The Google Dark Web Monitoring shutdown inside the Google One app is officially confirmed, and millions of users are seeing the warning banner this week.
If you rely on this tool to know if your private data has leaked, you might be worried. For the past two years, this premium feature alerted subscribers whenever their email, phone number, or address appeared on the dark web after a data breach.
According to an official update on Google Support, the standalone dashboard in Google One is being retired. However, the protection isn’t disappearing, it is just moving.
Understanding the Google Dark Web Monitoring Shutdown
So, why is this happening? Google is essentially performing “spring cleaning.”
Instead of keeping this as a paid perk, they are integrating the technology into a broader, free tool. The Google Dark Web Monitoring shutdown is actually a move to democratize security.
- The Old Way: You paid for Google One to see alerts.
- The New Way: The scanning engine is moving to the “Results about you” section, available to all Google Account users for free.
This shift ensures that everyone can protect themselves against threats like phishing scams, where hackers use leaked data to trick you.
How to Check Your Data Now (The New Method)
Since the Google One dashboard is closing, you need to know where to look. Here is how to set up the replacement tool:
- Go to your Google Account page (myactivity.google.com/results-about-you).
- Sign in to your Google Account if prompted.
- Click “Get started” or “Settings”.
- Enter the personal info (name, nicknames, emails, phone numbers, addresses) you want to monitor.
- Enable notifications to get alerted if this info appears in new search results.
Here, you can set up alerts if your personal info appears in search results. For password leaks specifically, we strongly recommend using Google’s built-in Password Manager, which still actively scans for compromised credentials.
The Bottom Line
The Google Dark Web Monitoring shutdown isn’t the end of your safety; it’s just a change of address.
However, you do need to act. The settings might not transfer automatically. Take five minutes today to visit your “Google Data and privacy” page and re-enable these alerts. Your digital safety is worth the click.