Is anyone using Sandboxie?

Sandboxie creates a sandboxed PC environment in which you can install and/or run programs or browse the Web. Data writing operations that the Sandboxed applications perform can be rolled back and/or eliminated. This creates an undo mechanism that can be used to test out programs without damaging the system. Or you can surf the web without risk of infecting the system with malware.

A sandbox is a virtual or testing environment that captures all disk-writing operations. If you run an Internet browser through Sandboxie, all of the cookies, cached files, and downloaded files (even the bad ones), or registry entries will actually be made within the Sandbox. Apparently, Sandboxie uses a copy of part of the Windows Registry in order to protect the original from malicious insertions. Downloaded files also appear in your file system, so if you download a file to Documents during a Sandboxed browser session, you’ll be able to find it in your Documents folder where you normally would expect it. The trick is, only a virtual file is in your Documents folder, and once you shut Sandboxie down the file will no longer show up. If you want to keep the file, or save any changes made during your Sandboxie session, you can make the contents of a sandbox ’permanent.’

The product has good forum, help and support resources. Sandboxie has limited support on 64-bit Windows because of PatchGuard. Supported OSes: Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows Server 2003. Does not work on Windows 95, 98 or ME, or on Mac operating systems. This is shareware ($25 donation if you like it) and not intended for commercial use.

I’d like to hear about other’s experience and opinions about Sandboxie and other similar programs.

Comments

• Anonymous
  January 18, 2008
  Sandboxie creates a sandboxed PC environment in which you can install and/or run programs or browse the