TL; DR: Clario Tech Limited, based in London, was launched in 2019 to disrupt the cybersecurity industry by leveraging a customer-centric approach. The company aims to serve as a champion for consumers, alerting them to online risks while debunking myths. Through personalized recommendations and a combination of software and on-demand tech experts, Clario is on a mission to satisfy the protection needs of customers in one convenient app.
The tech community focuses heavily on user experience these days, whether in terms of providing simple managed WordPress hosting, code-free building solutions, or customer-centric hosting support.
But when it comes to accessing the internet safely and securing server storage, many security companies take a jargon-filled approach that leaves the consumers’ heads spinning.
That may be why, despite the work of multibillion-dollar cybersecurity companies over the years, the problem is only getting worse. By 2021, cybercrime-related damages are predicted to reach $6 trillion globally — up from $3 trillion in 2015.
Realizing that the status quo is not cutting it, Clario Tech Limited aims to shake up the industry with its customer-centric cybersecurity app, which leverages a combination of software and on-demand tech experts to secure devices in a way that’s simple and accessible.
“Our concept is to become a consumer champion, totally debunk and demystify cybersecurity, explain vulnerabilities and risks, and make the whole engagement enjoyable,” said Alun Baker, Chief Executive Officer at Clario.
The app, which works across Mac and mobile devices (iOS and Android), is accessible via one simple subscription designed to protect the key aspects of a customer’s digital life — without getting into the technical, server-level details.
Membership unlocks protection from malware, data breaches, identity theft, unsecured wifi connections, and financial loss. More than 600 security experts are available on-demand 24/7 via a personal security dashboard that includes real-time threat monitoring.
Security Whenever, Wherever, and However You Connect
Alun’s vast history in transforming the tech industry includes experience growing leading companies, including Oracle, Merrill, and Accenture. As CEO of Clario, Alun’s goal is to tackle the industry’s failure to address the cybercrime crisis.
In 2019, Clario acquired Kromtech Alliance Corp., the makers of MacKeeper. Prior to the acquisition, MacKeeper faced public criticism for the use of third-party affiliates who engaged in aggressive sales practices. With Alun’s help, Clario has eliminated those techniques and put MacKeeper through a rigorous technical and consumer-protection review, earning a gold-standard AppEsteem certification.
As for Clario, Alun and his team plan to continue breaking the mold of products on the market with an experience-led app, personalized features, and real human intelligence. This includes a shift away from jargon-based messaging that creates fear and confusion.
“What I realized quite early on was people didn’t understand the problem and were trading risk for convenience,” Alun told us. “We decided that we could do what Uber and Airbnb did — change the perception of the market, not through what happens behind the scenes, but through what happens in the user interface.”
At the same time, the team wanted to create a unified experience across all devices, including an easy-to-navigate mobile experience. Scarlet Jeffers, VP of Experience at Clario, said this is possible because the team designed its personal security dashboard using a people-centric, as opposed to feature-first, methodology.
“We wanted to flip the whole approach to cybersecurity from talking about technologies to talking about real-life consequences and benefits,” she said. “The vision was to create something based on what people want, rather than what the industry had always dictated. Square one for us was to go out and speak to as many people as we possibly could.”
Using the Human Element to Disrupt the Digital Security Space
The Clario team’s market research unveiled a common theme: People thought of cybersecurity as similar to car or home insurance. They knew that they should have a solution, but they didn’t see the reasoning behind it.
“We made the personal security dashboard really simple: Instead of just saying, ‘This is something you need,’ the app helps people understand what the software does and how it affects their everyday lives,” Scarlet said.
When the company asked users at the end of the first month what they were getting out of Clario, the team realized it had achieved its goal.
“They would say, ‘You keep my Facebook safe, you stop me from accidentally clicking on phishing websites in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep and I’m shopping, you help prevent harmful applications from monitoring me,’” Scarlet said. “That’s precisely what we wanted to do.”
Clario offers 24/7 support for questions about the platform itself, such as changing voice assistant or smart device privacy settings.
The app also includes access to more than 600 tech experts who can be contacted on-demand for in-app advice on a range of topics, including COVID scams, removing malicious software, online account breaches, and connecting to VPN servers.
“We live digitally now, and people are among the biggest loopholes and threat vectors that we have within cybersecurity,” Scarlet said. “If it’s a human problem, you need a human solution, Clario is essentially living and breathing.”
Putting the User in the Driver’s Seat with an Array of Features
Underneath its user-friendly interface, Clario boasts an impressive list of features — from identity safeguards and browser protection to safe shopping and server storage.
For example, in the background, Clario’s VPN delivers a private and secure connection via servers on multiple continents. But customers don’t need to worry about the ins-and-outs of VPN technology because the app includes the setup and monitoring of home networks and devices.
The app also offers industry-leading anti-malware protection, providing real-time protection from complex viruses, adware, spyware. Data breach monitoring safeguards private information, and ad blocking technology makes browsing more enjoyable. And the platform transforms the entire process from a complex undertaking into a simple and rewarding user experience.
In terms of future development, the Clario team is keeping with its customer-centric approach with the strategic decision not to decide what to build for people.
“We have an open road map voting system for our customers based on user feedback,” Scarlet said. “We put up all our new possible features, let them vote on what they’d like, and then we prioritize it for them.”
Ultimately, this means giving consumers the power to control their own destiny when it comes to security.
An Enhanced Focus on AI and the IoT
Alun said the team is leveraging AI in the Clario environment more and more as cybercrime becomes increasingly sophisticated.
“The fraudulent emails of the past would come from a random address, but now they will actually say they are from the IRS,” Alun said. “We are now using AI and machine learning to filter those out. We have a lot of matching to do, a lot of preventative work on the AI side of that.”
Another key area of focus is the Internet of Things (IoT), which has opened up a Pandora’s box of threats in recent years. Today’s online criminals are keen to exploit vulnerabilities in a range of smart devices — from watches and fitness trackers to fire alarms and door locks.
“People still are naive to the risks involved with IoT devices, so we’re working on solutions that will meet consumers where their needs are,” he said.
HostingAdvice.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation from many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across the site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). HostingAdvice.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Our site is committed to publishing independent, accurate content guided by strict editorial guidelines. Before articles and reviews are published on our site, they undergo a thorough review process performed by a team of independent editors and subject-matter experts to ensure the content’s accuracy, timeliness, and impartiality. Our editorial team is separate and independent of our site’s advertisers, and the opinions they express on our site are their own. To read more about our team members and their editorial backgrounds, please visit our site’s About page.