playing in Sandboxie is fun (Sandboxie)

Member Name: gump103

Product:	Sandboxie
Date:	02/06/09 (153 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: improves security, helps reduce software clutter, free or cheap versions

Disadvantages: not all app's are compatible, doesn't fix problems that exist already.

When re-installing or just installing a Windows PC there are several applications that I just install by default. These have remained constant for years and include AVG, daemon tools, msn messenger, skype and more recently dropbox and crashplan (also reviewed). Anyway my latest app to add to this list is called sandboxie which has become one of the first apps to be installed following anti virus.

You see sandboxie, is a really impressive application that allows you to run/install (sandbox) applications seemlessly within windows without allowing the application to do anything damaging to your operating system, all changes it creates are held in a single folder which can be deleted as easily as a regular folder.

Installation of sandboxie is quick and easy, after you have downloaded it from http://www.sandboxie.com/SandboxieInstall.exe (576k will download in seconds), and is just a matter of clicking next a few times.

Once installed you can right click on any application/shortcut (pre-installed, non installable, or installable) and choose to run the application in "run sandboxed" mode. A small yellow icon will load in the task tray and the application will load as normal except it will feature a pair of # symbols in the description bar at the top of the application. The # lets you know you are running the application in sandboxed mode. Double clicking on the sandboxie icon in the task tray presents a window that shows all software + processes running in the sandbox and allows you to end them if required. You can also choose to run applications from here in sandboxed mode as well as running applications that are installed in the sandbox.

Sandboxing the application has many benefits which are:
Test an application before installing it incase it isn't suitable
Make changes to software that is already installed (eg patch it)
run dubious applications that may contain virus or malware.

In each case the software won't be able to change your system as they will only have read access to all folders except the sandbox one.

I use sandboxie daily with Internet explorer and firefox to prevent any risk of infection by going to the wrong site and downloading the wrong thing. For instance you may have seen the websites that pop up and tell you that you have a virus and need to download the free virus remover, only to find that what you really download is a virus that you then have to pay to remove. With sandboxie you could say yes, download the app/virus, install it and then delete the sandbox and it would be like it wasn't there.
I also use sandboxie when I download trail software, it allows me to install the software and test it, if its suitable I can buy it and install it to the full system, if its not then I delete the sandbox and it leaves my system like it was never installed (trial software almost always leaves stuff when uninstalled).

The software isn't without its faults though and does at times have problems with some applictions, where they won't run correctly or even at all. I tend to find this to be the case with games and software which uses 3D, also some full screen software sometimes struggles with the mouse but these are generally trivial issues compared to the benefits. The interface at times feels a little old and combersome, and can sometimes be a little confusing when trying to run a sandboxie installed application.

The software is well supported though and recieves regular updates that improve compatibility and features, there is an active support forum in which the developers participate and offer advice, the software is free (with a 30 second pause on startup) or can be brought for 22 euros (£18 approx) which I feel is really good value.

In conclusion the positives of the software far outway any negatives, it allows you to use/test software in ways you may have previously been wary of incase you broke something. It allows you to surf safer by running the browser software in a sandbox so anything you download can be vetted. I have got family and friends to use sandboxie and after a little demo of what it can do they find it nice and simple to use and I would recomend it to anyone.

Summary: Great app that helps you feel safer on the computer.

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