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Install GuardianNode on one PC

This guide describes the all-in-one alpha test shape: everything runs on the same machine and the backend stays on loopback. GuardianNode 0.1.0-alpha.1 is a public alpha for technical parents and early evaluators, not a finished consumer product for ordinary non-technical families.

Before you start

You'll need: - A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC - About 30 minutes - A pen and paper, or a password manager, to save your recovery code - About 5–10 GB free disk space (depends on the AI model size) - Admin access on the PC

Step 1 — Get the alpha installer

Download GuardianNodeChildSetup-0.1.0-alpha.1.exe from the official GitHub release and verify the published SHA-256 checksum before running it. The alpha installer is unsigned, so Windows SmartScreen, Defender, or other antivirus software may warn before trust reputation exists.

Step 2 — Run the installer

Double-click GuardianNodeChildSetup-0.1.0-alpha.1.exe.

If Windows says "Windows protected your PC": That's expected for unsigned alpha builds. See When Windows says "Protected your PC" before continuing.

When User Account Control prompts you, click Yes.

Step 3 — Pick "Install everything on this PC"

On the second wizard page, choose the first option. This installs: - The monitoring agent - The AI engine (Ollama) - The parent dashboard

Step 4 — Create your parent account

  • Enter a display name like "Mom" or "Parent"
  • Pick a strong password you'll remember. The kid must not know this password.
  • Write down the 12-word recovery code on paper. It resets dashboard access only; it does not back up the evidence encryption key.

Step 5 — Create the child's profile

  • Enter the child's name (or a nickname — no real personal info needed)
  • Pick the age group: Under 10, 10–13, or 14–17. This controls how sensitive the alerts are.

Step 6 — Review what will be monitored

GuardianNode runs in the signed-in Windows session and reviews the visible screen by default. This means it can catch risky text in simple apps such as Notepad, browsers, games, chat apps, and any other window that is actually on screen. App names and window titles are recorded as context for alerts. Parents should assume screenshots may contain sensitive on-screen content.

It does not collect raw keystrokes, does not read password fields directly, and does not upload child data to a vendor cloud.

Step 7 — Hardware detection

The installer checks your PC and recommends an AI model size:

Tier Requirement Coverage
Text-only Any supported PC with at least 8 GB RAM; no supported GPU required Text/rule risks only; visual-only nudity/gore is not detected
Vision NVIDIA GPU with 12–15 GB VRAM Vision classification plus text/rules
Full NVIDIA GPU with at least 16 GB VRAM Vision plus the larger text-analysis path

Pick the recommended option unless you know better. Click Next and the installer downloads the model (1–5 GB depending on tier). This takes 5–20 minutes.

Step 8 — Self-test

The installer runs a synthetic test to make sure everything works. If any check fails, click the link next to it for help.

Step 9 — Open the dashboard and verify operation

Click Open Parent Dashboard. Your browser opens to http://127.0.0.1:8787. Sign in with your parent password.

The installer starts the monitoring agent and the tray icon for the current Windows user. It also registers all-user logon tasks so the agent and tray launch again whenever a Windows account signs in.

To confirm the alpha is working:

  • Open Devices and confirm this PC appears online.
  • Open Model Status or Pipeline Health and confirm the expected text-only, vision, or full tier.
  • Use a known-safe synthetic test phrase and confirm a risk event appears in the dashboard. Do not use real child private messages for testing.
  • Check logs at C:\ProgramData\GuardianNode\logs\ if something does not start.

Pausing monitoring when you use the PC

When you (the parent) use this PC, you'll want to pause monitoring so your own activity isn't logged.

Right-click the GuardianNode tray icon (looks like a small shield in the system tray near the clock) → Pause monitoring → enter your parent password → pick how long (15 min, 1 hour, 4 hours, until reboot).

See Pause monitoring when you use the PC for more.

What happens next

GuardianNode runs in the background. If it detects a risk (grooming, scams, self-harm signals, etc.), it appears in your dashboard with a clear explanation. Critical alerts also trigger an immediate notification.

Open the dashboard at any time to review alerts: http://127.0.0.1:8787 from a bookmark on the same PC. The alpha dashboard is loopback-only by default. Advanced operators may configure access through a trusted VPN or TLS reverse proxy using docs/SECURE_LAN_SETUP.md; there is no one-click LAN settings control in this release.

Stop, disable, or uninstall

  • Pause monitoring from the visible GuardianNode tray icon when a parent uses the PC.
  • Uninstall from Windows Settings or Programs & Features as an administrator.
  • The uninstaller stops GuardianNode services, deletes the scheduled tasks, and removes installed program files. GuardianNode data under C:\ProgramData\GuardianNode may be retained so parents can back up keys, logs, and evidence intentionally.
  • See Troubleshooting for manual cleanup steps if uninstall is interrupted.

Got stuck?

See Troubleshooting or open a GitHub issue.