Guardio Review

Key Features — Basic Browser Protection

Guardio does a great job blocking phishing sites, sketchy downloads, and harmful extensions. I like its human-centric approach to security, which helps protect against multi-step scams — like when a fake phone call or SMS tricks you into clicking a dangerous link.

That said, the desktop version won’t catch malware already on your computer or threats outside your browser. The protection is more robust for the mobile option. 

Browsing Protection

Guardio is a web extension and mobile app that provides effective real-time browser protection and blocks malicious websites before they can harm your device. 

Its unmatched phishing protection provides superior real-time protection mechanisms that safeguard against evolving cyber threats. It blocks suspicious links and malicious websites in real-time to prevent cybercriminals from accessing your data. 

I tested Guardio by visiting a few known phishing sites and unsafe links, and it instantly blocked them with a warning. The protection worked in real-time for both my Windows laptop and smartphone. I didn’t have to guess whether a site was safe. 

I was impressed by how consistently effective it was at identifying and stopping phishing attempts before they could pose any danger.

I was also happy that Guardio sends you instant notifications when it detects a serious threat, and gives you clear action steps to respond quickly and effectively. This means that even in case of a threat, you can dissolve it quickly, even without prior experience. 

Guardio also scans for malicious downloads disguised as software updates or files and blocks them before they reach your device. I tested it by trying to download different malware samples, including ones hidden in zip files, and it stopped most of them — I tried on both my mobile and browser. This gave me confidence that it can catch threats before they cause any harm.

However, I still had some concerns since Guardio only protects your desktop browser. If a virus or other malware is inside a .rar file, Guardio might not be able to stop it once it’s downloaded. That means harmful files could slip through, infect your system, and even steal your data since there’s no extra security beyond the browser.

Malicious Extension Detection

Browser extensions can be useful, but some secretly track your data, inject ads, or even take control of your settings.

Guardio helps protect you by scanning extensions before you install them and blocking ones that seem unsafe. It also monitors the extensions already on your browser, flagging any that could compromise your security. If it detects a risky extension, it alerts you so you can remove it before it causes harm. I was really impressed as this layer of protection can come in handy to keep your browsing safe from hidden threats.

To test its accuracy, I installed shady Chrome extensions known for collecting user data. Guardio quickly flagged them as harmful and warned me about privacy risks.

It also detected extensions with excessive permissions that could be exploited for tracking or ads. When I clicked to remove them, I liked that Guardio disabled and uninstalled them instantly.

Identity Theft Protection

Guardio’s identity protection feature monitors and safeguards personal information against all types of online threats. 

When you set up your account, Guardio runs an initial data breach scan and lets you know if your information has been exposed. If it finds your information in a breach, you’ll get an alert showing:

• Where the breach happened (e.g., a hacked website or leaked database).
• What information was exposed (email, passwords, phone number, etc.).
• Steps to secure your data (such as changing passwords or enabling two-factor authentication).

After that, you can add more details like email addresses, phone numbers, or social media accounts. If Guardio finds any new breaches involving your data, you’ll get real-time alerts so you can take action right away.

I also like that even after the first can, it constantly monitors your accounts in real-time and alerts you if your personal information is ever leaked. Plus, you can monitor up to five email addresses, which means you can protect many of your accounts simultaneously under one account. 

Guardio’s identity monitoring worked well in my tests. The data breach scan found leaks I wasn’t aware of, and I was impressed by how fast it sent alerts when new breaches popped up.

However, it can’t remove leaked data, so you’ll still need to update passwords and enable 2FA for full protection.

Email and SMS Security

This feature helps protect you from phishing scams and malicious threats by scanning emails and SMS as they arrive. It looks for suspicious links, impersonation attempts, and dangerous attachments to stop attacks before they happen.

To work, Guardio needs permission to read, write, and send emails and SMS on your behalf, which might be a dealbreaker for some. But if you’re okay with that and turn it on, it will scan your emails and messages, flag anything suspicious, and explain why right in its mobile app and extension.

