Google has announced that it will discontinue its dark web report feature, admitting the tool no longer fulfilled its intended purpose. The service, designed to scan the dark web for leaked personal information, will be phased out in early 2026.
The dark web report tool alerted users if their personal data appeared in known breaches on the dark web. It was first introduced around two and a half years ago as part of the Google One premium subscription and was later made available to all users in 2024.
The feature scanned for compromised details such as email addresses, phone numbers, names and Social Security numbers. While it showed where the data had been found and what type of information was exposed, it did not provide clear guidance on what users should do next.
In a statement on its support page, Google acknowledged that the reports offered only “general information” and failed to provide “helpful next steps” after a breach was detected. As a result, the company decided to shift its focus toward tools that deliver clearer and more actionable security advice.
Google has shared a timeline for shutting down the service. Scans for new dark web breaches will stop on January 15, while the feature itself — along with all stored report data — will be permanently removed on February 16. Any saved information will be deleted automatically.
Despite ending the service, Google stressed it remains committed to user security. The company said it is prioritising tools that help users actively protect their accounts, including Security Checkup, Password Manager, Password Checkup, passkeys for password-free sign-ins and multi-factor authentication tools.
Google also encouraged users to use its “Results about you” feature, which helps locate and request the removal of personal information such as phone numbers or home addresses from Google Search results.
Users who wish to delete their dark web monitoring data early can do so by accessing their monitoring profile within the tool and selecting the delete option. For those seeking alternatives, services from NordProtect, Aura, Norton, Malwarebytes and the free HaveIBeenPwned platform remain available.
