Guardian Firewall
Mobile application providing a virtual private network
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Guardian Firewall is a privacy-focused application that combines virtual private network (VPN) and firewall functionality to block data and location trackers on mobile and desktop devices.[1][2] Developed by Sudo Security Group and founded by security researcher Will Strafach, the application is available for iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, and Fire OS platforms.[3][4]
| Guardian Firewall | |
|---|---|
| Developer | Sudo Security Group |
| Initial release | June 2019 |
| Operating system | iOS, macOS, Android, Windows, Fire OS |
| Type | Virtual private network, Firewall, Privacy software |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | guardianapp |
History
Guardian Firewall was founded in 2013 by Will Strafach, a security researcher and former iPhone jailbreaker known by the alias "Chronic."[5][6] The company gained prominence in 2017 when Strafach discovered that the AccuWeather mobile application was transmitting precise user location data to third-party companies without user permission.[7][8]
The Guardian Firewall application became publicly available in June 2019, initially launching for iOS devices.[9][10] The application subsequently expanded to additional platforms including macOS, Android, Windows, and Fire OS.
In August 2022, Guardian was acquired by DNSFilter, a provider of DNS-based web content filtering and threat protection.[11][12] Following the acquisition, Guardian continued to operate as a standalone application while integrating DNSFilter's AI-powered DNS security features.[13]
Functionality
Guardian Firewall operates by routing device traffic through an encrypted VPN tunnel to Guardian's servers, where the system identifies and blocks unauthorized tracking attempts.[14][15] The application blocks connections to location trackers, email trackers, and data collection services while encrypting network traffic using AES-256 encryption.[16][17]
The software supports both IKEv2 and WireGuard VPN protocols.[18][19]
Privacy
Guardian Firewall operates on a no-logs policy, stating that it does not collect or store user activity data, connection logs, or personally identifiable information.[20][21] The service underwent independent security audits by security firm Assured in 2024 to verify its privacy practices and infrastructure configurations.[22][23]
Brave Browser Partnership
In July 2020, Guardian partnered with Brave Software to integrate Guardian's firewall and VPN technology into the Brave web browser.[24][25] The integration, branded as Brave Firewall + VPN, provides system-wide protection beyond browser traffic and is available across Brave's iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows applications.[26][27]