Sandboxing as a security concept means to limit a program’s reach on a computer system. When you normally run a program it can act with the same user rights as the user. If the user can make modifications to the Registry, so can the program. If you sandbox a program on the other hand it can only perform operations in the sandbox, which usually means in its own program environment and not system wide.
Sandboxie is an excellent software for that purpose. It basically allows a Windows user to run any program in an isolated space (a sandbox) preventing it effectively from damaging or modifying other parts of the operating system outside that sandbox.
Some benefits of a sandbox
- Secure Web Browsing: Running your Web browser under the protection of Sandboxie means that all malicious software downloaded by the browser is trapped in the sandbox and can be discarded trivially.
- Enhanced Privacy: Browsing history, cookies, and cached temporary files collected while Web browsing stay in the sandbox and don’t leak into Windows.
- Secure E-mail: Viruses and other malicious software that might be hiding in your email can’t break out of the sandbox and can’t infect your real system.
- Windows Stays Lean: Prevent wear-and-tear in Windows by installing software into an isolated sandbox.
Sandboxie Review
Sandboxie will automatically scan installed programs and offer to apply compatibility settings for them. The programs are displayed in an extra window and it is suggested to accept these suggestions.
Sandboxie is operated through Sandboxie Control. The program is automatically started after installation, but also accessible from the Windows start menu. There are two options (actually three when the desktop icon is included) to run programs in a sandbox. Users can right-click the system tray icon and select DefaultBox from the menu to run web browser, email programs, Windows Explorer or other programs in a sandbox, or use the Sandbox > DefaultBox menu at the top of the Sandboxie Control software to do that.
DefaultBox is the first sandbox that is automatically created by Sandboxie. Users can create additional sandboxies, but only registered users can run programs in multiple sandboxes at the same time.
Sandboxie aids the user when errors occur, for instance when the user tries to launch a program that requires additional configuration to run in a sandbox. The email client is a prime example. Why? Because the program will not be able to save data to the system when it runs in a sandbox which means that received mails will not be added to the system mailboxes.
Sandboxie does have a solution for that though as it can be configured to exclude files from the sandboxing. For an email client this could mean to exclude the mailbox data files and include the rest to work with it properly and save data in the mailboxes.
Programs that are configured correctly appear in the control window.
Sandboxie integrates with the Windows Explorer shell so that programs can be launched in a sandbox with a right-click. That’s handy for new program installations for instance to test an application on the system while preventing that it can make changes to the system.
It is possible to switch the program view to folder view, which shows all the folders and files that are currently stored in the sandbox.
Video Review
Users may sometimes want to save files even if a program is running in a sandbox. Say you run a sandboxed web browser and want to save an image to the computer that should be there once you close the sandbox.
Sandboxie can be configured to monitor selected folders for new files for an option to recover them. The program distinguishes between immediate and quick recovery. Immediate recovery pops up whenever a file is saved in one of those locations offering an option to save it to the same folder but outside the sandboxed environment or another folder.
Quick Recovery on the other hand is invoked by user request or before the sandbox is terminated on the system.
Users who run Sandboxie for the first time should take a look at the Usage Tips which offer introductions to concepts but also helpful tips including how to create sandboxed program shortcuts to launch programs directly in sandboxed mode.
Registered Sandboxie users get additional features including the ability to force programs to always run in the sandbox. This means that the program will be launched in sandboxed mode (if Sandboxie is running) whenever and from wherever it is launched. That’s better than having to select a program from the Sandbox menu, and still better than having to click on a shortcut to run it in sandboxed mode.
A similar option is available to force folders to always run in sandboxed mode. This can be download folders from the Internet, CDrom or DVD drives to sandbox autorun programs. Basically, all programs run from a forced folder location will be run in the sandbox.
Both options can be temporarily disabled by the user.
Sandboxie can be downloaded directly from the developer website. The program runs on 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Microsoft Windows and is available in many different languages.
Sandboxie Verdict
Sandboxie is an excellent program for Windows users who want to add that extra security to some programs that they run on their system. It is ideal for testing out new programs, browsing on the Internet without leaving traces on the computer and dozens of other applications to improve a system’s security.
The help popups when an error occurs detail what needs to be done to overcome the error. They do however lead to the Sandboxie website but that should not be a big issue.
