Stamp Collecting Software

That is not entirely correct. Windows simply did not recognise the application, which is not the same as "did not like" which implies something nefarious.

This message can be avoided if the developer pays for a digital certificate to digitally sign the application. But what incentive is there for a publisher of free software to do so?

Especially as software that is digitally signed only guarantees that it has not been tampered with, it does not necessarily protect the end user from an unscrupulous publisher.
Restating what angore said "Tik Tok" [which many consider contains malware] "is in the Microsoft Store".

I do not digitally sign my free software. Instead, I submit it to Microsoft and other anti-virus software publishers for "whitelisting" to prevent it from being flagged. Not only does this takes a fair amount of time and effort, but it can take days or even weeks before the software is given a clean bill of health on an end user's computer.



This second statement probably goes a long way towards explaining why Stamps2Go have not updated their software for years, or why they have not paid for a digital certificate etc. Stamps2Go presumably had some sort of business model when they released the software, probably to encourage usage of their stamp marketplace and perhaps this did not pan out as planned.

I provide AlbumEasy absolutely free of charge along with what I believe to be excellent support with no strings attached. Although, after spending 15 to 30 minutes responding to a query from someone who then can't even be bothered to acknowledge my reply, a far too frequent occurrence, I sometimes wonder why I bother.

Clive

Hi Clive. Hate to jump in on the technical part of this discussion, but I just had an update to the Stamps2Go Assistant yesterday (to version 2.1.0.15). You also do not have to sign up for anything to use the Assistant offline, or to update the software. Mine works perfectly with Windows 10. The site itself is pretty active, and I believe there are buyers/sellers there who are SCF members.

So, in my experience, they do update the Assistant. I do not know how often they do this...

John

Oh, that is good to know.
When I wrote "Stamps2Go have not updated their software for years" I was jumping to conclusions based on Don mentioning .NET 3.51, so I am pleased to be proven wrong.

I would happily give Stamps2Go Assistant a try myself as I am looking for an alternative to my current system based on spreadsheets, but unfortunately, it is Windows only, so I am unable to run it.
Clive

Hi Clive,
I install their app this morning on a fresh virtual Win11 machine and their app forced (install would not continue without it) a .NET 3.5 install (alongside the already installed current .NET 4.8.1 version). I assume that, given the number of known security vulnerabilities in early 3.5 and 3.51 versions of .NET that Windows 11 was flagging it.

Their app requires a network connection and has to 'call home', I was not able to make it work without a network connection. But it does store data and images in a local Access Database which can be opened locally and without a network connection which is good. This means that if they go away, are sold, hacked, or otherwise just goes dark one day the users would still be able to access the time they have invested in entering their data.

Unlike John's experience, I have not been able to get the Stamps2Go Assistant to work independently as a stand-alone app. In fact, it is acting bizarre but I think that this is an issue with trying to run it in a virtual machine. Unlike John, I did not find their help file particular detailed or well organized but I did think it acceptable for a free app.

But for me, requiring .NET 3.5, requiring a network connection, having all my stamp data shared with Stamps2Go, and knowing that while their terms and conditions say they will not sell my info can change overnight (ala Photobucket) if it is sold, policy change, or ownership changes makes this a non-starter for me. I am a person who wants full control over my data 24/7/365 without having any dependencies on others. I have had to live with sharing far more of my personal information in todays world than I am comfortable with, there are other stamp inventory solutions available that met my needs.



Understood. The staff here knows exactly what this feels like.
Don

From the help file (Initial Set-Up):

Entry of your Stamps2Go UserID and Password are optional. A UserID and Password will be necessary if you intend to sell items at the Stamps2Go.com website, and will use the Stamps2Go Download and Synchronize features of Stamps2Go Assistant.

If you do not enter a UserID or Password, you will be prompted for this information whenever Stamps2Go Assistant needs to connect to Stamps2Go to download or synchronize your items. A Stamps2Go UserID and Password are NOT required for new version updates.

I guess the only way to check this out would be for someone who has never had the software on their computer to download it and try it. I believe when I initially had this, I was using it for offline only, but I later became a member of Stamps2Go. But my memory could be failing me in my old age...

John