Founder’s Message: Chris Bohn on Protectstar

November 2004. Bradenton, Florida. A small warehouse. A desk. An idea that wouldn’t let go. And the courage to simply begin.

Even as a student in Augsburg, one question never left me: Why should protection be a privilege? Corporations had entire IT departments. Families, journalists, and small businesses were left out. When protection is sold as a premium product, it excludes the very people who need it most.

I couldn’t accept that. It didn’t have to be that way. So I started. Day and night. Until the first product was ready.

We wanted to build far more than cybersecurity. We wanted to create trust. Because security is more than technology. It is deeply rooted in our DNA. A basic human need.

Today, more than two decades later, more than 8 million people in over 100 countries trust us. Individuals. Businesses. Public-sector organizations worldwide. Yet the guiding idea has remained the same: first-class protection must never exclude anyone.

That is why we are working toward a vision that sounds simple, yet can change a great deal: each of our solutions for 1 cent per day.

Imagine one billion people clicking “Protect.” Suddenly, cybercrime stops being attractive. Not because of laws. Not because of penalties. Because of economics. The more people are protected, the less an attack pays off.

This is not a slogan. It is my promise.

Chris Bohn Founder & CEO
Protectstar Inc.

8M+

Trust

People who entrust their digital security to Protectstar.

100+

Reach

Countries where Protectstar is in use.

Since 2004

Independent

Self-funded and independent. No outside investors.

1.1M+

Active every day

Devices actively protected every day.

Profile

About Chris Bohn.

Chris Bohn

Founder & CEO · Protectstar Inc.

“Security must never be a privilege. That is exactly why Protectstar exists.”

Chris Bohn founded Protectstar in 2004 in Bradenton, Florida — independently, without outside investors, and with an idea that still guides the company today: digital security must be strong enough for businesses and simple enough for everyone.

His studies in economics and law at the University of Augsburg continue to shape his work today. Economic thinking, legal precision, and a rigorous focus on the user define how Protectstar develops products: lean, verifiable, and easy to understand. International experience in London, Miami, Zurich, and Geneva sharpened his standard for solutions that work globally — while staying effortless in everyday life.

In an industry that often relies on fear, Chris Bohn builds on trust. On data minimization. On independent testing. On technology that protects better without getting louder.

Under his leadership, solutions such as iShredder™, Camera Guard™, Micro Guard™, Anti Spy, and Antivirus AI were created. They all share one thing: they do not make protection more complicated. They make it more accessible.

Certifications and awards from independent organizations — including AV-TEST, DEKRA MASA L1, the Fortress Cybersecurity Award, the AI Excellence Award, and the BIG Innovation Award — document what Chris Bohn calls the most credible form of marketing: proof.

Guiding Principles

Built on principles.

Software is the product. Trust is the goal.

— Chris Bohn

Cloud

The safest cloud is the one you don’t need.

Zero-Data

Data we do not have cannot be stolen, sold, or lost.

AI & Responsibility

Others see AI as a turbocharger. I ask: do we have brakes, too? My job is to build digital seat belts.

Decision-Making

If your goal is to catch the train, waiting on the bus until everyone has boarded — even people you don’t know are coming — means the bus leaves too late, the train is gone, and the decision-makers are left standing in the aisle.

Data

Data is like cookies: too many give you a stomachache — and eventually someone asks where they all came from.

Awards

Independently verified.

Fortress Cybersecurity Award 2025

AI Excellence Award 2025

DEKRA MASA L1 OWASP MASVS L1

AV-TEST 4× certified · 99.9% detection

Still have a question?

Personal contact matters deeply to me. With our “Support Heroes”, a dedicated team is always by your side. And if you have ideas or something isn’t working as planned, feel free to contact me directly:

Let’s write a new chapter in cybersecurity together — for a digital future where security and privacy are as natural as clean water or fresh air.

Support Heroes

The star in our logo isn’t just decoration. It’s a promise.

About Chris Bohn.

Featured in:

Built on principles.

On the Road to 1 Cent.

Independently verified.

Still have a question?

Behind the Scenes.

Shaping Security.

The star in our logo isn’t just decoration. It’s a promise.

A Letter from the Founder

About Chris Bohn.

Featured in:

Built on principles.

On the Road to 1 Cent.

Independently verified.

Still have a question?

Behind the Scenes.

Shaping Security.