OK. I've mentioned this program before in a few anti-virus threads but thought that I should at least do a post about this program.
What is Sandboxie? It basically creates a 'virtual' drive that it separate and isolated from your system. Whenever you wish to run a program, like an Internet Browser, for example, it will copy the program into the virtual drive and will then run the program out of that folder.
What this means is that any malicious software, buggy script, cookies, whatever will be stored in the virtual drive. When you've finished browsing you can then configure the program, if you wish, to delete the virtual drive in its entirety (although for ease I normally just delete it manually every fortnight or so).
I cannot recommend this program enough. In fact I would go so far as saying that it is my favourite windows program just because of how flexible it is.
Can you use it to create private folders. Yes. Can you use it to test install downloaded programs. Yes. Can you use it to test program updates before applying them. Yes.
I've been using this without any form of virus protection (other than windows firewall) or Windows Defender for years now without any problems. I even put it on my dad's and sister's computers.
This is the free version although they do offer a paid version for automatic sandboxing of programs. I'm hoping that this post is going to give me the impetus to actually buy this as I've never actually felt a need to (other than to support development).
2 things to remember with the free version. One is to make sure that the program is running sandboxed and that any files you have saved are opened sandboxed. The other is to remember to move anything out of the sandbox that you wish to keep before deleting the sandbox! (I've got burnt a few times with that one!).
Anyways, its just something to consider if, like me, you were used to running anti-virus protection.
All comments (35)
3guesses
11 Apr 17#1
Thanks for the heads-up. Sounds like it should have a lower resource overhead than an actual anti-virus program, so I think I'll take a look.
redondo
11 Apr 17#2
Thanks for posting
can you open a suspicious email and maybe the link in that email in the "sandbox" and how would you do that if you are using Firefox or Google Chrome ?
repouk
11 Apr 17#3
Great piece of software :face_with_monocle:
MrBeansDrivingInstructor
11 Apr 17#4
I have been using this for years and it is a great piece of software. Good post!
jadamso
11 Apr 17#5
Yes (although i have no idea as to the consequences to your actual email account). Basic rule-of-thumb for me is any suspicious email i ignore - period. In terms of the link I would copy the url, log out of my email account and then paste and go. Just make sure that whatever program you wish to open it with e.g. chrome is running sandboxed BEFORE going into your emails!
single_lonely
11 Apr 17#6
using this software could i download any exe (generators) from the net and open them in sandbox with out any repercussions? thanks
hkkaxe
11 Apr 17#7
this can help with internet anonymity?
B_T
11 Apr 17#8
Sandboxed or not, don’t access any links from doggy emails – If you do then the sender will know he/she has a real email address and you could be deluged with spam.
Opening post
What is Sandboxie?
It basically creates a 'virtual' drive that it separate and isolated from your system. Whenever you wish to run a program, like an Internet Browser, for example, it will copy the program into the virtual drive and will then run the program out of that folder.
What this means is that any malicious software, buggy script, cookies, whatever will be stored in the virtual drive. When you've finished browsing you can then configure the program, if you wish, to delete the virtual drive in its entirety (although for ease I normally just delete it manually every fortnight or so).
I cannot recommend this program enough. In fact I would go so far as saying that it is my favourite windows program just because of how flexible it is.
Can you use it to create private folders. Yes.
Can you use it to test install downloaded programs. Yes.
Can you use it to test program updates before applying them. Yes.
I've been using this without any form of virus protection (other than windows firewall) or Windows Defender for years now without any problems. I even put it on my dad's and sister's computers.
This is the free version although they do offer a paid version for automatic sandboxing of programs. I'm hoping that this post is going to give me the impetus to actually buy this as I've never actually felt a need to (other than to support development).
2 things to remember with the free version. One is to make sure that the program is running sandboxed and that any files you have saved are opened sandboxed. The other is to remember to move anything out of the sandbox that you wish to keep before deleting the sandbox! (I've got burnt a few times with that one!).
Anyways, its just something to consider if, like me, you were used to running anti-virus protection.
All comments (35)
can you open a suspicious email and maybe the link in that email in the "sandbox" and how would you do that if you are using Firefox or Google Chrome ?