Is Guardio legit? What you should know before using it

Hackers and fraudsters are always trying new ways to capture your sensitive information. Guardio promises to stop them in their tracks in real time with its browser protection capabilities.

Guardio is a legit, well-established service with thousands of reviews on the app stores and Trustpilot. And, internet browsing is a major vector for cyberthreats: a recent Acronis data privacy study revealed that more than 41% of malware attacks started when a consumer visited a malicious website.

In this article, we’ll explore some of Guardio’s standout features, weigh the positive reviews against the customer complaints, and compare how the service stacks up to full-featured identity theft protection and antivirus solutions.

What is Guardio?

Guardio is a legitimate tool that provides AI-powered browsing protection. You can download Guardio as a browser extension on your computer or as an app on your phone or tablet. The tool will then detect cyberthreats and notify you. This includes scanning webpages and blocking fake sites, as well as actively filtering out phishing/scam emails and texts.

Guardio is best used as a lightweight companion to full-featured malware protection software.

Quick Facts

• Cost: $0 - $34.99/month.
• Biggest benefit: automatic detection of cyberthreats when browsing.
• Helps protect against: malware, identity theft, and phishing.
• Support: Available 24/7 via email.
• Compatibility: Chrome and Edge browsers, as well as Gmail.

How much does Guardio cost?

Guardio offers several subscription plans ranging in cost from free to several hundred dollars a year. Here’s a quick comparison of the subscriptions offered.

All paid packages include a seven-day free trial, with the full subscription amount pre-authorized. This means a pending charge or hold will appear on your payment method when you sign up.

How Guardio works behind the scenes

As both an extension and an app, Guardio works by accessing your browsing data to detect threats as they occur. When it detects a fake site, a phishing attempt, or a dangerous link, it will automatically block the website and notify you with a pop-up or a push notification.

For premium Guardio users, there are additional security features, including:

• Scanning and alerting you when you receive suspicious emails.
• Detecting and blocking malicious SMS texts.
• Monitoring of the phone number and email address you add to the Guardio identity monitoring list.
• Disabling malicious browser extensions and search hijackers.

To perform these functions, Guardio will need you to approve essential permissions for displaying notifications, managing your extensions/apps, accessing your email, and reading and changing all your data on all websites you visit. While this may sound extreme, these permissions are legitimately required for security and ad-blocking extensions and apps.

Guardio’s standout features that work well

Guardio promises protection against a wide variety of online security threats, including fake websites, phishing scams, and malware. Here are some of the standout security features they advertise:

• Phishing and scam site blocking: Guardio automatically scans the sites you visit, emails you receive, and, for iOS users, the texts you get. If a phishing attempt is detected, the site or message is blocked.
• Dangerous extension detection: You’ll get a notification if an extension you’re about to download is risky. Additionally, Guardio works to detect and neutralize any malicious extensions that you have already downloaded.
• Data-leak alerts: By adding your email address and phone number to the monitoring list, Guardio can then search the dark web and alert you if your information is found.
• Real-time browser protection: As you browse, Guardio automatically scans websites for potential phishing, malware, and other cyberthreats. Once identified, it blocks the sites and sends you a notification.
• Easy setup: Getting started with Guardio is as easy as downloading an extension or app and granting the necessary permissions. That’s it.

It’s worth noting that most of these features are only available with a premium Guardio subscription.

What can’t you do with Guardio?

While Guardio may be good at the tasks it was designed to perform, it lacks some key overall cybersecurity features. Some of the crucial security features you won’t see in the app or extension are:

• Deep system scans: Guardio cannot scan your computer’s hard drive, registry, or system files. If a virus is already living on your desktop (outside of your browser), Guardio won’t find it.
• Full malware removal: While Guardio can remove malicious browser extensions and “hijacked” search engines, it cannot remove traditional viruses, Trojans, or other malware threats from your operating system.
• VPN: Guardio lacks a virtual private network (VPN). You won’t be able to mask your IP address, encrypt your connection on public Wi-Fi, or bypass geographical content restrictions.
• Comprehensive identity-theft protection: While there’s basic dark web monitoring, it’s only for phone numbers and email, with no fraud alerts.
• Credit and SSN monitoring: With no credit monitoring, you won’t know if fraudsters have gotten a hold of your SSN or opened suspicious accounts in your name.
• Support for all browsers/emails: The extension is currently not available on Firefox and Safari browsers (on desktop), and Gmail is the only supported email account.

Is Guardio reliable based on customer reviews?

Guardio’s Trustpilot score is 4.4 out of 5, with customers praising the product’s ease of use and the peace of mind it provides. However, some dissatisfied customers criticize Guardio’s customer service and cite issues when attempting to cancel a paid subscription.

Let’s take a closer look at what Guardio’s users and paid subscribers are saying about the service.

What users like about Guardio

There are many happy Guardio customers. In fact, the app has a 4.1-star rating on Google Play and a 4.8-star rating on the Apple App Store. Additionally, 86% of Guardio reviews on Trustpilot are 4- or 5-star.

