Google revealed today that the dark web report security feature will soon allow all Gmail users in the US to check to see if their email address has been discovered on the dark web.
The feature will roll out over the next few weeks, the company added, and access will also be extended to a few chosen overseas markets, as it did at the Google I/O annual developer conference.
Once enabled, users of Gmail will be able to search the dark web for their email addresses and take precautions to protect their data using Google’s advice.
For instance, to safeguard their Google accounts from account takeover attempts, customers will be recommended to enable two-step verification.
According to Google Core services SVP Jen Fitzpatrick, “Up until now, our dark web report was only available to Google One subscribers in the U.S., but we’re expanding access to it in the coming weeks, so anyone with a Gmail account in the U.S. will be able to run scans to see if your Gmail address is on the dark web and receive advice on what steps to take to protect yourself.”
Google will also notify Gmail users on a regular basis to see whether their email has been connected to any data breaches that resulted in posts on darknet forums for crimes.
Members of all Google One plans in the United States began receiving the dark web report in March 2023, giving them an easy method to be informed when their personal information was found on the dark web.
When the tool was first introduced in March, Google One Director of Product Management Esteban Kozak said, “Google One’s dark web report helps you scan the dark web for your personal info — like your name, address, email, phone number, and Social Security number — and will notify you if it’s found.”
Subscribers to Google One can enable it by heading to Google One and selecting “Set up > Start monitoring” under “Dark web report.”
The business asserts that all the private information uploaded to the profile may be removed from the monitoring profile or by deleting the profile in the settings for the dark web report.
The Safe Browsing service has been improved by Google to detect and stop 25% more phishing attempts on Chrome and Android, according to a statement made today at Google I/O.
Additionally, the company has updated Google Drive with a new spam view and made it easy to remove search history in Google Maps.
Google One customers are furthermore provided results, according to Kozak, “other related info that may be found in those data breaches.”
Kozak added, “And if any matching information is discovered on the dark web, we’ll let you know and offer advice on how you may protect that information.
