Google to shut down Dark Web Report that scanned the dark web for user data

Google

Google has announced that it will discontinue its Dark Web Report feature, a tool that was designed to scan the dark web for users’ personal information. The company says the decision comes after feedback showed that the feature did not offer clear or helpful next steps for users once their information was found.

According to Google, the process of winding down the Dark Web Report will happen in stages. From January 15, 2026, the tool will stop scanning for new dark web breaches. A month later, on February 16, 2026, the Dark Web Report will be shut down completely and will no longer be available to users.

The Dark Web Report was introduced to alert users if their personal information, such as email addresses or passwords, appeared in known data breaches shared on the dark web. While it provided general alerts, Google says many users found it difficult to act on those reports in a meaningful way. The company now wants to focus on tools that offer clearer and more practical actions to help users protect their accounts and personal data.

Google has stressed that shutting down this feature does not mean it is stepping back from online security. The company says it will continue to track and defend users from online threats, including those linked to the dark web. Its focus, however, will shift to tools that directly help users improve their security and privacy.

Google is encouraging users to make use of several existing security tools instead. These include Security Checkup, which reviews account safety settings, and passkeys, which allow users to sign in without traditional passwords. Other recommended tools include Google Password Manager, Password Checkup, and additional authentication options available through the Google Safety Center.

The company is also highlighting its “Results about you” tool, which helps users find and request the removal of personal information from Google Search results. This includes sensitive details like phone numbers and home addresses. Google says this tool can be particularly useful for people concerned about their information being easily found online.

As part of the shutdown, Google will delete all data linked to Dark Web Report monitoring profiles on February 16, 2026. Users who prefer not to wait can delete their data earlier. Once a monitoring profile is deleted, access to the Dark Web Report will end immediately.

To delete a monitoring profile, users can visit the Dark Web Report page on a computer, select the option to edit their monitoring profile, and choose to delete it. Google has also clarified that the Dark Web Report was only available to consumer Google accounts. Google Workspace and supervised accounts were not eligible for the feature.

With this change, Google says its goal is to simplify online protection and guide users toward tools that offer clearer steps to stay safe in an increasingly complex digital environment.