Question: what is the difference between a gfci and a surge protector?
Answer: A GFCI protects from ground faults (such as an electrical short), whereas a surge protector protects against surges (such as a lightning strike or a power outage). You can buy a surge protector with built-in GFCI protection. In fact, all of my surge protectors have built-in GFCI and a test and reset button.