Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

Windows Sandbox is a Safer Way to Run Programs You Don't Trust

posted by Fnord666 on Thursday December 20 2018, @07:11PM   Printer-friendly
from the you-say-sandbox-I-say-litterbox dept.

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for SoyCow1984

Source: https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/19/18147991/microsoft-windows-sandbox-security-safety-isolation-standalone-apps

Microsoft is trying to address the fear of running an unknown .exe on your PC. While some power users set up virtual machines to check unknown apps, Microsoft has developed a simple way for anyone running Windows 10 to launch apps in an isolated desktop environment. Windows Sandbox is a new feature coming to Windows 10 next year that creates a temporary desktop environment to isolate a particular app to that sandbox.

It's designed to be secure and disposable, so once you've finished running the app in this mode the entire sandbox will be deleted. You don't need to set up a virtual machine, but it will require virtualization capabilities enabled in the BIOS. Microsoft is making Windows Sandbox available as part of Windows 10 Pro or Windows 10 Enterprise, and it's clearly aimed at businesses primarily or power users.

Technical details: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Windows-Kernel-Internals/Windows-Sandbox/ba-p/301849

See also: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/12/windows-sandbox-marries-vm-isolation-to-container-efficiency-to-safely-run-dodgy-apps/

Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Windows Sandbox is a Safer Way to Run Programs You Don't Trust | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 36 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: 5, Funny) by Virindi on Thursday December 20 2018, @08:20PM (5 children)

    by Virindi (3484) on Thursday December 20 2018, @08:20PM (#776951)

    Windows Sandbox is a Safer Way to Run Programs You Don't Trust
    Microsoft is trying to address the fear of running an unknown .exe on your PC.

    Oooh, can I sandbox Windows 10, then?!

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +4  
       Insightful=1, Interesting=1, Funny=2, Total=4
    Extra 'Funny' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
    Total Score:   5  

  • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 20 2018, @09:10PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday December 20 2018, @09:10PM (#776968)

    Windows Sandbox is a Safer Way to Run Programs You Don't Trust
    Microsoft is trying to address the fear of running an unknown .exe on your PC.

    Oooh, can I sandbox Windows 10, then?!

    I got a much easier option. Just ditch windows altogether; install linux instead.

    Right, then. I'll just get me coat.

  • (Score: 3, Funny) by Nuke on Friday December 21 2018, @12:00AM (1 child)

    by Nuke (3162) on Friday December 21 2018, @12:00AM (#777019)

    More than that, can we sandbox the sandbox in case it is yet another MS trick?

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 21 2018, @05:13PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 21 2018, @05:13PM (#777249)

      It's sandboxes all the way down!

  • (Score: 3, Touché) by The Mighty Buzzard on Friday December 21 2018, @01:27AM

    by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Friday December 21 2018, @01:27AM (#777042) Homepage Journal

    Litterboxing it would be more appropriate.

    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.

  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 21 2018, @04:05PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 21 2018, @04:05PM (#777227)
    Yeah, that's what I do - I run it in a VM.

    I would recommend doing that or not running it at all with Microsoft's track record with Windows 10.