I was also disappointed that it only supports Gmail. If you’re using Outlook, Proton Mail, or another provider, this feature won’t be useful to you.

Search Hijacker Correction

Ever searched for something and ended up on a sketchy website instead of Google? That’s search hijacking, and it’s more common than you think. Guardio stops it by detecting and blocking unwanted browser redirects caused by malicious extensions or hidden settings changes.You might see ads disguised as results, fake search engines replacing Google, or even sites pushing scams and malware. Guardio automatically corrects these changes, restoring your preferred search engine and blocking hijackers from taking over again.

I tested Guardio after my search engine kept changing without my permission. It quickly detected the hijackers and restored my preferred settings. What really impressed me was how seamlessly it worked — no manual tweaks, no digging through settings.

Unwanted Notification Cleanup

Shady websites often trick you into allowing browser notifications that spam you with scams, phishing links, and even malware. Guardio stops this by removing those permissions, so you won’t get bombarded with annoying pop-ups.

Once I turned it on, my browsing felt way smoother. I even visited sites that usually flood me with notifications, and not a single one showed up.

Installation and Experience — Quick Setup but Limited Compatibility

Installing Guardio is fast and simple. Since it’s a browser extension, you don’t need to download or install bulky software. I added it to Google Chrome in under a minute, and it immediately ran a security scan to check for malicious extensions, phishing threats, and data leaks.

The dashboard is clean and easy to navigate. It shows real-time security alerts, recent scans, and active protections. It gives a clear view of your security status without overwhelming you with technical jargon, making it simple to stay protected.

There’s no clutter or unnecessary settings — everything is automated, so you don’t need to tweak configurations like with traditional antivirus software.

I also found the mobile app easy to use. It works just like the browser version, with real-time alerts, identity protection, and browsing security all in one place. Navigation was smooth, and I liked how quickly it showed security updates.

Device Compatibility

Guardio only supports Chrome, Edge, and Brave browsers. It also has mobile apps for Android and iOS.

Browser Extensions

Guardio only works on Chromium-based browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Brave. I was disappointed to see that it doesn’t support Firefox or Safari, which many people still prefer. If you use one of those, you’ll have to find another security option.

One thing I like is that Guardio’s browser extension keeps a history of everything it blocks. You can see all the malicious sites it stopped, the downloads it blocked, and the shady extensions it neutralized. Just check the “Recent activity” section under each feature to keep track of what it’s caught.

Mobile Apps

Guardio also has mobile apps for Android (5.0 and up) and iOS (14.0 and up). The apps are easy to use, with a clean interface that puts all the features right on the home screen. 

I especially like that you don’t need to dig through menus — everything is right on the dashboard. The key features you will find are browsing protection, email protection, and ID monitoring. 

There are also options to protect your add family members to your plan. 

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Reliability and Support — No Live Chat

Guardio’s customer support isn’t very responsive — there’s no live chat or phone support. The only way to contact them is through the Help Center or via email. 

You can also access support directly from the mobile app — just click the menu at the top-right corner to email support, open the Help Center, or report a security issue.

I tested their support by submitting a ticket but didn’t get a response within 24 hours. I only got a auto email telling me to sit tight and wait for a response.

The Help Center has answers for common issues like billing, account setup, and security features. However, there is no instant support if you need quick help, which was a bit disappointing.

Pricing

Guardio’s free plan only scans for threats — it won’t block or remove anything. To get real-time protection, phishing blocking, and identity monitoring, you’ll need the Premium plan. You can get a subscription for as low as $9.99/month for the annual plan. This is fairly affordable compared to some other antivirus in the market. 

It does come with a 7-day free trial, but you have to enter your payment details. When I used PayPal, I was surprised to see an automatic charge right away. The money was refunded a few minutes later, but I didn’t expect this since other tools I’ve tested never did that.

You can pay with a debit/credit card or PayPal, and Guardio offers a 30-day refund policy. If you’re not happy with the service, you can get your money back by submitting a ticket through the Help Center. A support rep will review your request, and once approved, your refund will be processed.