Google users divided as dark web tool is axed after two years
Google has just removed one of it's most useful cybersecurity tools, leaving many users in a tough spot if they want to ensure that their information remains secure online.
If there's one thing that Google has earned a reputation for doing it's killing features, as countless fan-favorite tools over the years have been given an early grave by the tech giant despite widespread use.
There's bound to be at least one product that you've used before it was unceremoniously put to bed by Google, as everything from the simple yet effective Google Podcasts platform to even the company's own social media in the form of Google+ have been removed.
As reported by Ars Technica, the latest feature to be sent to the guillotine is Google's Dark Web Report, which provided an incredibly handy cybersecurity scanning tool that altered you whenever your account information or sensitive data became available in the infamous areas of the internet.
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This is somewhat similar to other tools like HaveIBeenPwned, but integration with your Google account allowed the company to theoretically provide deeper scanning, as it could search for your name, date of birth, addresses, and phone numbers alongside the emails and passwords.
From January 15, 2026 it'll be no more though as Google is set to officially stop scans for dark web breaches, sending out the last reports to all users from February 16.
Revealing why it has made this decision, the company illustrated that "while the report offered general information, feedback showed that it didn't provide helpful next steps.
"We're making this change instead to focus on tools that give you more clear, actionable steps to protect your information online. We'll continue to track and defend you from online threats, including the dark web, and build tools that help protect you and your personal information."
It then points towards other tools like Google's Security Checkup, authentication software, passkeys, and the broader Password Manager system — albeit some cybersecurity experts have warned people to only keep their passwords stored via analog methods.
The reaction to the news has been relatively mixed, as while it was a popular product, some have pointed out that the flaws present within made its death only an inevitability.
"I agree with Google that the notifications were next to useless. 'Leaked email: **********@*****.com Leaked password: ***************** Source: Undisclosed.' Like great, I will get right on that," wrote one user on Reddit who was clearly frustrated with what the service provided.
Another uni that they "kinda saw it coming," asserting that it "was not useful anyway. I wonder what they'll do to keep 'protecting' users from the dark web."
A third even claimed that it's "just Google's nature" to kill off useful products like this, arguing that the company "can't allow other malicious actors to steal and harvest your data when their whole core business runs on exploiting people's data."