Version 2026-10-20. Asto Shield is an Asto product (goasto.com/shield) of Nerd Systems LLC (“Asto”). Questions: ben@nerdsystems.com.
What Asto Shield is. Asto Shield is for secure communication: it keeps your real number protected and makes sure only the people you have added and approved in the app can contact you. Great for dating or any other secure communication need.
How it works. A member who uses the Asto Shield iPhone app adds a person in the app, and the app shows the member which Asto Shield number to show that person. Asto Shield never sends the first text. The person texts that number first, gets one reply with a link to their join page, and can text and call the member through that number once they tick the boxes to agree and join. Neither sees the other's real number. Unless the member covers them, the person pays for a pack with a card before they can text or call; if the member covers them, their card is only checked. Texts and calls go through Asto's servers and are kept so the member can show them to police if they need to.
Final sale. Every pack and plan is final sale: no refunds, no credit for unused time. Unused texts and minutes end after 30 days, or when the member removes you, and stay with Asto.
Cost. Every text and call goes over the phone network, and the network charges Asto Shield for each one. That's why texts and minutes come in packs instead of unlimited.
US numbers. Included texts and minutes are to US numbers. International texts and calls cost extra and use more of your pack.
Recording. On Premium, calls are recorded after a spoken announcement. Basic calls are not recorded.
Records. Texts, call logs and recordings can be given to police by the member through a private link; every download is logged. Asto keeps recordings for 90 days after a member leaves Premium, then deletes them.
Cards. US-issued cards only. Card details are held by Stripe, not Asto. A payment dispute ends the card's and the number's access.
Text messages. Every text a person gets comes from the Asto Shield number the member showed them. A person the member added gets one reply to their first text, with their join link (if they text again before joining, the same reply with a new link, at most once every 10 minutes). The text box on the join page is optional and not a condition of purchase: without it they join for calls only and get no texts at all. If they tick it and join, they get the texts the member writes to them, one confirmation that they are connected, and, if their credit runs out, a reminder with a link to add more (at most 3 in 30 days). A number the member has not added, or has removed or blocked, gets one notice that it is not authorized, and no text after that. The member gets no texts from this service: everything reaches them in the app. (The one-time code a member asks for to confirm their own phone number is sent by Twilio Verify from Twilio's own numbers, never from an Asto Shield number.) There are no marketing texts. Message frequency varies with your conversation. Msg & data rates may apply. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to opt out at any time: you get one confirmation and no more texts. Text START to opt back in. Carriers are not liable for any delayed or undelivered messages. How texting works: shield.goasto.com/sms.
Privacy. See the Privacy Policy. No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All the above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
Help. ben@nerdsystems.com or shield.goasto.com/support. Text STOP to any Asto Shield text to opt out.