LANtern Control v0.1.3

LANtern Control v0.1.3 introduces the first public Linux beta and ships the latest Windows stability, identity, and traffic-chart improvements.

Important

Windows packages refreshed August 4, 2026: this release now fixes Npcap compatibility issues on some Wi-Fi adapters that stopped control with PacketSendPacket failed: The specified device cannot be found (20). LANtern sends forwarded traffic through the already-validated capture handle and normalizes oversized frames produced by network-adapter offloading before injection. Forwarding errors now include the adapter, captured frame size, transmitted frame size, and segment number. If you downloaded v0.1.3 earlier, download the Windows installer or portable package again.

Note

Linux AppImage packaging refreshed October 2, 2026: switched SquashFS compression from zstd to gzip/zlib so AppImageLauncher 2.2.0 can read the image, and updated the AppImage runtime to 8f39b89. The new image passes both previously failing checks using the library from AppImageLauncher 2.2.0, and extracts successfully using its own runtime and system squashfs-tools. Embedded AppStream metadata adds the description, project link, and catalog screenshot requested by AppImageHub. The screenshot is the existing Windows demo overview. The Linux application, bundled libraries, and AppRun launcher are unchanged; this remains v0.1.0 beta and does not include Service Inspector. The update manifest and SHA-256 checksum file have been refreshed for this AppImage. Windows downloads are unchanged. Linux users who downloaded the previous AppImage should download it again; the application version has not changed, so existing installations will not receive a version-based update prompt.

Downloads

• Windows installer (recommended): LANtern-Control-Setup-v0.1.3.msi
• Windows portable: LANtern-Control-v0.1.3-win-x64.zip
• Linux beta AppImage: LANtern-Control-v0.1.0-x86_64.AppImage
• Checksums: SHA256SUMS-v0.1.3.txt

Features and improvements

• First public Linux x86-64 beta with the same carbon-crimson interface and core controls as Windows.
• Linux AppImage bundles .NET, Avalonia, and libpcap, with a one-time graphical privilege setup instead of requiring the full GUI to run as root.
• Platform-aware update checks let Windows and Linux advance independently inside the same GitHub release.
• Device names learned through DHCP, NetBIOS, mDNS, and reverse DNS are remembered across launches.
• Settings now use an atomic backup and recovery path so overlapping updates cannot erase saved names, limits, presets, or domain rules.
• Visited-domain groups start closed and preserve their expansion state while navigating the app.
• The live chart now keeps a focused ten-minute window with points sampled every 2.5 seconds.
• Improved engine-state reporting prevents a stale Active indicator after forwarding stops.
• Fixed Windows packet injection failing on some Wi-Fi adapters with Npcap error 20.
• Normalized and segmented oversized IPv4/TCP frames created by adapter offloading before Npcap injection.
• Fixed a startup race that could hide the real forwarding failure behind The ARP capture adapter is not open.
• Improved device discovery, client mapping, network restoration, and per-device traffic summaries.
• Linux layout and dropdown polish bring the overview, visited domains, and domain rules closer to Windows.

Requirements

Windows

• Windows 10 or 11, x64
• Administrator access
• Npcap installed separately

Linux beta

• 64-bit x86 Linux desktop; Linux Mint and Ubuntu are the primary tested distributions
• Polkit with pkexec for the first-launch setup
• The AppImage must be marked executable before launch

macOS remains a work in progress.

Important notes

• LANtern controls IPv4 devices on the same local network. Guest isolation, VPNs, encrypted DNS, QUIC, TLS ECH, and some adapter drivers can limit discovery or domain rules.
• A weak Wi-Fi connection on the controller can increase latency for redirected devices. Ethernet or a strong 5 GHz connection is recommended.
• Always use Stop & restore before closing LANtern, changing networks, disconnecting the selected adapter, suspending, or rebooting.
• Use LANtern only on networks and devices you own or are authorized to administer.

Note

The Windows packages are not yet signed with a trusted code-signing certificate. Windows may show Unknown publisher or Windows protected your PC. Download only from this official release, verify the SHA-256 checksums, select More info, and then select Run anyway if you trust the download.

LANtern Control v0.1.2

LANtern Control v0.1.2 introduces a standard Windows installer and a transparent portable build.

Downloads

• Installer (recommended): LANtern-Control-Setup-v0.1.2.msi
• Portable: LANtern-Control-v0.1.2-win-x64.zip
• Checksums: SHA256SUMS-v0.1.2.txt

What's new

• Standard WiX MSI installer for Windows x64
• Custom installation folder selection
• Start Menu shortcut installed by default
• Optional desktop shortcut
• Multi-file portable ZIP without a self-extracting wrapper
• SHA-256 checksums for every download

Requirements

• Windows 10 or 11, x64
• Administrator access
• Npcap installed separately

Note

LANtern Control is not yet signed with a trusted code-signing certificate. Windows may display Unknown publisher or Windows protected your PC. This is a publisher-verification warning, not a malware detection. Download LANtern only from this official GitHub release and use the provided checksums to verify the files.

If Microsoft Defender SmartScreen appears, confirm that you downloaded the file from this official release, select More info, then select Run anyway.

Limitations

• Controls IPv4 devices on the same local network
• VPNs, encrypted DNS, QUIC, and TLS ECH may hide or bypass domain rules
• Use only on networks and devices you own or administer

LANtern Control v0.1.1

LANtern Control v0.1.1 is a Windows patch release focused on clearer traffic history and better domain-rule organization.

Fixes and improvements

• Keeps the one-hour activity chart readable during long sessions while preserving exact one-second hover data
• Shows total traffic and every active device in chart hover details instead of only the top device
• Groups applied app presets by device with expandable blocked-domain lists
• Keeps preset groups expanded during the one-second device refresh
• Removes redundant live-sampling labels and the local-processing sidebar card

Requirements

• Windows x64
• Administrator access
• Npcap installed separately

You can install Npcap here: Download Npcap

Important limitations

• Controls IPv4 devices on the same local network
• VPNs, encrypted DNS, QUIC, and TLS ECH may hide or bypass domain rules
• Use only on networks and devices you own or administer

LANtern Control v0.1.0

LANtern Control v0.1.0 is the first packaged Windows release of the Carbon Crimson interface.

Features

• Per-device download and upload controls
• Pause and restore internet access
• Live device bandwidth and one-hour activity chart
• Persistent device naming
• Per-device visited-domain activity
• Domain blocking with service presets
• Themed update notifications
• Smaller self-contained portable build
• Installer with destination, Start Menu, and desktop shortcut choices

Requirements

• Windows x64
• Administrator access
• Npcap installed separately

You can install Npcap here: Download Npcap

Important limitations

• Controls IPv4 devices on the same local network
• VPNs, encrypted DNS, QUIC, and TLS ECH may hide domains
• Use only on networks and devices you own or administer