Ben the Bodyguard app won't live up to hype

The web site for the app Ben the Bodyguard hit big last week. It's a beautiful promotional site with a dark, moody feel. The vibe is definitely like Jean Reno (circa The Professional) is addressing your iPhone's security. As you scroll down the page, Ben coolly walks down crime-ridden city streets while telling you how he can protect your secrets. Since the site's launch, there's been quite a bit of buzz about the power of the site's design. "I am not here to judge," Ben says, "I am here to protect."

Fast Company has an interview with Stefan Telegdy, the CEO of Nerd Communication, the Berlin-based company responsible for the app. Despite the incredible web design for Ben the Bodyguard, the app isn't quite the universal protection you might expect. The app works on iOS devices and it will encrypt some items like contacts, photos, and notes. However, there are limits. You can't use Ben to lock down your email, for example. According to Telegdy, that's not possible right now. You also can't blanket-protect all of your items; you have to open Ben and individually select the files to be encrypted.

At least Telegdy seems aware of the limitations. "No app on this planet can live up to the expectation that is projected into the website at the moment," Telegdy told Fast Company. Apparently, the web site was meant to be a soft, quiet launch. They were not prepared for this level of exposure; despite several inquiries, they also are not looking to create similar experiences for other products.

Even if the app doesn't meet the expectations, at least we have something snazzy to watch online.