Gmail Users Can Now Use Dark Web Monitoring Services

Google has long had dark web monitoring, (photo: dock. google)

JAKARTA - Google has long had dark web monitoring, now the service is extended to Gmail users and can be used for free.

Google's dark web monitoring can alert users if their emails are sold or compromised on hacking sites. However, it's just an email, not any other personal data, such as name, phone number, or home address.

The search engine giant has offered dark web monitoring services for paid users in the United States (US) through Google One's subscription service.

However, at today's annual Google I/O celebration, the company expands security monitoring to all Gmail users for free.

We are expanding access to our dark web report in the next few weeks, anyone with a Gmail account in the US will be able to run a scan to see if your Gmail address appears on the dark web and receives guidance on actions that must be taken to protect yourself," Google said.

Even so, to enjoy a complete service, users have to pay for a Google One subscription, which can also scan to see if the Social Security number has the potential to be in the hands of a fraudster.

In addition, Google also offers a free Password Check to check for credentials stored in Google Password Managers.

The service will alert users about credentials that may have been exposed, weak, or used on many accounts.

Furthermore, Google is also rolling out another interesting feature, namely About This Image, to help users identify online content that may qualify as digitally manipulated disinformation or content and generated by AI.

Users can also see additional contexts about certain images, with annotations and links to news sites to keep brands informed.

This image will notify users when images are first indexed in Google's search engine, as well as provide additional information, such as if it has been written by news outlets or tweeted by journalists.

The feature seems to be designed to help users contextualize images, so they are not fooled by fake news. Thus quoted from PC Mag and Gizmodo, Thursday, May 11.