Safe surfing with Sandboxie - very, very easy

Many people think that sandboxing is difficult to use. It is, in fact, very, very simple. Here is what you do to be safe on the web, which I think is the most important. The other functions you can explore yourself.

Step1 - Download and install Sandboxie from here: http://www.sandboxie.com/index.php?DownloadSandboxie

Step2 - Go into All Programs, click on Sandboxie and make a shortcut on the desktop from “Run webbrowser sandboxed” (you can also pin it to the Start menu, Quick launch or Taskbar).

Step3 - Launch your webbrowser with that shortcut. Now you are safe.

whs said:

Many people think that sandboxing is difficult to use. It is, in fact, very, very simple. Here is what you do to be safe on the web, which I think is the most important. The other functions you can explore yourself.

Step1 - Download and install Sandboxie from here: Sandboxie - Download Sandboxie

Step2 - Go into All Programs, click on Sandboxie and make a shortcut on the desktop from “Run webbrowser sandboxed” (you can also pin it to the Start menu, Quick launch or Taskbar).

Step3 - Launch your webbrowser with that shortcut. Now you are safe.

Click to expand...

Thanks WHS, I had never explored the option as i didnt realise it was that simple.

Interesting. First I have heard of this application. I may look into it. I don't like to use antivirus or firewall programs. I am extremely careful about what I download and where I go, but if I do get hit with something Rollback RX fixes me in 5 minutes flat so I never worry about being crippled by viruses or trojans.

I will check it out.. depends on it's memory footprint if I use it or not.

EDIT:

I use 64 Bit Windows 7. The 64 bit version is not prominently displayed in their website. You have to hunt around in their forums to find it. I did.

Here is the link to the 64 Bit version of this program:

Sandboxie 64 bit Download:

http://www.sandboxie.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=6842

( On this page the second link is the 64 bit version, notice 64 in the title?)

Apparently the developers did not want to support a 64 bit version and fought against it but caved in because of pressure from the community. One dev implied he did not want to support the 64 bit version because he was trying to "get a message out" regaurding 64 bit support.


Said by Tzuk:
"I have reconsidered my position and decided that I should stop fighting windmills.

I've held out so far because it was important for me to try to get a particular
message out. I appreciate those of you who chose to listen, but realistically,
I have to admit that the world at large does not care much for my message. "

And then he gives the download link for the 64 bit version. Read about it here:

http://www.sandboxie.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=7014

I do not know what this message was he is talking about. I will research this, but it makes me leery to use this persons app due to his attitude.. seem very strange to me.

Edit 2: Ahh I see.. apperently this version has limited functionality due to a conflict with Windows Vista and 7's Kernel Patch Protection. I suppose the devs were trying to fix this or find a work around before they resumed 64 bit support.

Oh friend back in the day, you were the kind of user I used to pray for... lol, I'd own your box in a new york second... Believe me, if you havent been infected, or rootkitted yet you will be...

Tews said:

Oh friend back in the day, you were the kind of user I used to pray for... lol, I'd own your box in a new york second... Believe me, if you havent been infected, or rootkitted yet you will be...

Click to expand...

Are you saying sandboxie don't work or you referring to my statement about not using anti-virus's and firewalls?

Im referring to your lackadaisical attitude about security in general.. Sandboxie is fine and I use it, but it will not prevent all types of attacks and intrusions... a rootkit is a perfect example. Just because you haven't been infected doesn't mean you cant, or wont be. You have a responsibility to insure that you do not become a part of a botnet, etc and the price of security is vigilance. Do everyone else a favor and rethink your position on computer security, and give up that tired excuse of memory usage vs security.... Thanks...

Tews said:

Im referring to your lackadaisical attitude about security in general.. Sandboxie is fine and I use it, but it will not prevent all types of attacks and intrusions... a rootkit is a perfect example. Just because you haven't been infected doesn't mean you cant, or wont be. You have a responsibility to insure that you do not become a part of a botnet, etc and the price of security is vigilance. Do everyone else a favor and rethink your position on computer security, and give up that tired excuse of memory usage vs security.... Thanks...

Click to expand...

I absolutely agree. At the prices of RAM these days there is absolutely no reason to forward the memory usage argument. And besides, both MSE and Sandboxie have a very small footprint. That combined with the Windows firewall will give you a solid basic protection. All you need to add is frequent imaging. And that is also dead simple as I have described here: http://www.sevenforums.com/software/43219-image-your-system-free-macrium.html And all of that comes for free. What more can you ask for.

Tews said:

Im referring to your lackadaisical attitude about security in general.. Sandboxie is fine and I use it, but it will not prevent all types of attacks and intrusions... a rootkit is a perfect example. Just because you haven't been infected doesn't mean you cant, or wont be. You have a responsibility to insure that you do not become a part of a botnet, etc and the price of security is vigilance. Do everyone else a favor and rethink your position on computer security, and give up that tired excuse of memory usage vs security.... Thanks...

Click to expand...

I am so totally not understanding your post at all. I do not have a laxidasical attitude to security, just the opposite.. that is why I use Rollback Rx. It is The Best Security money can buy.

The point is I don't care how hard you hit or cripple my PC because I am protected 100%. NOTHING can harm the security measures I put in place from Rollback Rx because it does not reside in windows or even on your C drive but in a layer of your hard drive underneath your windows instalation.

You do not seem to understand why I am not concerned about getting hit with virus's is not because I don't care about security, it's because I am already so well protected.

Who said anything about memory usage vs security?? You are reading things into my post and making assumptions that are not there. I simply do not Need to RELY on a program like sandboxie because I am already so well protected. The only reason I mentioned memory is because I don't want to use anything using a lot of memory. It has nothing to do with any security vs memory argument.

