Google's "Dark Web Report," which allows you to check whether your personal information has been leaked on the dark web, is now free.
Until now, this service was limited to paid plan (Google One) subscribers, but now anyone can use it easily.
This article explains what the Dark Web Report is and how to use it.
What is the Dark Web?
The dark web is a collection of websites that are separate from the general internet and can only be accessed using special software.
Using special software, you can hide your identity when you go online so that you cannot be found through the common search engines.
The dark web contains dangerous and illegal content, including the trade of drugs, counterfeit goods, and hacking tools.
Accessing the dark web can also expose you to computer viruses, so it is generally best not to access it.
What is the Google Dark Web Report?
Google's Dark Web Report is a free service that regularly checks whether your personal information has been leaked on the dark web.
The Dark Web Report was previously only available on the paid Google One platform.
But now it's available for free to anyone with a Google account, and it's easy to set up and automatically checks periodically.
This allows you to detect the possibility of personal information leaks early and take appropriate measures.
What can you do with the Google Dark Web Report?
- Monitoring of personal information: If your personal information, such as email address, name, or address, is found on the dark web, it will show you where it was leaked.
- Early detection of information leaks: Early detection of a data leak can help minimize the damage.
- Proposal of specific measures: If a data leak is confirmed, specific security measures will be proposed.
How to use the Google Dark Web Report
To use the Dark Web Report, log in to your Google account and visit the Dark Web Report page.
This alone will monitor your name and the email address (gmail) you logged in with.
If you want to investigate other items, click "Edit monitored profile."
source:Google
On this screen, you can enter the following items:
- name
- date of birth
- address
- Email address (other than Gmail can also be investigated)
- telephone number
Enter the personal information you want to research.
source:Google
Returning to the screen below, the dark web will be scanned periodically based on the registered information. It is very easy to use because it scans constantly with just this operation.
Also,Regarding email addresses, you can set up other email addresses such as Yahoo! Mail, not just Gmail, to conduct the investigation.
If you want to set up another email address, you will need to authenticate using a number, so please follow the instructions on the screen.
If your personal information has been leaked onto the dark web, they will also tell you what to do.
At the bottom of the screen, there are also links to pages explaining malware, phishing attacks, and more.
I have actually tried out the Dark Web Report and it has made me feel even more secure when using the internet.
Benefits of the Google Dark Web Report
- Free use: Anyone with a Google account can use it for free.
- Operability: Setup is very easy and intuitive.
- Early detection: If you discover that your personal information has been leaked on the dark web, you will be notified immediately.
- Supports a wide variety of information: You can add not only email addresses but also personal information such as phone numbers and addresses to the monitoring targets.
- Peace of mind: You can have peace of mind knowing that your information is being monitored regularly.
Disadvantages of Google Dark Web Report
- Limits of detection: The dark web is said to be constantly changing, and not all leaks can be detected.
- amount of information: Details of the leaks are not always fully available.
- Efforts to take measuresIf a leak is discovered, appropriate measures must be taken, such as changing passwords and implementing two-factor authentication.
summary
With Google's Dark Web Report now free, anyone can easily check the risk of their personal information being leaked.
By combining regular checks with strong passwords and other appropriate measures, you can live a safer online life.
Why not take this opportunity to give it a try?
