How To Set Up And Use A Browser Sandbox On Windows
How to Set Up and Use a Browser Sandbox on Windows? we will be answering this question throughout this post.
Imagine being able to test any software or visit any website without having to worry about your computer being infected with a virus. That's what a browser sandbox does.
Imagine being able to test any software or visit any website without having to worry about your computer being infected with a virus. That's what a browser sandbox does.
This can be done with the Windows 10 built-in Sandbox app or another free app called Sandboxie. However, the Sandboxie app is the easiest way to do it. Did we already say it's free?
What is a Browser Sandbox?
Sandbox is a bit of a weird term to use with computers, but think about what an actual sandbox does. It's a set of walls to keep all the sand inside. Otherwise, it scares off part of the lawn. It also gives us a defined space to play.
The type of sandbox we're talking about, a browser sandbox, does the same thing. It keeps things inside so it doesn't crawl around and ruin the computer. It also provides a place to play freely without worry.
Windows 10 sandbox.
If you have Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education, there's built-in sandbox functionality. We have an article that explains how to install and use Windows 10 Sandbox.
If you have the correct version of Windows and install the sandbox, you can use it to browse the web. It uses Edge by default. If you want to use another browser, you need to install it in Windows 10 Sandbox.
But there is a big challenge. Every time you close Windows Sandbox, you lose all settings. That means the next time you open it, it's like a brand new Windows installation. You have to reconfigure everything.
If you want to use a browser other than Edge, you need to install it. You must transfer your bookmarks and reinstall your favorite browser extensions and add-ons. No bookmark is saved. No extension or add-in is registered.
It is true that you can configure Windows Sandbox to persist certain things between sessions. But this involves finding and modifying an XML configuration file. It's more work than most people want.
Sandboxie for sandboxed web browsing
Sandboxie is a cute name, but it's a powerful sandbox tool from Sophos. Sophos is an industry leader in digital security. Sandboxie is a complete sandbox solution. You can run any program on it, so it's useful for testing software, opening sketchy email attachments, and browsing the web, among other things. Plus, it's free.
Download Sandboxie for free now. Install it and go through the tutorial to see how it works.
We are just going to review the Sandboxie web browser today. However, Sandboxie is capable of doing so much more! Play with it.
Once you download and install Sandboxie, navigation becomes as easy as opening your regular web browser. Sandboxie will place a shortcut on the desktop. Simply double-click the Sandboxed Web Browser icon, which Sandboxie will put on the desktop.
The default browser opens with all of its current bookmarks and extensions. You can use the web as you always have. No additional configuration is required as with Windows Sandbox. This is what makes Sandboxie better for most people than Windows Sandbox.
What happens in the browser sandbox?
Sandboxie has isolated all the processes that run a web browser from everything running on the computer. It's almost like having a mini-computer inside a computer.
Sandboxie gives the browser just enough resources and permissions to do what it needs. Anything that tries to access resources beyond that will be denied. You can also see exactly what the browser is doing while it's doing it.
Double-click the Sandboxie icon in the system tray to see Sandboxie Control Window. It will show all running processes that the browser sandbox is using.
How do I know which window is sandboxed? What if you have a few browsers open? Simply move the mouse to the top of the window. If it is a Sandboxie window, a yellow highlight box will appear around the edge of the browser.
Why don't web browsers already use a sandbox?
Most web browsers use a sandbox. Yet people continue to receive viruses and the like from websites. And there are, apparently, degrees of sandboxing. It's hard to get details on how different web browsers use sandboxing.
If they said, “We put everything in a sandbox except for such and such.” then they would admit that they are not as sure as they would like us to believe.
The options we show indicate that they are 100% sandbox. Apart from reverse engineering programs, you have to choose whether to trust these browsers or not.
If you want to try reverse-engineering a program, check out Ghidra. Ghidra is a free National Security Agency (NSA) reverse engineering tool.
We are not saying that all web browsers are unsafe. They are as safe as we want them to be. But you can make your web browser more secure with a browser sandbox.
If you are concerned about the security of our current browser outside of the sandbox, consider using another browser. There are more browser options that you may not be aware of.
Will browsing in a browser sandbox completely protect me?
The short answer is yes, browsing in a browser sandbox will keep you safe. The long answer is that it won't fully protect you. If you're using the browser sandbox to just browse websites, then yes, you're protected.
But if you use the sandbox browser to download something and then open that download outside of the sandbox, you're not protected. Unless you also use Sandboxie for that.
Would you like to use a sandbox browser? What would you use it for? Do you know of any other ways to isolate your web browsing from the rest of your computer? Let us know in the “Comments!
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