Look 'n' Stop Firewall

General Topics
1

Is any one using this firewall program?
If you are, how does it stack up to ZA or any of the other big ones?
Comments greatly appreciated.
Thanks :slight_smile:

2

Hi Bob,

It is a rule based software firewall, for which there is a review here:
http://castlecops.com/r129-Look_n_Stop.html

Well it is important to choose a firewall that is compatible with Windows XP SP2, Outpost and Softperfect are not, ZA and Kerio are. For Look_n_Stop I am not sure, you have to look that up,

polonus

3

What do you mean by not compatible with XP SP2?

4

Hi ReVaN,

Yes there were compatibility issues with SP2, some firewall vendor updraded soon like Jetico Personal Firewall on April 13th 2004,
some did not have these issues like ZA. It was mainly with rule based FWs.

polonus

5

I beg to differ Outpost pro is compatible, Iv’e been using it with XP Pro SP2 for some time. I was previously using Outpost free 1.0 that I was using it with XP SP1, not sure if I used it with SP2 though, before purchasing Outpost Pro. Outpost 1.0 free is still available for download at Agnitum.com so I would assume it too is compatible with XP SP2.

6

Well this is from their web site, so i guess the program is compatible with SP2 :slight_smile:

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/9457/lookstop0rg.jpg

Too bad they don’t have a free version…

7

I use LnS occasionally on an SP2 machine and have no problems at all. Just be sure that once installed you change to the enhanced rules or you probably won’t be stealth. You can also enable other rules that really tighten LnS down even more.

It’s a darned good firewall, light on resources and very secure. The GUI isn’t very pretty, but who cares as long as it works. On some machines, resource useage does increase, but it seems to level off and drop again. I haven’t experienced that problem when I use it, so can’t comment.

8

To the posters in this thread,

So it safe to conclude that all the compatibility issues with Win XP SP2 are from the past or were due to other factors. So Outpost and Look ‘n’ Stop are acceptable software firewall solutiuons.
Great to know this. Only pity there a couple of darned good software firewalls are no longer being developed or are bought out or left by big security vendors.
My personal view is always to have AV+FW+SM meaning anti-virus + firewall + system monitoring to enable complete control.

polonus

9

Memory usage compared to ZA is almost non existant. :slight_smile: ;D :slight_smile:

10

Hi Bob,

If you have somewhat more experience with it, we will hear about it, won’t we? You give us a review.

polonus

11

There are 2 ways to set up this FW,

  1. Rule based
  2. Application Based

Since Rules are probably the better and more secure way to configure this FW, I’m at a loss.
I know nothing about rules and therefore will have to rely on someone else for a fair and full review.

12

Well you’ll get a mini review from me tomorrow Damian as i plan to play with this program when i get back home from work so i’ll make some screenshots and take some tests(but so far looks like a very good firewall altough the GUI really is ugly)… :wink: Well here is my memory usage with Look’n’Stop(BTW i am downloading\seeding multiple torrents at the moment so there are alot of connections opened):

http://img456.imageshack.us/img456/6868/lookstop5ib.jpg

Cheers

Mikey

13

http://www.wilderssecurity.com/index.php
This is the forum for LnS. Maybe some useful info there.

14

OK Here are a couple screenshots from Look’n’Stop:

Note: Click on the thumbnails to look at a bigger pic(have to think of those still on dial up right :wink: )

A stealth test(from pcflank.com) as you see Look’n’Stop doesn’t have a problem with it :wink:


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/8359/pcflankstealthtest6wh.th.jpg

Trojan test(also from pcflank):


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/7928/pcflanktrojantest7vv.th.jpg

This is the welcome screen in Look’n’Stop(now you know what i meant by UGLY GUI):


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5752/welcome9cl.th.jpg

The application filtering(this is where you can see which applications are allowed access to the net and which are currently online):


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5982/applicationfiltering7sf.th.jpg

Internet Filtering(here you can set up your rules):


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/5982/applicationfiltering7sf.th.jpg

The Log(i like the fact that you can WHOIS and TRACERT ip’s from here and also create rules :wink: )


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/928/log5no.th.jpg

Options:


http://img210.imageshack.us/img210/1614/options1dn.th.jpg

Well from my experiences i have to say i was very impressed with this firewall and got pretty tempted to buy it but it’s still not the firewall i am looking for ahhh i am beginning to think i will never find THE firewall for me.

Cheers,

Mikey

15

ReVaN,

would you say it’s better than ZoneAlarm?

16

hashmander
L’n’S is an excellent program with an extreamly small footprint. It is mainly rule based.
ZA is also an excellent FW but has a much larger footprint. It is easier to configure.
I currently have ZA on one computer and L’n’S on the other.

17

Bob, did you ever used Kerio? Outpost? Can you compare them with LnS?
Does LnS worth its price? I mean, why using a paid firewall if we have very good ones for free…?
Just trying to learn something about LnS…

18

My second computer required something with a smaller footprint. LnS was the perfect answer.
Worth the price? It was in my opinion and all updates within a major version number are free.
Major upgrade requires an upgrade fee. Just like paying for the next version of Windows…

Kerio is Rule based. Rules and I don’t get along. (Guess I break to many??? ;D)
The last time I used outpost, it wouldn’t remember my answers and kept asking over and over
that’s when I switched to ZA. :slight_smile:

19

Thanks Bob.

Isn’t LnS either?

Rules, which rules ;D ;D

I never had such problem but… Outpost become a bloatware when added the antispyware features and updates… :frowning:

20

Well Tech L’n’S certainly is a great firewall there is no doubt about it, i especially like the small footprint(believe me nothing comes close to it :wink: ) the built in trace and whois features are a nice addition too and it is also recognized by the
SP2 Security Center.There is also an option to use plugins with it which further expand the firewalls capabilities.A really really good firewall but there are two things that bother me.First the GUI really sucks which really isn’t that important i know but i really don’t like remembering those win 3.11(that ugly graphics) days if you know what i mean hihi ;D And the second thing is that they don’t have a free version available.That said i would recommend this firewall to anyone who has a pretty good knowledge of firewalls and knows how to set up a rule or two and doesn’t mind paying for a good firewall.Who knows if they make a good GUI i might even be tempted to buy it.Until then i’m sticking with Sunbelt Kerio + SSM.

Sorry there i didn’t even notice your post until now. I really wouldn’t know since i don’t use ZA pro(if we are comparing L’n’S we must compare it with ZA pro since they are both payed for programs) but i used the Free version of ZA in the past and i can say that it is very easy to set up and is great for more inexperienced users but it’s more or less just a simple firewall with not so good outbound protection IMHO.I prefer the free Kerio personally.

Cheers,

Mikey