scanning for new dark web results on Jan. 15, 2026. The report, along with any data that was collected by it, will no longer be accessible beginning Feb. 16, 2026, when all related information will be deleted.
The company said feedback showed the tool, while informative, didn’t give users clear next steps to protect themselves. Google said it’s discontinuing the feature so it can focus on security tools that offer more actionable guidance.
“We’re making this change to instead focus on tools that give you more clear, actionable steps to protect your information online,” Google said in the email.
The dark web report was initially launched in 2023 as a perk for Google One subscribers. It later expanded to all Google account users in 2024.
The feature monitored the dark web for things like email addresses, phone numbers and home addresses tied to a user’s account.
Google said it will continue to track and defend users from online threats, including those connected to the dark web, through other services.
The company is encouraging users to now rely on tools like Security and Privacy Checkups, Passkeys, 2-Step Verification, Google Password Manager and Password Checkup. Users can also use “Results about you” to request the removal of personal information from Google Search results.
Users who want to remove their monitoring profile before the shutdown can do so through their Google account settings.