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Free Dark Web Monitoring: Know What's Been Found

Data breaches happen all the time, but you may not know if or when your data’s been exposed. Dark Web Monitoring helps you find out if your details are out there. Avast Secure Identity scans for your email address and phone number, alerts you if they turn up along with other personal info, and then tells you what to do next. Start for free in the Avast One app.

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Dark web scanning
Real-time monitoring
Major breach notifications
One easy dashboard

Monitor the dark web for free

Monitor the dark web for free

Know when your personal information shows up where it shouldn’t. Avast Secure Identity monitors thousands of dark web sites, black-market chat rooms, and other data sources for your personal information. If your details are part of a data breach or being traded online, you’ll receive alerts about what was exposed on the dark web and what to do next.

The benefits of Avast Secure Identity

 

Dark web monitoring

We’ll scan for your email address and phone number, and if other personal information is found on the dark web too, we’ll tell you.

Real-time scanning

Continuous data breach detection, so you know promptly if your sensitive info shows up on the dark web.

Large-scale breach notifications

We’ll tell you about known data breaches so you can take action to protect your data before your info is misused.

Step-by-step restoration*

Should the worst happen, our restoration experts handle paperwork, make calls, and do the heavy lifting to get your identity restored.

Your most sensitive details*

Avast Secure Identity Premium monitors 15+ types of personal information, including credit cards, your passport, and SSN.

Identity Theft Reimbursement*

Coverage for identity theft expenses up to $1M1, so you're not left paying entirely out of pocket.

Why is Dark Web Monitoring important?

Identity theft is not a rare event, and it often starts when a company loses your data in a breach. Before long, your info can end up for sale on dark web marketplaces. Avast Secure Identity alerts you when your info is found, giving you time to act before your sensitive personal information falls into the wrong hands.

We’ve gathered the data to put the importance of monitoring your personal info into perspective. Here are a few stats to know:

1
1 in 4

 people

The share of Americans who have been a victim of identity theft.

75%
75%

of Americans

 The percentage of people in the U.S. who’ve had their Social Security number exposed in a data breach.

$7,639
$7,639

on average 

 The average financial loss resulting from identity theft.

Based on a Gen study from October 23rd to November 4th, 2025, among 1,000 adults ages 18 and older.

How Dark Web Monitoring works

    Get started with Dark Web Monitoring

    To start monitoring the dark web, download and install Avast One, our award-winning, all-in-one cyberprotection app. Then, select Secure Identity to add your personal details and scan the dark web
    Step 1
    Download the free Avast One app and install it on your computer.
    Step 2
    Open the Secure Identity module, add your personal information, then launch a scan to check if your info has been found on the dark web.
    Step 3
    Review the alerts, then take our recommended actions to help secure your data.
    Step 4
    Activate Secure Identity Premium, add up to 15 pieces of personal information, and benefit from continuous protection.

    Secure Identity is just one piece of Avast One

    Avast One does more than monitor the dark web with the Secure Identity module. It includes our award-winning antivirus engine, VPN access, performance tools, and built-in scam protection to provide multi-faceted digital protection.

    Free Antivirus
    Free Privacy Control
    SecureLine VPN (trial)²
    Our award-winning antivirus has the tools you need to protect your online privacy and devices, so you can shop, surf, and stream with greater confidence. It brings together advanced malware defenses, ransomware protection, and AI-powered scam detection.
    Your personal information may appear on data broker and people-search sites, increasing your exposure to spam and scams. Avast Privacy Control identifies sites where your data is listed and provides instructions for requesting its removal.
    SecureLine VPN encrypts your internet connection and masks your IP address, helping keep your online activity private from trackers, hackers, and advertisers. Connect to servers in over 100 countries with one click for secure, private browsing and streaming wherever you go.

    Turn on Dark Web Monitoring for free in Avast One

    By the time you discover a data breach, criminals may already have misused your personal information. And waiting to find out can be expensive. With Secure Identity in Avast One, you can monitor the dark web for your email address and phone number for free and receive alerts if they’re found in known breaches. Then upgrade to Premium for broader identity monitoring and protection.

    FAQs

    Is dark web monitoring free?

    Yes. Avast One includes free dark web monitoring and breach alerts through the Secure Identity module. Free dark web monitoring covers three email addresses and one phone number.

    Upgrading to Premium adds continuous monitoring across 15+ types of personal and financial information, credit monitoring, expert recovery support, and up to $1 million in identity theft reimbursement.

    Why would my information end up on the dark web?

    Data breaches are the most common way personal information leaks onto the dark web. If a service you use is breached, criminals may steal stored customer data and sell or share it online. Spyware, keyloggers, and phishing scams can also expose sensitive information. Scammers may also collect publicly available information from websites and social media, combine it into detailed profiles, and distribute or sell it on the dark web.

    What's the difference between the dark web, deep web, and darknet?

    The deep web includes content that search engines don’t index, such as email inboxes, banking portals, and private databases. The dark web is a deliberately hidden part of the deep web that requires specialized software, such as Tor Browser, to access, and hosts both legitimate and illegal services. A darknet, such as Tor, is the underlying network that hosts dark web sites.

    Is it illegal to access the dark web in the US?

    No, simply accessing the dark web is not illegal in the US. The dark web has legitimate uses as well as criminal ones. However, the dark web’s anonymity and lack of oversight make it a major hub for illicit online activity. And remember, anything that’s illegal elsewhere — such as buying stolen information or committing fraud — remains illegal when carried out on the dark web.

    Is dark web monitoring worth it?

    Yes, dark web monitoring can be worthwhile if you want to know quickly when sensitive information linked to you appears in known breaches or dark web sources. Manually checking these sources isn’t practical, and stolen data can circulate long after a breach occurs. Dark web monitoring automates the process and alerts you when it detects exposed information, allowing you to secure affected accounts sooner.

    Can I get my information removed from the dark web?

    Removing your information from the dark web is unlikely. Once a data breach happens, it can’t be reversed. And dark web data marketplaces are part of the black market, so there’s no official process for removing your personal information. However, knowing your data is on the dark web allows you to take steps to secure your identity, such as updating your online accounts with stronger passwords, freezing your credit, or setting up two-factor authentication (2FA) .


    Usually, no. Once information from a data breach reaches the dark web, there’s generally no reliable way to remove your personal information from criminal marketplaces or prevent copies from circulating. Instead, focus on limiting the damage. Change compromised credentials to strong, unique passwords, enable two-factor authentication (2FA), and consider freezing your credit if sensitive identity information has been exposed.

    ¹Up to $1 million coverage for lawyers and experts, and up to $25,000 each for stolen funds and expense compensation. Insurance benefits are issued by third parties. See here for policy info.


    ²60-day free trial. Payment method is required to activate the trial. Billed at the end of the trial unless cancelled first. Terms apply.


    *Feature of Avast Secure Identity Premium.

    System requirements

    All devices require an internet connection for download, activation and use of the service.

    Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 or 11 PCs, 32- or 64-bit, excluding Mixed Reality and IoT editions.

    macOS 11 (Big Sur) or higher.

     

    Windows 10 compatible