From timely alerts to easy-to-navigate protection, here are some of the advantages Guardio customers often highlight. 

• 24/7 protection: Customers praise Guardio for its constant activity, running in the background and protecting them while they browse, eliminating the need for manual scans.
• Timely, detailed alerts: Customers appreciate receiving immediate alerts that detail why Guardio blocked a webpage or email.
• Email protection: Users appreciate that Guardio warns them when an email might be a scam.
• Saved from fraud: Many customers report that Guardio successfully prevented them from falling for financial scams.
• Text message monitoring: Customers like that the Guardio app also scans and flags malicious SMS texts.
• Peace of mind: One of the most frequently mentioned benefits in positive reviews is the sense of peace of mind, with customers appreciating the protection it provides.
• Identity protection: With dark web alerts, users appreciate the heads-up they get from Guardio that their information might be compromised.

Common complaints about Guardio

Only about 8% of Guardio’s Trustpilot reviews are 1 star, but a significant number of them report the same issues. Here are some of the biggest Guardio complaints:

• Trouble canceling: Some customers report that canceling a subscription is difficult, and they continue to get charged even after receiving cancellation confirmation.
• Authorization holds: Guardio puts a hold on your payment method for the full amount of your subscription when you sign up for the free trial, leading many customers to mistakenly believe they have already been charged.
• Confusing pricing: Annual subscriptions for Guardio are advertised at a monthly price, leading to confused customers who were charged hundreds upfront instead of the lower monthly price they expected.
• Limited customer service: The only way to contact customer service seems to be by email, which many app users complain is a slow process.
• Free subscription issues: Users on the free plan report a lack of protection features and complain about being constantly spammed with “upgrade now” emails.
• Restricted browser support: Guardio’s browser protection isn’t available on desktop for Firefox and Safari, which is a significant limitation for customers who use these browsers.
• Failed protection: Guardio doesn’t offer a 100% protection or satisfaction guarantee, and customers who have been scammed despite having a subscription have raised concerns about its reliability and legitimacy.

Other Guardio complaints involve confusion about which protections Guardio offers and how it charges for its service. For instance, several customers mistakenly thought the mobile app would block scam calls, but it doesn’t. To avoid confusion, read through Guardio’s FAQs as well as the fine print when signing up.

Who is Guardio best for?

Guardio is best suited for internet users who want protection against risky links, unexpected pop-ups, or suspicious sites while browsing. It can work as a companion to an antivirus tool, or as dedicated protection for your mobile devices, with a separate tool protecting your computer.

Guardio may not be the best choice for:

• Those seeking protection beyond internet browsing.
• Individuals who don’t use the browsers or email accounts that Guardio supports.
• Customers who want additional mobile protection against scam calls and texts.
• Anyone looking for comprehensive protection that antivirus software offers.

In particular, those who have been scammed already might find the features of an identity protection service more beneficial, as they can not only stay protected but also get help restoring their identity if it is stolen again.

Guardio vs. full-feature solutions

Guardio is largely a lightweight cybersecurity protection tool. Its design, which protects only your browsing and email, means it lacks many of the features of a comprehensive solution. For instance, it doesn’t include device scanning or virus removal, nor does it offer the extensive identity theft protection features that a dedicated service would.

For comparison, let’s examine how Guardio compares to identity theft protection services like LifeLock and a comprehensive antivirus solution with identity theft protection (Norton 360 + LifeLock).

As you can see in the comparison above, Guardio primarily focuses on browsing protection. Its identity protection services are lacking compared to a dedicated tool like LifeLock, and its cybersecurity features are limited at best when compared to a full-featured service like Norton 360 with LifeLock Select. Given the price point, customers may find that Guardio fails to offer enough features to justify its cost. 

Help keep yourself safe while browsing online

If you’re looking beyond browser-only protection, consider identity protection from LifeLock. It monitors for fraudulent use of your personal information and helps protect against identity theft if you encounter a scam online. And if the worst happens, and fraudsters get hold of your sensitive information, we can help you get back on your feet faster with expert-led restoration services.

FAQs

Does Guardio slow down your browser?

Guardio’s resource-light service should not slow down your browser performance. However, some users with older equipment or devices with limited RAM may see a slowdown, especially when multiple tabs are open.

What information does Guardio collect?

To protect you while browsing, Guardio collects your browsing data, including your behavior, IP addresses, and information about the sites you visit. For identity theft protection, Guardio will also collect your email address, name, and phone number. And if you pay for a subscription, Guardio will collect and store your payment information.

Is Guardio free?

Yes, partially: Guardio does offer a free subscription with legitimate browsing protection. However, to access premium features such as phishing protection and identity alerts, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid package.

Does Guardio replace antivirus?

No, Guardio does not replace antivirus software. Instead, it offers limited real-time protection against spyware, malware, and viruses as you browse. It does not scan for or remove viruses and malware from your device, as antivirus software does.