- Written by: Osama Zahid Cybersecurity Specialist
Guardio Overview
Guardio claims to be as effective as the industry’s best antiviruses, but its functionality is limited to your browser. Plus, there are some concerns about its legitimacy. So, I extensively tested Guardio to see if it can protect you against sophisticated cyber threats.
During my tests, Guardio reliably stopped me from opening unsafe sites and downloading malware. Also, it has extra features to protect your email, social accounts, and identity. Despite all of this, I can’t rely on Guardio for comprehensive security . It doesn’t offer any fallback in case a virus sneaks onto your system from somewhere other than your browser.
For guaranteed protection, you should get an industry-leading alternative like Norton . It isn’t limited to your browser and has flawless malware detection, meaning it protects your system from every possible infection source. It even has a 60-day money-back guarantee.
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In a Rush? Here’s a 1-Minute Summary
- Reliable browser security. Even though it’s limited to your browser, Guardio’s core security is impressive. Read more about how effective its protection is .
- Limited features. This app doesn’t have many features besides ID monitoring and social account protection. Learn about the app’s various features .
- Beginner-friendly design. It’s simple to install and use Guardio on your browser or mobile device. Discover how you can easily install Guardio .
- Decent customer support. The email support is responsive, but the 24/7 hotline didn’t work in my tests. Find out about my experience with its support team .
- Not worth the price. The browser-limited protection isn’t worth Guardio’s high price. Learn more about its various plans .
Security
Guardio’s approach to security is different from that of other antiviruses. Instead of working on your system, it works exclusively within the browser. It’s designed with the idea that most malware infections and phishing scams result from something done on the web browser.
Nonetheless, Guardio is good at what it does. It analyzes the behavior of every single website and browser extension in real time to notify you of any malicious activity instantly. Also, it relies on AI and machine learning to determine suspicious behavior, making it even harder for cyber threats to avoid detection.
Guardio’s position is true to some extent, but this approach isn’t enough for comprehensive device protection. It’s possible to get a malware infection from other sources, like a malicious USB drive or a trojan hidden in a legitimate download.
Browsing Protection — Effective Protection Against Dangerous Websites and Downloads
Browsing Protection is Guardio’s main security feature. It consists of 4 key components, which include the following:
- Harmful site blocking — blocks any unsafe websites you attempt to open.
- Dangerous download blocking — stops any malicious downloads.
- Suspicious site alerting — warns you about websites with low credibility.
- Webcam & microphone alerting — informs you whenever a website accesses your camera or microphone.
During my tests, I found that Guardio’s Browsing Protection is highly effective . I tried accessing several websites known to carry malware and phishing scams, and Guardio blocked access every single time. It has a button that lets you proceed if you want to visit the website regardless.
