How Does PureVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring Actually Work?

Author Haris Shahid

Table of Contents

A breach count alone does not tell you much. If your details appear in several leaks, you need to know which information was exposed, where it came from, and what you can do about it to protect your accounts and personal information.

PureVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring checks for existing and new exposure. It displays breach details, risk levels, and recommended actions in an intuitive dashboard. Find out how the feature works and what happens when it finds a match below.

What Is PureVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring?

PureVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring is part of its Digital Privacy Protection offering. It searches known breach records and dark web sources for personal information linked to the details you add, such as your email address or social security number.

When it detects a match, the feature alerts you so you can review what was exposed and where the information came from. It also monitors for newly identified exposure, helping you stay informed about leaks discovered after your initial check.

How Does PureVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring Work?

You can manage the information being monitored and review detected breaches from the Dark Web Monitoring dashboard. Here is how the process works:

Step #1: Access Dark Web Monitoring

Open the PureVPN app and select Dark Web Monitoring. The feature is available with the Digital Privacy Protection plan. The dashboard shows your monitored information, an overall breach count, and whether any findings need attention.

Step #2: Add the Information You Want Monitored

Select Add beside the information you want to monitor. You can add an email address, phone number, credit card number, passport number, or Social Security/National Identity Number (SSN/NIN). After entering your details, accept the terms, save them, and complete verification using the code sent to your registered email address.

Step #3: PureVPN Checks for Exposed Information

PureVPN checks known breach records and dark web sources for matches involving your information. If it finds a match, the dashboard displays the number of detected breaches associated with your monitored details. New findings can also appear as further exposure is identified.

Step #4: Receive Alerts About Detected Exposure

When PureVPN detects your details in a new breach, it alerts you so you can review the findings. It organises results by breach source, compromised information, severity, and status. You can open individual findings to see which details were exposed, read recommended security actions, and select Mark as Resolved once you’ve addressed the issue.

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What Should You Do After Receiving a Dark Web Alert?

The steps you take depend on what information has been exposed. Here are a few things worth doing:

Change compromised passwords: Update passwords on affected accounts and anywhere else you’ve reused them.
Enable multi-factor authentication: Add another layer of protection to accounts that support it.
Examine account activity: Look for unfamiliar sign-ins, transactions, or changes to your account details.
Contact your bank: If payment information is exposed, notify your bank or card issuer and review recent transactions.

Is PureVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring Free?

No. You will need a Digital Privacy Protection plan to access the full Dark Web Monitoring feature. However, PureVPN offers a free email scan that anyone can use without a subscription. It provides an overview of identified exposure, although some report details remain restricted.

The main difference is what happens after the initial check. While a free scan gives you a snapshot of your exposure at that point in time, DPP lets you monitor multiple personal identifiers and receive alerts about newly detected breaches without having to run another scan yourself.

What PureVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring Cannot Do?

Dark Web Monitoring helps you identify exposed information, but there are a few things it cannot do:

Remove leaked information: It alerts you to exposure but cannot delete information from dark web sources.
Prevent data breaches: It cannot stop companies or services you use from suffering a breach.
Detect every leak: Findings depend on the available breach records, monitored sources, and personal details you’ve added.

Note: DPP also includes Remove My Data, which helps request the removal of your personal information from 380+ data brokers. For a closer look at the process, read what happens when you use PureVPN to remove your data.

Final Word

Finding out your information has been exposed is only the first step. PureVPN’s Dark Web Monitoring helps you understand the risks associated with each breach and what you can do about them. And with alerts for newly detected exposure, you can stay informed about future findings too.