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How Sandboxie Protects Your PC from Malicious Software and Viruses

  • Writer: getchevedestlipeti
    getchevedestlipeti
  • Aug 1, 2023
  • 11 min read


What is Sandboxie and why you need it




Have you ever wanted to try a new program or visit a website, but you were worried about the potential risks to your computer? Maybe you heard that the program might contain malware, or that the website might track your activity and collect your personal information. Or maybe you just wanted to experiment with some settings or features, but you didn't want to mess up your system or lose any important data.


If any of these scenarios sound familiar, then you might want to consider using Sandboxie, a sandbox-based isolation software that lets you run programs and browse the web in a safe and secure environment. Sandboxie creates a virtual space between your system and the programs you run, keeping them isolated in a separate portion of your hard disk. This way, any changes or effects that the programs have are contained within the sandbox, and they don't affect your system or your files. You can easily delete the sandbox contents when you are done, or recover them if you need them later.




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Sandboxie is a powerful tool that can help you protect your system from malware and viruses, test untrusted programs and websites safely, and preserve your privacy and data. In this article, we will explain how Sandboxie works, what are its benefits, how to use it, and what are the differences between Sandboxie Plus and Sandboxie Classic.


How Sandboxie works




Sandboxie is a software that creates a sandbox-like isolated operating environment in which applications can be run or installed without permanently modifying the local or mapped drive, or the Windows registry. A sandbox is a term that refers to a controlled testing environment where you can experiment with programs or web pages without affecting the rest of the system.


When you run a program or a browser under Sandboxie, it intercepts the changes that the program makes to your system and redirects them to the sandbox. For example, if the program tries to create or modify a file on your hard disk, Sandboxie will create or modify a copy of that file in the sandbox instead. Similarly, if the program tries to access or change a registry key, Sandboxie will access or change a copy of that key in the sandbox. The program will think that it is running normally on your system, but in reality it is running inside the sandbox.


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The sandbox acts as a layer of protection between your system and the program, preventing any harmful or unwanted changes from reaching your system. You can view the contents of the sandbox at any time, and delete them when you are finished with the program. Alternatively, you can also recover some or all of the sandbox contents if you want to keep them for later use.


Benefits of using Sandboxie




Protect your system from malware and viruses




One of the main benefits of using Sandboxie is that it can protect your system from malware and viruses that might infect your computer through programs or web pages. Malware and viruses are malicious software that can harm your computer by deleting or corrupting your files, stealing your personal information, displaying unwanted ads, slowing down your performance, or even taking over your system completely.


By running programs or browsers under Sandboxie, you can prevent malware and viruses from reaching your system. Even if the program or web page contains malware or viruses, they will be trapped inside the sandbox and won't be able to affect anything outside of it. You can then delete the sandbox contents and get rid of them easily. This way, you can avoid any damage or loss of data caused by malware or viruses.


Test untrusted programs and websites safely




Another benefit of using Sandboxie is that it can help you test untrusted programs and websites safely. Sometimes, you might want to try a new program or website that you are not sure about, or that you have heard mixed reviews about. You might be curious about what it does, how it works, or what it looks like. However, you might also be hesitant to install or visit it, because you don't know if it is safe, reliable, or compatible with your system.


By using Sandboxie, you can test untrusted programs and websites without risking your system or your files. You can run them in a sandbox and see how they behave, what they do, or what they look like. You can also check if they have any hidden or unwanted features, such as spyware, adware, or bloatware. If you don't like them, or if they cause any problems, you can simply delete the sandbox contents and forget about them. If you like them, and if they are safe and compatible, you can install or visit them normally on your system.


Preserve your privacy and data




A third benefit of using Sandboxie is that it can help you preserve your privacy and data when you browse the web. When you visit a website, it might store some information on your computer, such as cookies, cache, history, or passwords. These information can be useful for improving your browsing experience, such as remembering your preferences, personalizing your content, or speeding up your loading time. However, they can also pose some risks to your privacy and data, such as tracking your activity, collecting your personal information, or exposing your passwords.


By browsing the web under Sandboxie, you can prevent websites from storing any information on your computer. Instead, they will store them in the sandbox, where they will be isolated from your system and your files. You can then delete the sandbox contents when you are done browsing, and erase any traces of your online activity. This way, you can protect your privacy and data from any potential threats or breaches.


