Google has announced plans to make their dark web monitoring tool free for all registered users. Previously this scanning service was restricted to paying Google One subscribers.

But what is this service and why should you care?

Introducing the dark web

First, you need to understand the dark web. The dark web operates like an alternate internet. You won’t find any dak web sites listed in your Google search results for instance. You probably can’t even access the dark web using a normal web browser.

It’s called the dark web because criminals, hackers and other secretive groups use the network to share information. Often this information relates to hacking tools and other cybercriminal activity. It is also where gangs sell stolen assets to each other, such as compromised websites, data dumps and credit card information.

Note: The dark web is not the same as the deep web – you can learn more about the difference here.

Why should you care?

For most of us, the dark web doesn’t matter at all – until we become the victim of a hacking. When cybercriminals compromise a corporate network and steal information, they will often target usernames, passwords and other sensitive information related to the user’s account.

Once that data has been stolen, it is frequently sold on the dark web for profits. Sometimes the hackers simply publish the information so any other dark web user can use it. This is exactly what happened when 7.6 million user account details were stolen during the AT&T hacking earlier this year.

The trouble is, you don’t know your information has been leaked until another criminal uses it. And this can have serious consequences, such as identity theft and devastating financial fraud.

Why you need a dark web scanner service

Once you have become a victim of a dark web data leak, it’s too late to stop it. But if you cannot access the dark web, how can you tell if your accounts are in danger?

This is where dark web scanning services can help. Tools like Panda Dark Web Scanner automatically check whether your email addresses or passwords have been leaked. These tools do all the hard work for you too, constantly scanning for new leaks – and whether your details have been compromised. 

As soon as an issue is detected, you receive an alert explaining what has been leaked – and how it affects you. You can then change your passwords before cybercriminals are able to exploit your compromised account. Acting fast will limit the damage and better protect you against becoming a victim.

Don’t wait for Google

Google’s free dark web scanning service is a welcome announcement – but the price drop will not happen until the end of this year. Waiting for the release will leave your personal information exposed for another four months (at least) – more than long enough for hackers to exploit and rob you.

Instead, you must take action now. Panda Dark Web Scanner is included as part of every Panda Dome Premium subscription. Sign up for a free trial today to protect yourself against malware – and dark web data leaks.