So if I get crippled with a virus Big Fat Hairy Deal. It does Not hurt me at all because I simply reload the snapshot (that I know is clean) that I took before going online. A PC can be crippled to the point where it will not even boot and your c drive has been deleted and you can recover in 5 minutes with Rollback Rx.

Since I do not like to use regular firewalls and anti-virus programs (and really don't need to) I am using Sandboxie just to help cut down on the initial attack (that don't bother me anyway) I don't expct it to protect me from everything.. in fact.. you guys should tell folks to use Rollback Rx as a back up to Sandboxie for when it fails! Since I have installed this Windos 7, I have not had to use the Rollback Rx snapshot but once.. I am very careful about my browsing.. but I am using Sandboxie so that one time will not happen again for a long time..it's just an added precaution.. but one that I'm not really worried about.. if I didn't have Rollback Rx, it would be a different story.

Just because my method of security differs from yours does not mean I am any less concerned about security than you are.

It may be a big deal to the person/persons that you spread the virus to is what Im saying.... Im glad that you feel 100% protected, but the only 100% way to be totally safe is to unplug from the net...

Rollback RX is an incremental backup and restore utility, not a security application... it does much the same as any other imaging software does...while it is a good and vital component of a total security policy, it is not the total package that you claim...

In this vast interconnected electronic environment we depend on every one to be safe computers. Sadly some are not. I can accept some one who doesnt know. Some one that chooses not to puts us all at risk

Just to throw my $0.02 into the ring...

1). I believe that there are quite a number of people who are likely infected or have a certain amount of unknown malware/spyware on their PC. Most likely as an end-user they are unaware of it, since it's not making itself obviously known. But just because your PC isn't crashing, and files aren't trashed...doesn't mean that your privacy, security or box isn't being used for nefarious means. And an image might prove very useful when you get infected with something and it's quite obvious. But how do you know that there isn't something lurking in your past 20 images that you simply keep restoring over and over again?????

2). I have other computers on my home network and obviously other machines on my work network. Just because I could simply lay an image back down on my actual workstation, doesn't mean that I might not have unleashed something potentially dangerous to other machines...even if it's payload isn't noticeable.

3). Resource usage on my machine hasn't been an issue in a quite a number of years as machines are so powerful, ram is so cheap and hard drive space is so plentiful that resource usage is hardly a concern these days.

This topic comes up about once a week and I always feel compelled to share my thoughts. As a very competent home user who does IT for a living for the past 10 years+, I've seen and experienced quite a lot. While common sense and safe habits provides me a huge advantage, it's no guarantee as spyware/malware/trojans/rootkits/bots and all of the other stuff has gotten far more complex over the last few years and simple measures may no longer be enough.

+1 .. Well said.. I always cringe when I see someone claim that they have no need for Firewalls/Anti-virus protection...

pparks1 said:

Just to throw my $0.02 into the ring...

1). I believe that there are quite a number of people who are likely infected or have a certain amount of unknown malware/spyware on their PC. Most likely as an end-user they are unaware of it, since it's not making itself obviously known. But just because your PC isn't crashing, and files aren't trashed...doesn't mean that your privacy, security or box isn't being used for nefarious means. And an image might prove very useful when you get infected with something and it's quite obvious. But how do you know that there isn't something lurking in your past 20 images that you simply keep restoring over and over again?????

2). I have other computers on my home network and obviously other machines on my work network. Just because I could simply lay an image back down on my actual workstation, doesn't mean that I might not have unleashed something potentially dangerous to other machines...even if it's payload isn't noticeable.

3). Resource usage on my machine hasn't been an issue in a quite a number of years as machines are so powerful, ram is so cheap and hard drive space is so plentiful that resource usage is hardly a concern these days.

This topic comes up about once a week and I always feel compelled to share my thoughts. As a very competent home user who does IT for a living for the past 10 years+, I've seen and experienced quite a lot. While common sense and safe habits provides me a huge advantage, it's no guarantee as spyware/malware/trojans/rootkits/bots and all of the other stuff has gotten far more complex over the last few years and simple measures may no longer be enough.

Click to expand...

+2.

Tews said:

It may be a big deal to the person/persons that you spread the virus to is what Im saying.... Im glad that you feel 100% protected, but the only 100% way to be totally safe is to unplug from the net...

Rollback RX is an incremental backup and restore utility, not a security application... it does much the same as any other imaging software does...while it is a good and vital component of a total security policy, it is not the total package that you claim...

Click to expand...

Again with the assumptions. I do NOT spread virus's to anyone. I monitor what comes in and goes out of my PC very closely. I never claimed Rollback Rx was a "Total" security package, just that I feel I am 100% protected with it, as long as I know I have a clean system when I make a new snapshop.

Since I started this thread, allow me to make this comment: I think every one should have as much rope to hang himself/herself as they wish. I myself do not subscribe to flying blind without proper security program(s). Especially now where there are several valid options that are avialble without charge and only very minimal impact on system resources. And the more the defenses are layered, the better it is. My arsenal contains the following:

1. MSE as security suite (Norton still on one system)
2. The Windows firewall
3. SAS as my main scanner
4. Frequent imaging with Macrium (Norton on 2 other systems soon to be replaced by Macrium)
5. Sandboxie for the frequent browsing and researching on the web

Some of you may call it an overkill, but it really does not cost anything in time, system resources or money (except kicking off the scans and imaging from time to time). It helps me sleep well at night and avoids the nightmare of reinstalls that I went thru when I was still a rookie.