Google has revealed that it will be making its dark web monitoring report security feature available to all Gmail users in the United States. Previously, this feature was exclusively offered to Google One subscribers. The upcoming expansion will also include users from select international markets.
With the dark web monitoring feature, Gmail users can search for their email addresses on the dark web, and if any matches are found, Google will prompt users to enable two-step authentication to enhance the security of their Google accounts. The aim is to provide users with actionable guidance on protecting themselves if their Gmail address appears on the dark web.
Google One’s dark web report feature scans the dark web for personal information such as name, address, email, phone number, and Social Security number, and it notifies users if any matches are found. Users can choose the specific information they want to monitor. In case of any matches on the dark web, Google will notify users and offer guidance on securing the exposed information.
For instance, if a user’s Social Security number is found, Google might suggest reporting it as stolen to the government or taking steps to protect one’s credit. The dark web report not only displays results related to the monitored information but also provides additional information found in data breaches.
All the information added to the monitoring profile can be deleted, and users have the option to stop monitoring at any time by removing the profile in the dark web report settings. In addition to the dark web monitoring feature, Google has also announced that VPN access will now be available for all Google One plans. This move aims to provide users with an added layer of security and privacy while browsing the internet.
Earlier this month, Google also unveiled the rollout of passwordless secure sign-in with Passkeys for Google Accounts across all platforms, further enhancing the security measures available to its users.
