Google takes, Google donates. The well-known serial killer business that terminates services has stopped offering its premium VPN. However, it is also providing its previously exclusive Dark Web monitoring to all consumer account holders during this process. The new capability should check for any sensitive information that may have been stolen and leaked online by going through a global database of information leaks.
On June 20, Google discontinued VPN by Google One and directed customers onto Google Fi Wireless plans that included a virtual private network or the newest Pixel 7, Pixel Fold, or Pixel 8 phones with built-in VPNs. A new notification that reads, “Dark web report will no longer be available on Google One starting late July,” will appear when you enter into your Google One app.
You might initially believe that Google is discontinuing yet another feature. “Dark web reports will become available to all users with a consumer Google Account,” the company states in a linked help post.
Towards the end of the month, the Mountain View business plans to incorporate Dark Web monitoring into Google’s Results About You page. When a user’s name, address, or phone number appears in search results, this function lets them know. Although it is unable to actively delete your information from such third-party websites, Google has already declared its intention to remove personal information from search results. Whether or not they are paying clients, anyone with a Google Account can access both the Dark web surveillance services and Results about you.
Before, account holders who weren’t paying could run a one-time dark web search using just their email address. With this new integration, users will be able to keep an eye out for other relevant information and get regular notifications when Google discovers dark websites that are storing your sensitive information.
That being said, if it is discovered that any of your personal data has been compromised through data breaches, monitoring the dark web won’t be very effective. If it discovers a user’s name, address, password, or social security number, it will alert them. It still can’t get rid of the data. Once a user notices a problem, it is their responsibility to take action, such as changing their password or freezing their credit.
While Google is busy attacking some of its commercial services, it’s encouraging to see that features like dark web surveillance are not going away. Ignore dark web notifications if you already have a Google account that can access your phone number, address, or bank information. You could also look into other internet-browsing apps, such as Consumer Reports’ Permission Slip app, if you genuinely value your privacy, even though it might not be as comprehensive as paid ones like DeleteMe.