Google Expands Dark Web Monitoring to All Accounts, Ending Google One Exclusivity

Google Enhancement: Dark Web Monitoring

Google has taken its data protection measures a step further by extending its dark web monitoring services to all Google account holders. Since last year, this service was on offer exclusively to Google One subscribers, enabling them to keep track of stolen account information leaks on the dark web. However, starting from later this month, anyone with a Google account would gain access to this service too. By doing so, Google aims to extend its comprehensive solution to shielding users' online identities.

Integrating the Service into Existing Features

As outlined on its support page, Google's intention is to merge the free dark web monitoring services with its "results about you" page. This page traditionally served users by indexing and displaying personal contact data like home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Furthermore, it provided a platform to request the removal of the displayed information to prevent them from appearing in search results. This integration process would simplify data safeguarding through Google, making it easier for users to track potential data leaks.

A New Package, Some Essential Losses

Despite Google's concerted effort to enhance user data protection, Google One users may feel slightly short-changed. With the launch of the new service, their exclusive privilege to dark web monitoring services is stripped away. This setback follows the announcement by Google last month about the potential shutdown of its Google One VPN service later in the year. Despite these two beneficial additions introduced last spring to Google One package, their withdrawal does not align with any announcement about bringing down the monthly subscription fee.

Google One subscription continues to attract users mostly for its extended storage capacity options for Google account data, including photos and Gmail storage. Apart from this, it provides premium Google Meet video calling capabilities, an opportunity to share the storage with up to five people, and enhanced appointment scheduling using Google Calendar. Nonetheless, the offerings are not very compelling. Certain AI features powered by Google's Gemini could be worth considering but these require costlier Google One packages that start from $19.99 per month.