Google, one of the world's tech giants, will start offering free dark web monitoring to all users this month. Previously, this service was available only to paid Google One subscribers and a limited number of Gmail users. Now, this opportunity will be open to users in at least 46 countries, including the United States and Canada.
Your personal data, such as passwords, credit card numbers, and other information, may already be out there on the dark web, ready to be used by attackers. Often, users are not even aware of this until an account is hacked or data is stolen.
According to cybersecurity experts, services such as Google's free dark web monitoring can help users protect their data. However, according to Anne Cavoukian, former privacy commissioner of Ontario, individual users and tech companies need to do more to protect personal information.
Recent hacks confirm the seriousness of the problem. For example, Ticketmaster notified its customers of a possible data breach, including credit card numbers, and London Drugs closed its stores due to a ransomware attack. Cybersecurity researchers from Cybernews also discovered a compilation of nearly 10 billion unique passwords obtained through hacks.
Google Dark Web Monitoring allows users to check if their personal information, such as Gmail address, name, email address, phone number, or username, is being leaked. Users will also be able to set up leak alerts and receive security recommendations, such as changing passwords and setting up two-step verification.
CBC News tested the service using a personal Gmail account. The results showed that the email address was implicated in 11 breaches between 2016 and 2023, two of which contained passwords for other accounts associated with that email address.
Conclusion
The launch of Google's free dark web monitoring is a significant step in the fight against cybercrime and personal data protection. It is important for users to take additional measures to ensure the security of their accounts and minimize risks.
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