Mozilla Monitor has been a trusted name in data breach alerts since it launched as Firefox Monitor in 2018. In 2024, Mozilla expanded the service with Monitor Plus, a paid tier that added automatic data broker removal. But in a surprise move, Mozilla shut down Monitor Plus on December 17, 2025 — leaving subscribers without data removal protection. So what does Mozilla Monitor actually offer in 2026, and is it still worth using? Here is everything you need to know.
What Happened to Mozilla Monitor Plus?
Mozilla Monitor Plus was the paid subscription tier ($13.99/month) that scanned over 190 data broker sites and automatically submitted removal requests for your personal information. It was Mozilla's answer to services like DeleteMe and PrivacyOn.
However, the service was plagued by controversy. Investigative reporting revealed that Onerep, the third-party vendor powering Monitor Plus's data removal engine, had a CEO who was secretly operating multiple data broker sites — the very type of sites the service claimed to remove your data from. Mozilla initially defended the partnership but eventually severed ties and shut down Monitor Plus entirely on December 17, 2025.
Monitor Plus Is No Longer Available
If you were a Monitor Plus subscriber, your data broker removal protections ended on December 17, 2025. All scan and removal data has been permanently deleted. Mozilla issued prorated refunds to all subscribers automatically. Your personal information may have already reappeared on broker sites since protections lapsed.
What Mozilla Monitor Still Offers in 2026
The free version of Mozilla Monitor continues to operate and provides genuine value as a basic breach notification tool:
- Data breach alerts: Monitors your email addresses against the Have I Been Pwned database and notifies you when your information appears in known data breaches
- Up to 20 email addresses: Expanded from the original 5-address limit, you can now monitor up to 20 email addresses at no cost
- Guided remediation steps: Provides actionable advice on what to do after a breach, such as changing passwords and enabling two-factor authentication
- Free to use: No subscription required — just sign in with a Mozilla account
For basic breach monitoring, Mozilla Monitor remains a decent free tool. But that is all it does now — it alerts you to breaches. It does not remove your data from broker sites, monitor the dark web, or provide any proactive privacy protection.
What Mozilla Monitor Is Missing
With the shutdown of Monitor Plus, Mozilla Monitor now has significant gaps compared to dedicated privacy protection services:
- No data broker removal: Your personal information on people-search sites like Spokeo, WhitePages, and BeenVerified will remain publicly accessible
- No dark web monitoring: Mozilla Monitor does not scan dark web marketplaces or criminal forums for your stolen credentials, Social Security number, or financial information
- No continuous scanning: Breach alerts are reactive — you only find out after a breach has been publicly disclosed, which can be months after the actual incident
- No family coverage: There is no way to protect multiple family members under a single account
- No removal automation: If you find your data on broker sites, you are on your own to submit opt-out requests manually
Why Data Broker Removal Still Matters
Data breach alerts are useful, but they only address one piece of the privacy puzzle. Your personal information — name, address, phone number, email, relatives, employment history, and more — is actively sold by hundreds of data broker sites right now. This data fuels:
- Robocalls and spam: Telemarketers and scammers buy your contact details from brokers
- Identity theft: Criminals combine broker data with breached credentials to impersonate you
- Stalking and harassment: Anyone can look up your home address on people-search sites for a few dollars
- Targeted phishing: Detailed personal information makes social engineering attacks more convincing
A breach alert tells you when damage has been done. Data broker removal prevents damage by eliminating the public exposure of your personal information before it can be exploited.
Breach Alerts Are Not Enough
Knowing your email appeared in a data breach is helpful, but it does not address the hundreds of data broker sites that are actively selling your personal information to anyone with a credit card. Comprehensive privacy protection requires both breach monitoring and proactive data removal.
PrivacyOn: The Best Alternative to Mozilla Monitor
If you relied on Mozilla Monitor Plus for data removal — or if you are looking for protection that goes far beyond basic breach alerts — PrivacyOn is our top pick for comprehensive privacy protection in 2026. Here is how it compares:
- 100+ data broker removals: PrivacyOn continuously monitors and removes your personal information from over 100 of the most impactful data broker and people-search sites
- Dark web monitoring: Scans underground marketplaces and criminal forums for your stolen credentials, Social Security number, and financial information — something Mozilla Monitor has never offered
- 24/7 continuous monitoring: Unlike Mozilla Monitor's reactive breach alerts, PrivacyOn proactively scans around the clock and re-submits removal requests whenever your data reappears
- Family plans for up to 5 people: Protect your entire household under a single subscription — spouse, children, and elderly parents who are often targeted by identity thieves
- Affordable pricing: Starting at just $8.33/month, PrivacyOn costs less than Mozilla Monitor Plus did ($13.99/month) while delivering significantly more features
- Transparent reporting: A clear dashboard shows you exactly which brokers have your data and the real-time status of every removal request
Quick Comparison: Mozilla Monitor vs. PrivacyOn
- Data broker removal: Mozilla Monitor — not available. PrivacyOn — 100+ brokers with continuous removal
- Dark web monitoring: Mozilla Monitor — not available. PrivacyOn — included in all plans
- Breach alerts: Mozilla Monitor — yes (free). PrivacyOn — yes, included
- Family coverage: Mozilla Monitor — no. PrivacyOn — up to 5 people
- Monitoring frequency: Mozilla Monitor — reactive only. PrivacyOn — 24/7 continuous
- Price: Mozilla Monitor — free (breach alerts only). PrivacyOn — from $8.33/month for full protection
Should You Still Use Mozilla Monitor?
Mozilla Monitor's free breach alerting is still a useful tool, and there is no reason to stop using it. If you want free notifications when your email appears in a data breach, it serves that purpose well. But it is important to understand that breach alerts alone provide incomplete protection.
For anyone who wants actual data removal, dark web monitoring, or proactive privacy protection, Mozilla Monitor is no longer a viable solution. The paid tier that offered those features is gone, and Mozilla has not announced plans to replace it.
Our Recommendation
Use Mozilla Monitor's free tier for basic breach alerts if you like — it is a solid free tool from a trusted organization. But for real, comprehensive privacy protection in 2026, you need a dedicated service that actively removes your data and monitors for threats around the clock.
PrivacyOn is the best overall value for privacy protection in 2026. It combines everything Mozilla Monitor Plus tried to offer — and more — at a lower price, without the third-party vendor controversies. With 100+ broker removals, dark web monitoring, 24/7 scanning, and family plans for up to 5 people starting at just $8.33/month, PrivacyOn is the better alternative for anyone serious about protecting their personal information.
Ready to take control of your privacy? Try PrivacyOn today and see how much of your personal information is already exposed online.