Protectstar

Protectstar

Protectstar is a privacy-first security software company offering AI-based antivirus, anti-spyware, firewall, and certified data-erasure apps for Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows.

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securityantivirusdata-erasureprivacyfreemium
Last Updated Oct 22, 2026
Protectstar screenshot

About

Protectstar is a German-founded security software company, operating since 2004, that builds privacy-focused apps for Android, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Its products address two everyday problems: malware and spyware that watch what people do, and "deleted" files that can actually be recovered with free tools long after a device is sold or discarded.

The company's portfolio spans consumer apps such as Antivirus AI, Anti Spy, Firewall AI, Camera Guard, and Micro Guard, alongside its flagship iShredder line of certified data-erasure software. Many apps run on-device artificial intelligence to detect threats in real time without sending user data to the cloud, and Protectstar states that its apps contain no advertising and no tracking. The company reports more than 8 million users across over 100 countries, and also serves businesses, government agencies, and defense organizations with GDPR-compliant erasure and enterprise device-wiping tools.

Key Features

Antivirus AI: Real-time malware protection for Android and Mac that uses on-device AI, with three AV-TEST certifications; iPhone scanning is supported via USB through a Mac.
Anti Spy: Anti-spyware app designed to detect and block stalkerware and monitoring software, with a reported 99.87% detection rate and dual certification from AV-TEST and DEKRA.
iShredder: Secure data deletion that overwrites files according to 23 certified erasure standards, including NIST SP 800-88 and DoD 5220.22-M, and produces a GDPR-compliant erasure report for audits.
Firewall AI: Lets Android users control which apps are allowed to access the network.
Camera Guard and Micro Guard: Monitor camera use in real time and block unauthorized microphone access to prevent eavesdropping.
iLocker Mac: Encryption and app-locking tool for macOS that keeps sensitive applications behind a password.
Business and defense editions: iShredder Business, iShredder Enterprise (with MDM integration and certificates), and server editions for wiping servers and RAID arrays.

Pricing & Fees

  • Pricing: Not publicly listed on the pages we reviewed; check the official site for current plans. The homepage indicates entry prices starting around 1.6–2 cents per day for some consumer apps, with free versions available.
  • Free tiers: Anti Spy, Antivirus AI, Firewall AI, Camera Guard, Micro Guard, and Antivirus AI Mac all list free versions.
  • Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS (including Apple Silicon), and Windows, plus Windows Server for enterprise erasure.
  • Privacy stance: Protectstar states its apps collect no user data, contain no ads, and use no tracking SDKs or GPS location tracking.

Who It's For

Protectstar suits privacy-conscious individuals who want antivirus, anti-spyware, and device-permission control on Android, iPhone, Mac, or Windows. It is also aimed at people selling, recycling, or disposing of old phones and computers who need provably irreversible data deletion. On the organizational side, iShredder's business, enterprise, server, and defense editions target SMBs, IT teams managing many devices through MDM, government agencies, and defense organizations that require GDPR-compliant, certified erasure records for audits and regulators.

FAQ

What is Protectstar?Protectstar is an independent security software company founded in 2004 that develops privacy-first antivirus, anti-spyware, firewall, and certified data-deletion apps for consumers, businesses, and government users.

Is Protectstar free to use?Many of its apps, including Anti Spy, Antivirus AI, Firewall AI, Camera Guard, and Micro Guard, offer free versions, while paid plans start at roughly 1.6–2 cents per day according to the official site.

Which platforms does Protectstar support?Its apps run on Android, iOS, macOS (including Apple Silicon Macs), Windows, and Windows Server, with enterprise editions supporting MDM integration.

Does iShredder really make deleted data unrecoverable?iShredder overwrites data using 23 certified erasure standards such as NIST SP 800-88 and DoD 5220.22-M and issues a certified, GDPR-compliant erasure report; Protectstar states it is DEKRA MASA L1 validated.

Does Protectstar collect user data?Protectstar states that its apps perform analysis on-device, contain no advertising, and involve no user data collection, tracking SDKs, or GPS location tracking.