Google is getting rid of its ‘Dark Web Report’ tool soon

Google has a security feature called the “Dark Web Report,” which many people didn’t know much about, but this tool is now scheduled to go away in early 2026. The company recently sent a message to people who actively use it, letting them know the service will be shut down on February 16, 2026.

This feature was rolled out and made available to everyone with a Google account in July 2024, meaning it is being discontinued in less than a year and a half after its wide release.

What the tool did was check the dark web for your specific Google email address. The dark web is a secret, hidden part of the internet that is often used by malicious groups for criminal and illegal activities.

This service was a free part of your Google account and simply provided updates on whether your email was found on those potentially risky sites.

On a help page, Google explained why it is closing the service. They stated that feedback showed the report “didn’t offer useful next steps” for users to take. Google mentioned that while the report gave general information, users felt it failed to clearly tell them what to do after an alert.

Because of this, the company is choosing to focus its efforts on developing other tools that provide clear, simple steps you can take to protect your information online. They promised that they will continue to track and defend users from online dangers, including those on the dark web, by creating better and more actionable security features.

The same announcement mentioned some important dates: the tool will stop searching the dark web for new problems and information on January 15, 2026. After that, the entire report will become completely unavailable on February 16, 2026.

This date is also when all data related to the tool will be permanently removed. To help users stay safe, Google is encouraging them to switch to using their other existing security tools, which are designed to strengthen account protection. These tools include the Security Checkup, Passkeys, the Google Password Manager, and the Password Checkup feature.