How to use Sandboxie




Download and install Sandboxie




To use Sandboxie, you need to download and install it on your computer. You can download Sandboxie from its official website, where you will find two versions: Sandboxie Plus and Sandboxie Classic. We will explain the differences between them later in this article. For now, you can choose either one depending on your preference.


Once you have downloaded the installer file, you need to run it and follow the instructions to install Sandboxie on your computer. The installation process is simple and straightforward, and it should not take more than a few minutes. After the installation is complete, you will see a Sandboxie icon on your desktop and in your system tray.


Create and configure sandboxes




The next step is to create and configure sandboxes for the programs or browsers that you want to run under Sandboxie. A sandbox is a virtual container that holds the programs and their changes in a separate portion of your hard disk. You can create multiple sandboxes for different purposes or scenarios.


To create a sandbox, you need to right-click on the Sandboxie icon in your system tray and select "Create New Sandbox". You will then be asked to name your sandbox and choose its settings. You can customize various aspects of your sandbox, such as its appearance, size, location, access rights, restrictions, resource usage, networking options, and more. You can also use the default settings if you are not sure what to change.


To configure a sandbox, you need to right-click on the sandbox name in the Sandboxie Control window and select "Sandbox Settings". You will then see a list of categories that contain various options for adjusting the behavior of your sandbox. You can modify these options according to your needs and preferences. For example, you can enable or disable notifications, force or prevent programs from running in the sandbox, delete or recover sandbox contents, and more. You can also use the default options if you are not sure what to modify.


Run programs and browsers in sandboxes




The next step is to run the programs or browsers that you want to isolate in the sandboxes that you have created and configured. There are several ways to do this, depending on your preference and convenience.


One way is to right-click on the program or browser icon on your desktop or in your start menu and select "Run Sandboxed". You will then be asked to choose which sandbox you want to use for running the program or browser. You can also select "Run Any Program" from the Sandboxie Control window and browse for the program or browser that you want to run.


Another way is to drag and drop the program or browser icon onto the sandbox name in the Sandboxie Control window. This will automatically run the program or browser in the selected sandbox.


A third way is to create shortcuts for the programs or browsers that you want to run in sandboxes. You can do this by right-clicking on the sandbox name in the Sandboxie Control window and selecting "Create Shortcut". You will then be asked to choose which program or browser you want to create a shortcut for, and where you want to place it. You can then use these shortcuts to launch the programs or browsers in sandboxes.


When you run a program or browser in a sandbox, you will see a yellow border around its window, indicating that it is running under Sandboxie. You will also see a [#] sign in its title bar, where # is the number of the sandbox. For example, [1] means that the program or browser is running in sandbox 1.


Delete or recover sandbox contents




The final step is to delete or recover the contents of the sandboxes when you are done with the programs or browsers that you have run under Sandboxie. The contents of the sandboxes include any files, folders, registry keys, cookies, cache, history, passwords, and other information that the programs or browsers have created or modified while running in sandboxes.


To delete the contents of a sandbox, you need to right-click on the sandbox name in the Sandboxie Control window and select "Delete Contents". You will then be asked to confirm your action. This will permanently remove all the contents of the sandbox from your hard disk, freeing up space and ensuring that no traces of your activity remain.


To recover some or all of the contents of a sandbox, you need to right-click on the sandbox name in the Sandboxie Control window and select "Quick Recovery" or "Explore Contents". The Quick Recovery option will let you choose which files or folders you want to recover from the sandbox and where you want to place them on your system. The Explore Contents option will let you browse through all the contents of the sandbox and recover them individually or in bulk.


By deleting or recovering the contents of the sandboxes, you can control what happens to your data and information after using Sandboxie. You can either get rid of them completely, or keep them for future use.


Sandboxie Plus vs Sandboxie Classic




Differences between the two versions




As we mentioned earlier, there are two versions of Sandboxie available for download: Sandboxie Plus and Sandboxie Classic. These are two different editions of Sandboxie that have some differences in terms of features, interface, and development.


