You're in good hands

Phishing scams are fake websites designed to look exactly like your bank, the IRS, or a store you trust. The goal is to trick you into typing your password or personal information. GuardDex catches these before you ever see them.

Step 1 — Install the app

Your admin will send you the GuardDex app or help you install it. Once it's on your phone, look for the shield icon 🛡️ in your app drawer.

Step 2 — Connect to your server

GuardDex needs to know where your family's security server is. The easiest way is a QR code your admin provides:

1. 1
   Your admin will show you a QR code — usually on a screen or printed out.
2. 2
   Open your phone camera and point it at the QR code. A notification will appear — tap it.
3. 3
   GuardDex opens and says "Connected!" — you're all set.

Step 3 — Turn on notification scanning

This lets GuardDex check links in your text messages, emails, and other app notifications before you tap them.

1. 1
   Go to Settings on your Android phone.
2. 2
   Tap Apps, then Special app access, then Notification access.
   (The exact path depends on your phone brand — Samsung, Pixel, etc.)
3. 3
   Find GuardDex in the list and turn it On.
4. 4
   Tap Allow on the confirmation prompt.

Step 4 — Set as your default browser (optional but recommended)

When GuardDex is your default browser, every link you tap anywhere on your phone opens through the security scanner first.

1. 1
   Go to Settings → Apps → Default apps → Browser app.
2. 2
   Select GuardDex Browser from the list.

GuardDex uses colored shields to tell you whether a page is safe. Here's exactly what each one means and what you should do:

A yellow warning screen means GuardDex noticed something suspicious but isn't 100% certain it's a scam. You'll see a screen like this:

What to do on a yellow screen

1. 1
   Read the warning message. It will say what looks suspicious — for example, "Possible Bank of America phishing page."
2. 2
   If you weren't expecting to visit this site: tap "Go Back". This is the safe choice.
3. 3
   If you clicked a link you trust (like from your own bookmark): tap "Proceed Anyway" — but don't enter a password unless the web address looks exactly right.

A red blocked screen means GuardDex is highly confident this is a dangerous or fake website. You will not be able to see the page — and that's a good thing.

What to do on a red screen

1. 1
   Tap "Go Back — You're Safe". You're done — GuardDex handled it.
2. 2
   Do not try to get around the block or type the address manually.
3. 3
   If you received the link in a message, do not reply to the sender and consider letting your admin know.
4. 4
   If you think it was a mistake (you know this is a safe site), contact your admin. They can review it.

If you use a computer, the GuardDex browser extension brings the same protection to Chrome or Firefox. Your admin will install it for you, or you can install it yourself in a few steps.

What the extension does

The toolbar badge

After the extension checks a page, a small badge appears on the GuardDex shield icon in your browser toolbar:

Log in at /dashboard/login.html and visit your Profile page to access these features.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Add an extra layer of security to your account. After setting up 2FA, logging in will ask for a 6-digit code from your authenticator app in addition to your password.

1. 1
   Open your Profile and find the Two-Factor Authentication section.
2. 2
   Tap Set Up 2FA — a QR code appears.
3. 3
   Scan the QR code with your authenticator app (Google Authenticator, Authy, Bitwarden Authenticator, etc.).
4. 4
   Enter the 6-digit code from the app to confirm setup.

Download your data

You can download a copy of all your GuardDex data at any time — scan history, alerts, notification settings, and breach check history — as a single JSON file.

Go to Profile → Export My Data → Download.

Security report

Generate a printable summary of your protection activity over the past 30 days. Includes URL scans, alerts received, breach check status, and notification history.

Go to Profile → Security Report → Generate Report. The report opens in a new tab ready to print or save as a PDF.

Delete your account

If you want to permanently remove your account and all your data from GuardDex, you can do this from your Profile. This action is permanent and cannot be undone.

1. 1
   Go to Profile → Delete Account.
2. 2
   Enter your current password.
3. 3
   Type DELETE MY ACCOUNT exactly as shown to confirm.

If something isn't working, you see something unexpected, or you think you may have been on a phishing site — reach out to the person who set up GuardDex for you.