TECH

Gmail will warn user if their email address appears on the dark web

Google announced that all Gmail users, for now only in the United States, will soon be able to use a security feature that will warn them if their email address has been found on the dark web.

At the annual Google I/O developer conference, it was said that access to Google's Dark Web Report will be expanded in the coming weeks and will soon be expanded to select international markets.

Once activated, the new option will allow Gmail users to scan the dark web for their email addresses, as well as other information such as phone numbers and social security numbers. Google will notify them if the requested data is found, as well as the steps they can take to protect their data, such as enabling two-step authentication on their Google Account.

As of March 2023, this option is only available to Google One subscribers in the US.

Google will also regularly remind Gmail users to check their email addresses for incidents and leaks that have occurred on cybercrime forums.

Users who choose this option must create a tracking profile with their data in Google One, under “Settings” → “Start Tracking” → “Dark Web Report”.

The company says that any personal information added to a profile can be deleted from the tracking profile or by removing the profile in the Dark Web Report settings.

mundophone