Google has confirmed it will retire its dark web monitoring tool early next year, ending the service on February 16, 2026. The feature, known as the Dark Web Report, has been available to users for about a year and a half, helping them track whether their personal data showed up in dark web leaks.
The tool was built to scan dark web breach dumps for things like email addresses, phone numbers, names, and other personal details. If any of that information was detected in a data dump, Google would alert the user so they could take action.
But the company and many users found that the alerts didn’t go far enough. Feedback suggested people weren’t getting clear advice on what to do after receiving a notification. In response, Google said it will focus on other tools that offer more practical help with account protection.
How the Shutdown Will Work
Google plans to stop scanning for new dark web data on January 15, 2026. After that, the dark web report feature will no longer function and all stored information linked to the tool will be deleted from Google’s servers by February 16.
Users who have an active monitoring profile can also remove it themselves ahead of time through their account settings if they prefer not to wait for the shutdown.
Why This Matters
The dark web is often where stolen personal information is traded or published after data breaches. Tools like this were meant to give people a heads‑up when their information showed up there. But since the monitoring feature didn’t guide users on how to respond to specific risks, many found it less useful than expected.
Google says it still takes threats seriously and will keep building security features for account protection. It recommends people use other options now available through Google, such as Security Checkup tools, password managers, and two‑step verification features to keep accounts safe.
What Users Should Do Next
If you used the dark web report feature, start exploring those security tools now. Changing weak or reused passwords and turning on extra account protections can reduce your risk. Other third‑party services also exist that specialize in dark web monitoring if you want similar alerts in the future.
As the online threat landscape keeps shifting, this move shows how big tech companies continue to rethink the best ways to help people protect themselves.
