- NordVPN launched Dark Web Monitor Pro as un upgarde to its existing tool
- The tool now also scans for phone numbers, credit cards, and national IDs
- This follows Google's decision to kill off its own Dark Web Report feature
When Google quietly discontinued its Dark Web Report feature, millions of users were left without an easy way to check if their personal information had fallen into the wrong hands. Now, TechRadar's top-rated best VPN is stepping up to fill that dangerous void.
NordVPN has just released Dark Web Monitor Pro, a major upgrade to its existing cybersecurity suite. While the original tool was limited to scanning for exposed email addresses, this new premium tier casts a much wider safety net. The upgraded feature now actively scans the dark web for leaked credit card numbers, national ID numbers, and, crucially, phone numbers.
"Most people only find out their data has been leaked when it's already too late," says Domininkas Virbickas, product director at NordVPN. "Credit card numbers and national IDs are the kind of data that leads to direct financial loss, and that’s exactly what [Dark Web Monitor Pro] watches for."
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What’s new with Dark Web Monitor Pro?
According to threat intelligence platform NordStellar, over 900 million leaked email addresses and 650 million passwords have been found on the dark web in 2025 alone.
Yet, criminals rarely rely on a single data breach. Instead, they compile huge databases of stolen details to execute identity theft, financial fraud, and account takeovers.
To combat this, NordVPN is expanding its data sources to include "combo lists." These are massive collections of leaked credentials compiled from stealer logs and various past breaches. Because these lists consolidate data from multiple incidents, the updated monitor can spot reused credentials that might not appear in individual breach databases.
As a result of this deep dive into combo lists, users might suddenly receive new alerts about previously undetected data exposures. Some of these newly discovered leaks could date back years, giving users a much clearer picture of their digital footprint.
How to take back control of your data
If you use the standard Dark Web Monitor, you can currently track up to five email addresses. By upgrading to Dark Web Monitor Pro, you can monitor up to eight email addresses, two credit card numbers, two national ID numbers, and one phone number.
For maximum privacy, any credit card and national ID numbers you enter are hashed. This ensures your most sensitive information remains secure even while the app searches the darkest corners of the internet for matches. Phone number monitoring is currently limited to selected countries, though the company hasn't specified exactly which ones yet.
"People deserve to know what's happening with their personal data," says Virbickas. "Dark Web Monitor Pro puts that control in their hands, so they can monitor their most sensitive information and respond quickly if it’s been exposed. The sooner you know, the sooner you can change a password or alert your bank."
If you're looking for extra protection online, pairing a reliable password manager with the best dark web VPN is a great place to start.
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