How to remove Guardio Protection for Chrome (Virus Removal Guide)
What is Guardio Protection for Chrome?
Guardio Protection for Chrome is a browser extension compatible with the Google Chrome web browser and web browsers utilizing the Chromium framework. Guardio Protection for Chrome is promoted as a free “antivirus and cleanup tool” that uses AI and machine learning to scan every site and webpage you visit. In addition, the extension can allegedly scan for malicious extensions, information leaks, suspicious websites visited, notifications, hijackers, and harmful store pages visited.
The extension will automatically run in the background and allegedly block you from visiting harmful websites, as well as detect malware and other threats on Chrome.
Does Guardio Protection for Chrome work?
Guardio Protection for Chrome is good at detecting potentially malicious browser extensions and poor at detecting suspicious websites. During a testing period, the extension detected 6/10 malicious browser extensions and 2/10 suspicious websites. In addition, the extension was able to provide very minimal information about potential data breaches associated with linked email addresses.
Guardio Protection for Chrome is self-promoted as a cyber security solution for in-browser malware detection, adware removal, phishing protection, harmful site blocking, and information leak monitoring but it fails to meet realistic standards nor provide any layer of security. In addition, data breach detection is a promoted service that must be purchased and provides very little if no information about every data breach.
- The extension does not have to capabilities to detect malware, remove adware, protect against phishing, or block harmful sites.
- The extension is good at detecting potentially malicious browser extensions.
- The extension is poor at detecting suspicious websites.
In conclusion, the Guardio Protection for Chrome extension does work to an extent but not as advertised.
Is Guardio Protection for Chrome safe?
One of the biggest issues with the Guardio Protection for Chrome extension is how it is advertised by the publisher and affiliates. The extension is often promoted by malicious third-party advertising networks on websites known to host malware including illegal torrenting websites and illegal streaming video websites.
Another issue with the Guardio Protection for Chrome extension is what it can do once it is installed. Once the extension is installed it can:
- Read your browsing history
- Display notifications
- Manage your apps, extensions, and themes
According to Guardio’s privacy policy, they can collect your personal information, provide it to third parties, use it for marketing purposes, and more.
Although the Guardio Protection for Chrome extension is available to download in the Chrome Web Store we do not recommend using it and instead use real security software and tools to monitor your device and remove malware.
In addition to the above, the Guardio Protection for Chrome extension is a high privacy and security risk because it is often advertised in advertisements by malicious third-party advertising networks that are known to show ads for malware, potentially unwanted programs (PUPs), and other serious security threats and it reads and changes private information. When the extension is installed it has permission to read your browsing history and read and change all your data on the websites you visit even when in incognito mode.
How to remove Guardio Protection for Chrome
- Click the Extensions icon (puzzle piece) to bring down a small menu of all extensions.
- Locate the Guardio Protection for Chrome extension in the list, click the More actions icon (3 vertical dots), and select Remove from Chrome…
- Download the Malwarebytes setup file for the version you wish to use.
- Locate the setup file (MBSetup.exe) and open it to begin the installation process.
- Once Malwarebytes is installed click the Scan button.
- When finished, Malwarebytes will show a list of results including the detection names. Click the Quarantine button to remove all selected threats.
- Malwarebytes may require a system reboot. If so, restart your computer to complete the process.