Google’s dark web monitoring service, initially exclusive to Google One subscribers, will soon be free for all users. Since last year, this service has monitored dark web leaks of stolen account information, including phone numbers and physical addresses. Starting later this month, anyone with a Google account can access these dark web reports.
According to a Google support page about this transition, the free service will be part of Google’s “results about you” page. This page currently allows users to check for personal contact information indexed by Google and request its removal to prevent it from appearing in search results. Google states that this move will create a “combined solution to help users protect their online presence.”
Various services, both paid and free, such as Have I Been Pwned?, scan the dark web for your data and send alerts. However, for Google users, consolidating the company’s two monitoring features into a single place to view potential personal information leaks is a logical step.
This transition means that both perks added last spring for over 100 million Google One subscribers, starting at $1.99 per month, have been removed. Last month, Google announced that its VPN by Google One service would shut down later this year. While these changes might not have been the primary reasons for subscribing to Google One, it can be disheartening to see benefits disappear without a corresponding price drop.
The main reason to sign up for Google One is to gain more storage for your Google account, including photos and Gmail storage. Other perks include premium Google Meet video calling features, the ability to share storage with up to five people, and enhanced appointment scheduling in Google Calendar. However, these benefits are not particularly compelling. Google’s Gemini-powered AI features might be worth considering, but they require higher tiers of Google One, starting at $19.99 per month.