Google has decided to shut down its Dark Web Report feature, a security tool that alerted users when their personal information appeared on the dark web. The company has confirmed that the tool will stop monitoring for new data from January 15, 2026, and all existing reports will be removed by February 16, 2026.
The Dark Web Report was launched back in March 2021 and was designed to scan known dark web sources for leaked personal data. If Google found details such as your email address, it would notify you and suggest basic actions, like enabling two-step verification to secure your account.
Initially, the feature was available only to Google One subscribers. In July 2024, Google expanded it to all Google account holders. This made the tool more accessible and useful for regular users who wanted to keep an eye on potential data leaks.
For many users, it acted as an early warning system for data breaches. However, Google says the tool did not turn out to be as useful as expected.
According to Google, user feedback played a big role in this decision. The company said that while the Dark Web Report provided general information, it did not offer clear or useful next steps. Many users knew their data was leaked but were not sure what to do next. Google believes that tools that give direct and actionable security steps are more helpful than passive alerts.
Because of this, Google wants to focus its efforts on other security features. These include Google Password Manager, Password Checkup, Passkeys, Two-Step Verification, and Security and Privacy Checkups. These tools actively help users secure their accounts instead of just informing them about a problem.
Since the company will remove all reports by February 16, 2026, users have an option to delete their monitoring profile before that deadline. Follow these steps:
- Go to the Dark Web report
- Under “Results with your info,” click Edit monitoring profile
- At the bottom, click “Delete monitoring profile” -> Delete
Even though the feature is going away, Google says it will continue to track and protect users from online threats, including those connected to the dark web. The company is also encouraging users to use the “Results about you” tool, which helps find and remove personal information like phone numbers and home addresses from Google Search results.
Some users will still miss the Dark Web Report. It was one of the few tools that collected all possible dark web leaks in one place and notified users automatically. For people who wanted quick alerts without much effort, it was useful.
