has looknstop been discontinued ?

[garry35]

has looknstop been discontinued or is it still being developed ?.

Gazzer

[G1111]

Originally Posted by garry35

has looknstop been discontinued or is it still being developed ?.

Gazzer

Neither.

[Triple Helix]

Most of us would like to know!

TH

[Dark Shadow]

More like Lns is there but the dev is MIA and the search party is still looking.

[0strodamus]

Originally Posted by G1111

Neither.

It sure is a mystery. I hope the developer is well and just taking a very extended break.

[garry35]

now the developer is MIA for almost 2 years, is it worth buying this firewall ? i hope i am wrong but it looks more and more like the FW is no longer being actively developed. i know support is available here and other forums, but this isnt a good substitute for active development.

it now also seems like the developer either cant or wont take part in any discussions regarding his software. this shows little respect for paying or would be customers and doesnt inspire much confidence. if the same thing had happened with a bigger company there would have been cries of outrage to say the least, i like to encourage and support the smaller companies to make better progs or try and compete. but when this sort of thing happens it hard to justify it and sets a bad example for other would be publishers

Gazzer

[Dark Shadow]

Kinda reminds me of some other programs that left the paying supporters hanging.Unless the dev or devs passed on there really is no excuse IMO.

[AaLF]

No response to emails to support@LNS either.

[kerykeion]

A bit discouraging since development ceased, once I move to Windows 8, I won't be using this firewall.

[AaLF]

Originally Posted by kerykeion

A bit discouraging since development ceased, once I move to Windows 8, I won't be using this firewall.

I have had 2 fw installed many times just to watch 'em work on say for example outbound calling. Nothing gets passed LnS while the rest are blissfully unaware of the reality of who's calling home etc.

[luciddream]

Originally Posted by AaLF

I have had 2 fw installed many times just to watch 'em work on say for example outbound calling. Nothing gets passed LnS while the rest are blissfully unaware of the reality of who's calling home etc.

Then either:

a) Those other firewalls are complete garbage, to be incapable of outbound filtering. or...

b) There was a conflict due to using 2 outbound FW's simultaneously

LnS is/was a great outbound (only) FW... maybe the best there ever was. Very light, nice granular rule setting, and I love the interface (that's a matter of preference). If I didn't enjoy a HIPS I would've bought LnS years back instead of using Comodo.

That being said, this is just really bad, no matter how you try to spin it. It's probably still okay as of how with no patches, especially on an XP system... not much has changed. If I were running XP I'd probably just stick with it. But if I were running Win7, I'd jump ship fast and just use the native FW.

The fan base for this product seems to be VERY loyal. But I ask, have they proven themselves worthy your loyalty lately? This level of neglect isn't even kosher for a free product, let alone one you pay for.

[garry35]

this is slightly off topic but speaking for myself, i would rather give my money to a small company rather than a big faceless company but this whole thing makes it very difficult for me justify buying it, knowing that support has ceased and no word from the publishers.

so in light of this it leaves me little alternative than to go with a bigger rival, who can at least offer me updates and support.

[PC_Fiddler]

I agree the lack of any support from LNS is a little off-putting but after saying that I have yet to find a better firewall, when I do I will use it & buy it if necessary. If I were looking for a firewall today LNS would still be on my short-list - (near the top)

[moontan]

Originally Posted by luciddream

But if I were running Win7, I'd jump ship fast and just use the native FW.

seems to be working fine here on Win 7.

of course, i'm far from being an expert on these things but LnS passes the tests @ Shield's Up as well as PC Flank.

if it passes those tests it should be good, no?

[Triple Helix]

I have sent a number of support request over the months to see if anyone would reply but none did! I even asked if someone could just make a post here to let us know and still no reply.

TH

[act8192]

Originally Posted by luciddream

But I ask, have they proven themselves worthy your loyalty lately? This level of neglect isn't even kosher for a free product, let alone one you pay for.

Neglect and disrespect.
On XP I really need nothing, but the absence of anyone, other than Phant0m sometimes, is surprising considering it is a paid product.

[moontan]

maybe something happened to the guy that is a lot more serious than him having to worry about updating a piece of software.
who knows.

afaik, the thing does what it says on the thin.
that's all that matters to me.

[Cutting_Edgetech]

Its looks like maybe some real life tragedy may be the reason for his absence

[moontan]

Originally Posted by Cutting_Edgetech

Its looks like maybe some real life tragedy may be the reason for his absence

if that's indeed the case then all we can do is wish him our best.

and be thankful for an app that still does the job it was designed to do.

[AaLF]

Originally Posted by Cutting_Edgetech

Its looks like maybe some real life tragedy may be the reason for his absence

Who are you referring to, Frederick or Phantom?

[moontan]

Originally Posted by AaLF

Who are you referring to, Frederick or Phantom?

since Phantom is still active, he must be referring to Frederick, the developer.

[luciddream]

Originally Posted by moontan

LnS passes the tests @ Shield's Up as well as PC Flank.

if it passes those tests it should be good, no?

If passing those tests were the end-all/be-all of a FW's effectiveness, then the native XP FW would be as good as anything else. Any NAT router will do it as well. There's a lot more to a FW than that.

When a product is no longer actively developed/patched, you simply cannot trust it. These malware writers aren't taking any vacation. You may think it's "working fine", but there could be vulnerabilities you are oblivious to.

I'm all about supporting the "little guy" too, but not at my expense. All things being equal... the little guy offering a product just as good as the big guy, still actively developing it and keeping on top of it as well as the big guy, I'll choose the little guy too. But let's face it, that isn't the case here.

If something bad did happen to the guy my heart goes out to him as well. But that doesn't mean you have to go down with the sinking ship too. Do what's best for yourself. If you're absolutely intent on paying his bills, send him a donation instead or something, and choose a product that's still being developed and do what's best for yourself.

Personally I don't understand why anyone running 7 wouldn't just use the native FW if they don't care about HIPS. It's capable of outbound filtering. And since it's integrated it's lighter than any 3'rd party FW, and the potential for conflict isn't there. As much as I like Comodo, when I move on to 7 it's going bye-bye.

[moontan]

Originally Posted by luciddream

If passing those tests were the end-all/be-all of a FW's effectiveness, then the native XP FW would be as good as anything else. Any NAT router will do it as well. There's a lot more to a FW than that.

point well taken m8.
tnx!

it's not easy to control outbound connection with the Windows 7 firewall itself.
the whole interface for that is confusing for a noob like me.

i know there are some 'frontends' for the W7 firewall.
maybe i should try a few of those.

[Cutting_Edgetech]

Originally Posted by AaLF

Who are you referring to, Frederick or Phantom?

Frederick.

[luciddream]

Originally Posted by moontan

point well taken m8.
tnx!

it's not easy to control outbound connection with the Windows 7 firewall itself.
the whole interface for that is confusing for a noob like me.

i know there are some 'frontends' for the W7 firewall.
maybe i should try a few of those.

If memory serves, didn't you mention in another thread that you're not behind a router? If that's the case my advice would be to get one. Then you don't have to worry about inbound protection at all, you're covered. And it blocks any attack at the earliest possible entry point, before it ever gets to your computer. I just like the thought of an actual physical barrier between my PC and the internet. When you're blocking intrusions with a software FW, those intrusions are getting to your computer, think about that...

Then your only consideration for a software FW should be outbound filtering, and if you like HIPS. And have nothing to do with passing a test on GRC.

Any simple NAT router, like a Linksys or Netgear, can be had for cheap ($30 give or take). That and Sandboxie = the best bang for your buck security wise.