Sandboxie Plus is a newer and more advanced version of Sandboxie that offers more functionality and customization options. It has a modern and user-friendly interface that makes it easier to use and manage sandboxes. It also has some additional features that are not available in Sandboxie Classic, such as:


  • A built-in updater that checks for new versions and updates automatically



  • A resource monitor that shows CPU, RAM, and disk usage by sandboxes



  • A network monitor that shows network activity by sandboxes



  • A start/run dialog that allows running any program in any sandbox with one click



  • A tray icon menu that provides quick access to common actions



  • A maintenance service that performs periodic tasks such as deleting old sandboxes



  • A portable mode that allows running Sandboxie from a USB drive



  • A dark mode that changes the color scheme of the interface



  • A multi-language support that allows changing the language of the interface



Sandboxie Classic is an older and more stable version of Sandboxie that offers less functionality and customization options. It has a simple and basic interface that requires more manual steps and commands to use and manage sandboxes. It also lacks some features that are available in Sandboxie Plus, such as:


  • A built-in updater that checks for new versions and updates automatically



  • A resource monitor that shows CPU, RAM, and disk usage by sandboxes



  • A network monitor that shows network activity by sandboxes



  • A start/run dialog that allows running any program in any sandbox with one click



  • A tray icon menu that provides quick access to common actions



  • A maintenance service that performs periodic tasks such as deleting old sandboxes



  • A portable mode that allows running Sandboxie from a USB drive



  • A dark mode that changes the color scheme of the interface



  • A multi-language support that allows changing the language of the interface



Sandboxie Classic is based on the original code of Sandboxie that was developed by Ronen Tzur until 2013, when he sold it to Invincea. In 2017, Invincea was acquired by Sophos, which made Sandboxie free in 2019 and open source in 2020. Sandboxie Classic is maintained by a community of volunteers who provide bug fixes and security updates.


Which one should you choose




The choice between Sandboxie Plus and Sandboxie Classic depends on your personal preference and needs. Both versions are compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11, and support both 32-bit and 64-bit systems. Both versions also offer the same core functionality of creating and managing sandboxes for running programs and browsers safely and securely.


However, if you want more features, options, and convenience, you might prefer Sandboxie Plus, as it offers a more modern and user-friendly interface, as well as some additional features that are not available in Sandboxie Classic. Sandboxie Plus is also actively developed by David Xanatos, who is the main developer and maintainer of Sandboxie since it became open source.


On the other hand, if you want less complexity, overhead, and potential issues, you might prefer Sandboxie Classic, as it offers a simpler and more stable interface, as well as fewer features that might cause conflicts or problems. Sandboxie Classic is also more familiar and consistent with the original version of Sandboxie that many users have been using for years.


Conclusion




Sandboxie is a sandbox-based isolation software that lets you run programs and browse the web in a safe and secure environment. It creates a virtual space between your system and the programs you run, keeping them isolated in a separate portion of your hard disk. This way, any changes or effects that the programs have are contained within the sandbox, and they don't affect your system or your files.


Sandboxie can help you protect your system from malware and viruses, test untrusted programs and websites safely, and preserve your privacy and data. It is easy to use and manage, and it offers various customization options. You can download either Sandboxie Plus or Sandboxie Classic from its official website, depending on your preference and needs.


If you are looking for a powerful tool that can enhance your security and privacy while using your computer, you should definitely give Sandboxie a try. You will be amazed by how much it can do for you.


FAQs




  • Q: Is Sandboxie free?



  • A: Yes, Sandboxie is free for personal use. You can download it from its official website without paying anything. However, if you want to support its development and maintenance, you can also make a donation or purchase a license key.



  • Q: Is Sandboxie safe?



  • A: Yes, Sandboxie is safe to use. It does not contain any malware or viruses, and it does not harm your system or your files. It only creates a virtual space between your system and the programs you run, keeping them isolated in a separate portion of your hard disk.



  • Q: Does Sandboxie work with antivirus software?



  • A: Yes, Sandboxie works well with most antivirus software. However, some antivirus software might interfere with or block some functions of Sandboxie. If you encounter any issues or conflicts, you can try to adjust the settings of your antivirus software or contact its support team.



  • Q: How do I uninstall Sandboxie?



  • A: To uninstall Sandboxie, you need to run the uninstaller file that comes with the installer file. You can find it in the folder where you installed Sandboxie. Alternatively, you can also use the Windows Control Panel to uninstall Sandboxie.



  • Q: Where can I get more information or help about Sandboxie?



  • A: You can get more information or help about Sandboxie from its official website, where you will find a user manual, a forum, a blog, and a contact form. You can also check out its GitHub page, where you will find the source code, the changelog, the issues, and the wiki. You can also join its Discord server, where you can chat with other users and developers of Sandboxie.



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