Google is killing off its “dark web report” feature, the tool that promised to alert users if their personal info—think emails, names, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers, popped up in dark web breach dumps. Launched in March 2023 as part of Google One perks, it’s bowing out February 16, 2026, per the support page. New scans stop January 16, and all data gets wiped after that.
Feedback was brutal: The reports flagged risks but left folks hanging on next steps. Reddit threads lit up with gripes, one user summed it as “change passwords… but which ones? To what?” Google cited this in announcing the pivot: “We’re making this change to instead focus on tools that give you more clear, actionable steps to protect your information online.” They’ll keep hunting threats behind the scenes, they say.
9to5Google first flagged the shutdown via user emails.
Google’s pushing its existing arsenal:
- Security Checkup: Audits your Google Account for weak spots.
- Password Manager: Spits out unique, strong passwords.
- Password Checkup: Pings you if saved creds show up in breaches.
Want out early? Head to “Results with your info” > “Edit monitoring profile” > “Delete monitoring profile.” No more automated creep-factor for your data.
As identity theft tools go, this one’s RIP underscores a shift: Google betting on proactive fixes over passive scares.
