A method for protection and diagnosis of a linear compression including at least one electronic control. At each work cycle of the linear compressor, the protection method includes detecting a suction time of the linear compressor; detecting a compression time of the linear compressor; and calculating, after detecting a compression time of the linear compressor, a decision parameter equivalent to the difference between the previously detected suction time and the compression time.

A method for protection and diagnosis of a linear compression (2), the linear compressor (2) including at least one electronic control (11), the protection method being configured to perform the following steps at each work cycle of the linear compressor (2): detecting a suction time (t.sub.s) of the linear compressor (2); detecting a compression time (t.sub.c) of the linear compressor; calculating, after the step of detecting a compression time (t.sub.c) of the linear compressor, a decision parameter (T) equivalent to the difference between the previously detected suction time (t.sub.s) and the compression time (t.sub.c).