Google’s dark web monitoring service will soon be free for all users

By Jennifer Pattison Tuohy , a smart home reporter who’s been testing connected gadgets since 2013. Previously a contributor to Wirecutter, Wired, Dwell, and US News.

Since last year, Google has monitored dark web leaks of stolen account information for Google One subscribers, such as phone numbers and physical addresses. But, starting later this month, Google’s dark web reports will be available to anyone with a Google account.

According to a Google support page about the transition, the free service will be part of Google’s “results about you” page. This is where you can currently check for information Google has indexed that contains personal contact info like your home address, phone number, or email address and request it be removed so that it doesn’t surface in search results. Google says the move will create a “combined solution to help users protect their online presence.”

Of course, several services — both paid and free, like Have I Been Pwned? — will scan the dark web for your data and send you alerts. But, for Google users, combining the company’s two monitoring features into a single place to view potential personal information leaks makes sense.

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