Google is helping internet users fight online crime.
Users of the ubiquitous search engine will soon have free access to a tool that allows anyone to see if their personal information has been stolen and placed on the internet’s harmful, illicit side — known as the dark web.
The new feature “helps you monitor if your personal information, such as your name, address, phone number, and email, is found among data breaches,” the company announced in a blog post.
The information will be available using the existing “my activity” tool, which allows users to control how their information is displayed on Google — the service can be accessed here. Anyone with a consumer Google account in 46 different countries has access.
After adding in contact information — Google maintains it is “not shared or used to personalize your experience across other Google products” — searches will be run across the dark web for your data.
If anything concerning comes up, it will be sent to a highly visible “results to review” section of the report.
From there, users can make requests to have their information removed.
A similar process is in place to have information taken out of Google search results that include your contact information.
Reviews typically take a few days, according to Google.
The new move to protect users comes in tandem with Apple releasing new guidance about how to protect from phishing scams — maneuvers hackers use to trick people into surrendering their personal info.
These attempts often come in the form of phony emails from imposter banks, companies, or loved ones, all demanding financial information for a seemingly urgent cause.
