Google confirmed at Google I/O, its annual developer conference, that Gmail users in the US can now run scans to see if their Gmail ID is listed on the dark web.
The function was first introduced in March, when the internet giant made it available exclusively to Google One members.Users can use it to conduct scans and get a report letting them know whether their personal data, such as name, address, email, phone number, and Social Security number, is present on dark web portals.
The function was first introduced in March, when the internet giant made it available exclusively to Google One members.Users can use it to conduct scans and get a report letting them know whether their personal data, such as name, address, email, phone number, and Social Security number, is present on dark web portals.
Such data is frequently obtained from publicly accessible databases, but it can also end up on the dark web after a data breach (cybercriminals are known to sell or barter stolen personally identifiable information on underground forums).
Users are instantly informed when matched data is discovered when the dark web report is activated. Google will also offer advice on how to safeguard the exposed data.
In a blog post from March, Google stated, "For instance, if your Social Security number was discovered on the dark web, we might suggest you report it as stolen to the government or take steps to protect your credit."
According to a statement released by Google today, "anyone with a Gmail account in the US will be able to run scans to see if [their] Gmail address appears on the dark web and receive guidance on what actions to take to protect [themselves]."
The internet giant claims it will soon make the dark web report accessible to foreign markets.
In addition, Google today unveiled additional spam protections in Drive to help users stay safe from potentially unwelcome or abusive information, a new option to erase recent searches in Maps, and a new "About this Image" feature to give users insight on the visual content they see online.
The internet giant is extending its Content Safety API, which has been made available to the public since 2018, to include potential CSAM (child sexual abuse material) in video content in an effort to support platforms and organisations in keeping kids safer online.
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