The present invention relates to a device and a method for energy dissipation with a deformable, longitudinally extending material strip which comprises a longitudinal axis and is installed into a cable which can be subjected to tension; and with a deformation device which is also installed into the cable and cooperates with the material strip, characterized in that the material strip, upon application of a tension force to the cable along its longitudinal axis, can be guided in a straight line through the deformation device and in so doing can be deformed.