Sandboxie Giveaway
We have ten Sandboxie licenses for you to win. Please let us know which program or programs you’d like to run in a Sandbox if you win a license.
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I would prefer to run my browser’s (firefox/chrome) in Sandboxie.
thx for giveaway
i would like to run IE,opera and firefox in sandboxie
also its perfect to test trojans, and suspected programs
i hope i be lucky
Any software I download from unfamiliar sites.
I would be using it with my browser ( Firefox).
Hoping to get a license for the full version.
Thanks
Thanks for this giveaway!
Sandboxie is the best virtualization software out there.
I’d like to use Sandboxie for safe browsing and to test softwares.
Thanks.
Obviously the web browser! (my firefox)
My browser and email program would be the ones I would sandbox the most. But sometimes you need to download software that you don’t know if you can trust, and Sandboxie really helps protect you.
I am keen to try new programs. Using Sandboxie, I can safely run programs in a virtual space which prevents them from making permanent changes to my computer. Using Firefox.
if I win this giveaway, the first program I tried was going to various types of media players, because I’ve only use windows media player, I want to find the best for my computer
If I win a licence I will use it to run each un-safe file that I will get it from internet ,email and messengers
I do not think I will run the whole explorer in sanboxie , I think running specific files and programs in sandboxie in enough for me
Thanks , and I hope I will wind
And good luck everyone
Any new program ghacks.net recommends and I find useful!
Looking into making as much software I use into portable, SandboxIE is essential for me.
thanks for the giveaway…
i am a systems administrator
i am always dealing with viruses and malware
so sandboxie for me the is the best tool to discover the behavior of all these things.
also to test new software or software updates …etc…
if i win it or not … IT IS THE BEST …!!!
OMG!! A Sandboxie Giveaway!!!
Please, please let me win a licence, I already use the free version to sandbox everything that connects online.
I would so much appreciate a license.
Huggs,
Sophie.
Thanks Martin for good review and giveaway of sandboxie. Please count me in.
If I win a license, I will sandbox all my internet-facing applications (Chrome, Firefox, IE, FDM, Adobe Reader, and MiPony) as well as can perform all my applications tests in it. It will be great addition to my security setup.
Regards!
Well, I actually own a Sandboxie license, but I would like to win one to my brother :-)
I’ve mostly use Sandboxie with BSA to analyze unknown malware samples (together with alot of other tools).
Sandboxie is great for:
* installers – avoid getting crapware all over your system with stuff you want to install to try out
* trialware (limited number of runs) – clear the sandbox registry and you’re always on first run
* PDF readers – avoid PDF attack vectors
* browsers – of course
* any web-connected software (such as TOR) – potential entry points into your system
* any stuff you suspect of connecting to the Internet behind your back – you can disallow Internet access in a sandbox
Would appreciate a license. Thanks.
I would like to use sandboxie to browse the websites that I am not sure of malware-free.
Hope I am lucky enough to get one license for free.
Sandboxie is a very useful program, I like it and I want to take part in this giveaway.
I’d run all kinds of browsers inside sandboxie and lots of software i’ll want just want to try out.
all browsers and every program that connects to the internet
browsers
Hi, I would like to participate in this giveaway. I would use Sandboxie to run Internet Explrer and make my PC potentially safer.
Very nice giveaway, and many thanks to that.
Adding another layer of security is my top concern as I access internet everyday either work or entertainment.
I felt to experience different type of software, so this will be vastly useful for me
At first, the programs I will run in a Sandbox are firefox & chrome.
Hope to win this time
Pls include me
I would run any setup or install files I wasn’t sure I was going to keep installed. That way, instead of uninstalling, I could just wipe the sandbox.
Thanks for the contest a handy tool to optimum securiy, well i will run my internet browser in sandboxie
I run Sandboxie on startup that’s it.
Any Microsoft software – needs all the security help it can get
I’d run web browsers primarily. Thanks!
Hi,
Thanks for this Giveaway . Please count me in .
The answer to the question is : browsers .
Best regards !
Currently I am using the trial version of Sandboxie, and I must say It is the best application virtualisation software as it is very light on system. I belive that tradisional anti-virus softwares are not enough to protect me from all kind of Viruses…If I get a license then I will run all my Internet Browsers under sandboxie ….It is a great software and i will like to get a license ……