Time to face the truth: the situation is serious, but under control. Google has announced the shutdown of the "Dark web report" feature, which for a year and a half warned users about leaks of their email addresses, phone numbers, names and Social Security numbers. Starting January 16, 2026, the service will stop scanning for new leaks, and on February 16, 2026 it will be fully turned off and all related data will be deleted.
Why this matters
This is not just a technical operation — it is a historic moment for privacy. The "Dark web report" was the first alert for many that their data had fallen into the hands of bad actors. Western analysts warn: the loss of this early signal reduces visibility into threats and shifts the burden of response onto the user. The world is stunned because an early-warning algorithm is disappearing just as threats are rising.
What will change for you
Practically: new notifications about leaks will stop arriving after January 16, 2026; the full shutdown and data deletion will occur on February 16, 2026. Users will receive warning emails — and can delete their monitoring profile themselves in Google settings. To do this, open the Dark web report page, in the Results with your info section choose Edit monitoring profile, then at the bottom select Delete monitoring profile and confirm the deletion.
Shutting down the service relieves Google of part of the responsibility for early warning — now every user must more actively watch over their data.
– A Western cybersecurity analyst
How not to be left unprotected
Google says it will focus on more practical tools: Security Checkup, Password Manager and Password Checkup. This is a step in the right direction, but protective practices must be strengthened: enable two-factor authentication, update passwords in your manager, check bank statements and alerts. Experts and insiders warn: in an era when hackers exploit ChatGPT, Grok and even search tools to push malware, passive notifications may not be enough — everyone is discussing a new approach to cyber literacy.
This is an important signal for our digital front: we protect our home not just with bold text on the screen, but with concrete actions. If you use Google One and this feature — check your settings today.
Summary: this is not just a service shutdown — it is a challenge to the community of users and security tools. Insiders and Western analysts say the story of this decision is not over. By acting decisively today, we preserve control over tomorrow’s digital space.
