Google’s Free Dark Web Monitoring Helps You Protect Your Online Identity
Keeping your personal information safe online is an ongoing battle. Data breaches happen all the time, and your email address, password, or other personal details could end up for sale on the dark web. Google is offering a free tool to every Gmail account holder to help you fight back. It’s called Google Dark Web Monitoring.
What is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that isn’t indexed by search engines. It’s often used for illegal activities, but it can also be a haven for stolen data. If your information ends up on the dark web, it could be used for identity theft, fraud, or other malicious purposes.
Google’s Free Dark Web Monitoring
Google’s free dark web monitoring service is available to all Google account holders. It can detect the presence of your personal information on the dark web. This service works by continuously scanning a vast database of compromised data originating from publicly disclosed data breaches.
Once you activate Google’s dark web monitoring service, you can specify the categories of personal data you wish Google to monitor. These categories encompass a range of sensitive information, including:
- Your full name, physical addresses (both current and past), and telephone numbers.
- Email addresses and usernames associated with various online services.
- Passwords that have been exposed in data breaches.
- In certain regions, such as the United States, the service allows for the monitoring of Social Security Numbers.
- Dates of birth and gender.
- The monitoring of up to one credit card number is supported.
Alerts and Information
When a match is identified, Google promptly notifies you through the primary email address associated with your Google account and via notifications within your Google account interface. These alerts provide pertinent details regarding the detected exposure, including:
The specific category of personal data that was found (e.g., email address, password).
Where possible, Google will indicate the name of the data breach in which your information was compromised. This context can be valuable in understanding the scope and potential impact of the incident.
The approximate timeframe when the data breach occurred.
While Google provides as much detail as possible, some information may be partially redacted for security and privacy reasons.
How to Sign Up for & Check Your Dark Web Monitoring Report:
Windows users can seamlessly access and manage their dark web monitoring settings through any standard web browser:
- Navigate to myaccount.google.com and log in to your Google account.
- In the left-hand navigation panel, select “Security.”
- Scroll down to the “Dark web report” section and click “Set up dark web report” or “Manage dark web report.”
- Follow the on-screen prompts to configure the types of information you wish to monitor.
It’s important to remember that Dark Web Monitoring isn’t a foolproof security solution. It’s an important tool you can use to help you stay safer online.
Helping You Take Charge of Your Online Security:
Google’s Dark Web Monitoring is a valuable tool, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Here are some other steps you can take to protect yourself online:
- Use Strong Passwords and Update Regularly: Never reuse passwords across different websites. Change your passwords frequently. Using a password manager makes creating strong passwords and changing them easier. We recommend RoboForm, Bitwarden, and LastPass, but any popular password manager is better than none.
- Enable Two-Factor Authentication: Add an extra layer of security to your accounts by using 2FA (two-factor authentication).
- Be Careful What You Share Online: Don’t overshare personal information on social media or other public platforms.
- Stay Informed About Security Threats: Keep yourself updated on the latest scams, phishing attempts, and data breaches.
By using Google’s Dark Web Monitoring and following these additional security practices, you can take better control of your online identity and make it less likely that you’ll be a target for criminals.
We want you to be safe online!