WTF?! The idea of using an app to book an escort of armed guards sounds like something from a cyberpunk dystopian tale, but that's what the Protector app does. It's using the assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson as an example of where Protector's services could have made a difference, and its popularity has been boosted by a pair of influencers who used the app in a viral video.
According to the app store listing, Protector makes private security available to the general public in an on-demand fashion, which has earned it the name "Uber with guns."
It adds that with the click of a button, Protector can schedule veteran and former law enforcement private security personnel to serve as personal protection when needed.
The service is currently only available in New York City and LA. Users can select how many Escalades or Chevy Suburbans they want to order and even get to select their security details' uniforms – business formal, business casual, or tactical casual. All are licensed to carry concealed weapons and remain armed on duty.
At one point, the app reached number three in the Travel category of the Apple App Store. Protector isn't available on Android devices.
Consultant Nikita Bier brought Protector a lot of attention on X with a post that has gained 4.2 million views. It includes a TikTok video that shows two influencers calling four Protectors to Newark Airport after flying in from Los Angeles for New York Fashion Week. Other videos show the bodyguards picking up matchas for the pair, collecting them up from the hotel, and accompanying them shopping.
Here's a peek of how it works pic.twitter.com/OWG8HFGYYD
– Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) February 18, 2025
Protector charges $200 per hour for a guard and a driver, though prices can climb much higher with extra security, a full motorcade, and extra security measures.
@fuzzandfuzz this is everything #nyc #bodyguard #nycgirl ♬ All The Way Up (feat. Infared) - Fat Joe & Remy Ma & French Montana
Protector's services might be in higher demand following the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The company's X account includes a video showing theoretical outcomes of the shooting had a Protector been present.
In the first scenario, the Protector spots the assailant before he gets close and sends him away. The other scenario sees the protector shoot the attacker in the stomach before he draws his weapon, and while the final "what if" does see the client hit in the leg, the shooter is shot in the chest and has his hands tied behind his back. The protector also offers medical aid to the client. Not surprisingly, the Protector app was rushed to market following Thompson's murder.
What if tragedy didn't have to strike? We revisit the murder of UnitedHealthcare's CEO and examine how a Protector may have changed the outcome. pic.twitter.com/XA2PLNadiS
– Protector (@bookprotectors) January 6, 2025
Gizmodo notes that 25-year-old Protector founder Nick Sarath, a former product designer at Meta, also has another app called Patrol. It allows people to crowdfund protection and security for their neighbourhoods. The more money raised, the higher level the security tier, including extra cars, guards, and drones. Users can also report suspicious vehicles and individuals.
Patrol App
– dsoc_actual (@DSOC_actual) January 24, 2025
Crowdfunded security in your neighborhood pic.twitter.com/LhPio7sg5S
Protector is the "Uber with Guns" app that lets you hire armed bodyguards on demand
