If, for example, you frequent websites that distribute malware, you might run your Web browser within the sandbox to prevent the spread of malware to the rest of your PC while you browse.Īnd if you know that you have existing malware program on your computer, then sandboxing might be a good security option for you as well. Sandboxes can be set up to automatically or manually run unknown programs in order to determine if they're safe. This 'virtual zone' can help keep operating systems free of malware.Īntivirus programs can go a long way toward defending your computer against unwanted malware, but if you need an extra layer of defense on your PC, then you might want to consider setting up a sandbox. When to use a sandboxīufferZone, another sandboxing software program, creates a virtual space on the hard drive where modifications performed by Internet programs - like downloads - are run. Sandboxie users can dictate which programs always run within a sandbox. One popular example is Sandboxie, a proprietary software program that sandboxes programs that are the most vulnerable to attack, such as Web browsers, email clients, instant messaging clients, peer-to-peer (P2P) software and online games. There are also software programs that create sandboxed environments for any program - Web browser, application, etc. If there's a flaw in the Windows operating system, then Chrome may also be susceptible to threats. However, Chrome's sandbox shouldn't be used as a comprehensive solution against malware and other threats because it relies on security features built into Windows. Google also uses sandboxing within its Chrome Web browser, which has gone a long way to earn the browser a good reputation within the security community.

In an attempt to keep the data of its users safe from malicious apps, Apple starting requiring developers to include sandboxing features in their apps in 2012. Many of today's most popular applications use sandboxing, including all apps available for purchase in Apple's Mac App Store.

Advances in virtualization - which allows users to run multiple applications and operating systems independently on a single server - have also made sandboxes more available for end users. While such sandboxing techniques were once only a feature of a few choice operating systems, they are now a common security tool used by many software programs and applications.

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